The vendor opportunity at 9Round
9Round operates 142 total units—141 franchised and a single company-owned location—making it a compact but mandate-intensive target for software vendors. The system has contracted significantly, with a year-over-year unit decline of 29.1%, yet the remaining footprint spans 81 operators, including 6 multi-unit franchisees, across states led by California (24 units), North Carolina (9), and Texas (7). Average unit volume is not disclosed in the most recent FDD, and the royalty rate sits at 6% on a 10-year initial franchise term. For software sellers, the opportunity lies not in scale but in the depth of the mandated tech stack: nearly every operational function runs on systems specified by the franchisor, creating a replacement or upsell cycle tied to HQ-driven modernization and renewal events.
Who controls software purchasing
Purchasing authority rests squarely with the franchisor’s leadership team in Greenville, South Carolina. Co-Founder and CEO Heather Hudson is the central decision-maker, supported by Shannon Hudson (Co-Founder and Board Member), Brian Burke (Sr. Director of Franchise Development), Marcus Callis (Sr. Director of Distribution and Warehouse), and Tracy Penland (Assistant Director of Operations). This group evaluates and mandates technology across the system. Franchisees have no independent procurement path for core operational software; the FDD lists seven mandated systems, and any vendor seeking to displace or integrate with them must sell into HQ, not to individual operators.
Mandated and current tech stack
The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document enumerates a fully prescribed technology environment. Franchisees must use the 9Round app, the 9Round workout system, daily workout screens, a voice timer system, the PULSE heart rate zone system, the Franchisee Portal, and credit and debit card processing software. No third-party vendor names are disclosed for these components—the systems appear to be proprietary or tightly curated by the franchisor. This closed architecture means any software pitch must address either a direct replacement of a mandated tool (requiring a system-wide rollout) or a complementary integration that HQ deems additive to the existing stack.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
The FDD does not include an Item 8 extract detailing procurement obligations, but the mandate-heavy Item 11 signals a designated-supplier environment. Renewal terms run 5 years under Item 17, with strict conditions: franchisees must meet current qualification criteria, provide written notice 6 to 12 months before expiration, sign the then-current Franchise Agreement (which may contain materially different terms), pay a renewal fee, complete modernization requirements, and execute a release. These modernization triggers represent the most likely windows for software vendors to engage—when HQ updates its tech requirements as part of the renewal cycle. With a 10-year initial term and a contracting unit base, vendors should monitor franchisee cohorts approaching renewal and any system-wide technology refresh initiatives.
How to read the 9Round FDD
The 2026 FDD is the definitive source for understanding 9Round’s technology mandates, executive structure, and contractual rhythms. Item 1 lists the leadership team and their roles—essential for mapping the buying center. Item 11 details the seven mandated systems, though it stops short of naming third-party vendors. Item 17 outlines the renewal process and modernization requirements that can force technology change. For vendors, the FDD confirms a centralized, HQ-driven purchasing model with no franchisee autonomy on core software. Review the embedded document below to extract Item 8 supplier language, financial performance representations (none disclosed for AUV), and the full operator footprint. When you’re ready to prioritize franchise systems by tech mandate strength and decision-maker accessibility, FranCloud can deliver a ranked target list.