Is a Hardees franchisee required to offer online ordering and delivery services?

According to Hardees' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must offer online ordering and delivery services. Hardees requires franchisees to offer online ordering and delivery services through programs established with approved vendors and to comply with Hardees' specifications.

Hardees designates specific software platform providers for online ordering and loyalty programs. Currently, OLO is the sole software platform provider for online ordering, and Punchh is the sole software platform for the loyalty program. Hardees has partnered with designated service providers for its delivery program. Franchisees are required to accept and process specific customer delivery orders and use approved third-party delivery service providers, such as Uber Eats, Door Dash, and GrubHub, if they operate in the restaurant's serviceable area. Any delivery service providers not already approved must be pre-approved by Hardees.

Franchisees are obligated to enter into the OLO Authorized Operator Agreement with Olo, Inc. and any participation agreements required with Hardees' designated delivery providers upon opening their restaurant. Unless prior written consent is obtained from Hardees, franchisees cannot provide their own delivery service or use their employees for deliveries. This ensures uniformity and control over the customer experience and protects the Hardees brand.

These requirements allow Hardees to maintain consistent standards and quality across all franchise locations, particularly in the rapidly evolving area of online ordering and delivery. By mandating participation in approved programs and the use of designated vendors, Hardees aims to streamline operations, leverage negotiated rates, and ensure a consistent customer experience. However, this also means franchisees have limited flexibility in choosing their own vendors or customizing their online ordering and delivery systems.