Must a Fat Shack franchisee accept credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay?
Fat_Shack Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must accept credit cards, debit cards and Apple Pay from customers of your FAT SHACK Restaurant. The Payment Card Industry ("PCI") requires all companies that process, store, or transmit credit or debit card information to protect the cardholders' information by complying with the PCI Data Security Standard ("PCI DSS"). Therefore, you must be PCI compliant by following and adhering to the then-current PCI DSS, currently found at www.pcisecuritystandards.org, or any similar or subsequent standard for the protection of cardholder data throughout the term of your Franchise Agreement. PCI mandates the PCI DSS compliance. You may not charge your customers any additional fees or service charges if they elect to pay by credit card, debit card or Apple Pay.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 28–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Fat Shack Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to accept credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay from their customers. This requirement ensures that customers have convenient payment options at all Fat Shack locations.
As a Fat Shack franchisee, you are also responsible for complying with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) to protect cardholder information. This involves adhering to the standards set by PCI, which are detailed on their website. Maintaining PCI compliance is mandatory throughout the term of the Franchise Agreement.
Furthermore, Fat Shack franchisees are prohibited from charging customers additional fees or service charges for using credit cards, debit cards, or Apple Pay. This policy ensures transparent and consistent pricing for all customers, regardless of their chosen payment method.