What specific software does Moes Southwest Grill require franchisees to use?
Moes_Southwest_Grill Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are required to purchase most of the components of the Computer System that we specify from Approved Suppliers. Currently, we have Approved Suppliers for our POS System and for certain software that you must use in your Restaurant, including the Learning Management System. We also require you to use designated Approved Suppliers for point-to-point encryption ("P2PE") solutions (hardware and software) that are used in cooperation with your POS System to provide secure and compliant payment processing services. If we require you to use any proprietary software or to purchase any software from a designated vendor, you must execute any software license agreements that we or the licensor of the software require and any related software maintenance agreements. We may require you to maintain certain network connections, which may include using an Internet Service Provider or other communications provider that we approve or designate. Currently, we require you to obtain the POS System from our designated vendor (and we may collect from you the related upfront and ongoing fees for such POS System and pay the vendor on your behalf) and POS System support services from our affiliate. We may require you to maintain other support service contracts and/or maintenance service contracts from us, our affiliates, or designated Approved Suppliers.
We require you to accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) and other major payment methods (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay) for customer purchases, participate in our Gift Card and Loyalty Programs, and participate in our in-shop mobile and online ordering program. These programs may require that you invest in additional equipment and incur fees from the credit card processing vendors, gift card processing vendors, and other hardware and software vendors that we designate.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 47–51)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Moe's Southwest Grill's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase certain software from approved suppliers. Specifically, this includes software for the Point of Sale (POS) system and a Learning Management System. Additionally, franchisees must use designated approved suppliers for point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, which include both hardware and software, to ensure secure payment processing in conjunction with the POS system.
The FDD indicates that Moe's Southwest Grill may require franchisees to use proprietary software or purchase software from a designated vendor, in which case franchisees must execute any necessary software license and maintenance agreements. The brand may also mandate specific network connections, potentially requiring franchisees to use an approved or designated Internet Service Provider or other communications provider. The POS system must be obtained from a designated vendor, and Moe's Southwest Grill may collect and remit the fees for this system on behalf of the franchisee.
Furthermore, franchisees are obligated to accept major credit cards and other payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay, participate in the Gift Card and Loyalty Programs, and engage in the in-shop mobile and online ordering program. These programs may necessitate additional investments in equipment and incur fees from credit card processing, gift card processing, and other hardware and software vendors designated by Moe's Southwest Grill. This ensures consistency and compliance across all franchise locations, but also means franchisees have limited choice in selecting their own software and vendor solutions.