Must a Dollar Rent A Car franchisee comply with the terms of any third-party software agreement?
Dollar_Rent_A_Car Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must purchase and utilize a "counter automation system" for Your Franchised Business. Counter automation systems are software systems that maintain "ready to rent" information of cars in each category, provide a preferred customer database to facilitate reservation and rental processing, as well as rate and rental information. You must pay any fees or expenses associated with any third-party software agreement and comply with the terms of any such agreement. We use these systems to transmit reservation information to you in a format that we require and to collect and monitor closed rental agreement information from Your Franchised Business by electronic polling.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 61–69)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Dollar Rent A Car's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to comply with the terms of any third-party software agreements associated with the counter automation system. The franchisee must also pay any fees or expenses associated with these third-party software agreements. This system is crucial for maintaining 'ready to rent' information, managing customer databases, and handling rate and rental information. Dollar Rent A Car uses these systems to transmit reservation information and monitor closed rental agreements electronically.
Dollar Rent A Car has a list of approved software systems that franchisees must use. These include Cars Thermeon Corporate Services, Bluebird Auto Rental Systems, The System Distributors, Inc., Fourth Tier Solutions, Karz Systems, Inc., and Capture (Overland West, Inc.). However, Dollar Rent A Car reserves the right to change these approved systems, and franchisees would be responsible for purchasing new software licenses at their own expense if such changes occur.
The cost for the Approved Counter System, including both hardware and software, is estimated to be between $11,500 and $250,000, depending on the number of systems installed. Franchisees must also purchase software support from the approved suppliers, if offered. The software license is specific to the franchisee and is not transferable. This ensures that Dollar Rent A Car franchisees maintain a standardized and compliant system for managing their rental operations.