What is the Ella Cafe Franchisee required to do regarding access to the point of sale system?
Ella_Cafe Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Franchisee must acquire and use only the point of sale cash registers and computer systems and equipment that Franchisor prescribes for use by System Coffee Houses ("POS System") and adhere to Franchisor's
requirements for use. Requirements may include, among other things, connection to remote servers, off-site electronic repositories, and high speed Internet connections. Franchisor may, in its sole discretion, require Franchisee to add to add to the POS System memory, ports, and other accessories or peripheral equipment or additional, new, or substitute software; replace or upgrade the POS System (software and hardware) and other computers as Franchisor prescribes; and enter into maintenance agreements for the POS System and other computers. Because the POS System must be used solely for POS-related purposes that are set forth by the POS System provider and approved by Franchisor, Franchisee may elect to purchase a secondary computer for use at the Coffee House for routine business functions and related software, such as Internet browsing, word processing, spreadsheet preparation, and emailing. Franchisor will provide Franchisee 90 days advance written notice of any change to the POS System requirements. Franchisee must acquire, install, and maintain such anti-virus and anti-spyware software as Franchisor requires and pay related costs, and Franchisee must adopt and implement such Internet user policies as Franchisor may prescribe for purposes of avoiding, blocking, and eliminating viruses and other conditions designed to interfere with operation of the POS System.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 50)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Ella Cafe's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must use the point-of-sale (POS) system that Ella Cafe prescribes for use by System Coffee Houses. This includes adhering to Ella Cafe's requirements for its use, which may involve connecting to remote servers, off-site electronic repositories, and high-speed Internet connections.
Ella Cafe may require franchisees to add memory, ports, accessories, or peripheral equipment, or to install new or substitute software to the POS system. They can also mandate that franchisees replace or upgrade the POS system's software and hardware, as well as other computers, and enter into maintenance agreements for these systems. The POS system must be used solely for POS-related purposes as defined by the provider and approved by Ella Cafe. Franchisees can purchase a secondary computer for other business functions like internet browsing or word processing.
Ella Cafe will provide franchisees with 90 days' written notice before any changes to the POS system requirements. Franchisees are responsible for acquiring, installing, and maintaining anti-virus and anti-spyware software as required by Ella Cafe, and for implementing internet user policies to protect the POS system from viruses. Ella Cafe also reserves the right to access the computer system to retrieve information related to the Coffee House's operation in areas they have the ability to control or remedy.