Is a Gold Star franchisee responsible for the fees associated with the preferred application system?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must purchase a subscription to any application or other web services as we direct in the Manual. We require that you download our preferred licensed application system which we utilize to communicate with our franchisees. You are responsible for all subscription and other fees charged in connection with your use of our preferred application system and any costs incurred in purchasing and maintaining hardware to download and use the application. You are also responsible for purchasing and maintaining a functioning I-Pad at your Retail Location.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 26–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Gold Star Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for all fees associated with the preferred application system. Gold Star requires franchisees to download their preferred licensed application system for communication purposes.
This means that as a Gold Star franchisee, you will have to pay for the subscription and any other fees related to using this application. Additionally, you are responsible for the costs of buying and maintaining the necessary hardware, such as an I-Pad, to download and use the application at your Gold Star retail location.
This requirement ensures that all franchisees are using the same communication platform, allowing for consistent and efficient communication with Gold Star. However, it also adds to the overall cost of operating the franchise, as franchisees must budget for these ongoing technology expenses.