What is the Dq Treat franchisee's obligation regarding the purchase of EPOS hardware and software?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ADQ has currently designated ParTech, Inc. as the sole supplier of the required EPOS hardware and software that you must purchase for your restaurant. You will be required to sign an agreement with ParTech for the purchase of the equipment, software subscription services, installation and other services ("ParTech Participation Agreement") when you sign your franchise agreement. ADQ also has designated (a) Fiserv (formerly, FirstData Merchant Services) as the sole supplier of payment card processing and related services you must purchase, (b) Verifone as the sole supplier of certain payment card data encryption services that you must purchase; (c) ValueLink, LLC as the sole supplier of the gift cards and related services you must purchase, (d) Olo Inc. as the sole supplier of the DQ Mobile Ordering System; (e) Punchh Inc. as the sole supplier of the DQ Mobile Loyalty platform that you must purchase; (f) Acumera as the sole supplier of managed firewall services you must purchase and (g) Cineplex Digital Media Inc. as the sole supplier of the digital menu boards you must purchase. Copies of the ParTech Participation Agreement and the participation agreements that you must sign and/or agree to the terms with ValueLink, Olo, Punchh, Acumera and Cineplex are included in this disclosure document as Exhibit E. When you sign the franchise agreement, you must also sign the then-current participation agreements offered by the other suppliers listed above. ADQ has the right to designate suppliers in place of or in addition to these suppliers.
Source: Item 8 — UItem 8U***:** U**Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 29–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dq Treat Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) hardware and software for their restaurants from ParTech, Inc., which is the sole designated supplier. Upon signing the franchise agreement, franchisees must also sign an agreement with ParTech for the purchase of the equipment, software subscription services, installation, and other related services, known as the "ParTech Participation Agreement."
This requirement ensures uniformity and compatibility across all Dq Treat locations, as the franchisor, ADQ, has the right to designate a single approved manufacturer, supplier, or distributor for equipment, including EPOS equipment, and all related point-of-sale and web-based software, as well as back-office hardware and software. This standardization helps maintain the brand's image and quality of service. Copies of the ParTech Participation Agreement are included as Exhibit E in the FDD.
Furthermore, Dq Treat franchisees should be aware that ADQ retains the right to designate suppliers in place of or in addition to the currently approved suppliers. This means that the specific supplier for EPOS hardware and software could change during the term of the franchise agreement. The franchisee is obligated to use products and services approved by ADQ, and ADQ considers compliance with the franchise agreement when determining whether a franchisee might qualify for an additional franchise.
While franchisees are generally required to use ADQ's approved suppliers, the FDD also mentions a process for requesting approval of alternate suppliers under certain conditions. However, this option is not available for products listed in the "Required Purchases" section, which includes EPOS equipment. Therefore, franchisees must adhere to ADQ's designated supplier for EPOS systems unless ADQ changes its policy.