Who is responsible for the costs associated with the review, approval, certification, and registration of Merchant Providers for Even Hotels?

According to Even Hotels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for covering the costs associated with the review, approval, certification, and registration of any Merchant Providers. This includes any recertification fees that may be required by Even Hotels or Card Organization Rules.

Before engaging a Merchant Provider, the franchisee must provide Even Hotels with the provider's legal name, contact information, and intended function in writing. The franchisee must also obtain approval from Even Hotels before using or providing Cardholder data access to any Merchant Provider. This approval will not be unreasonably withheld. If required, the franchisee must also confirm Even Hotels' registration of that Merchant Provider with applicable Card Organizations.

The franchisee must ensure that they and their Merchant Providers comply with the registration process, which may involve site inspections, background investigations, and the provision of financial statements. They must also comply with periodic and other reporting requirements from a Card Organization, as well as all applicable Card Organization Rules, including those related to Cardholder data security. Merchant Providers can only access Cardholder data for authorized purposes that conform to Card Organization Rules.

This means that if you decide to open an Even Hotels franchise, you will need to budget for these potential expenses. It is important to factor in these costs when evaluating the overall financial investment required to operate the franchise. You should also ensure that any Merchant Providers you plan to use meet the necessary requirements and are approved by Even Hotels to avoid any compliance issues.