You must obtain certain components of the Technology System from suppliers that A&W designates or approves. Currently, you must obtain and use: (i) A&W’s designated restaurant management system from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, QSROnline), (ii) A&W’s designated digital learning platform (currently, TalentLink) from A&W’s designated supplier, (iii) A&W’s designated POS system and related hardware and software (currently, PAR POS) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Retail Data Systems), (iv) A&W’s designated networking equipment from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Retail Data Systems), (v) A&W’s designated product date-labeling system (currently, MenuCommand® and MenuPilot®) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Daymark Safety Systems), and (vi) A&W’s designated restaurant ordering system (currently, Olo) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Mobo Systems, Inc. d/b/a Olo). You must also obtain certain other components of the Technology System in accordance with A&W’s specifications. A&W FDD- 4/2026 ACTIVE 716274828v1 16 You must obtain and maintain, at your own expense, prior to the opening of your Restaurant, the insurance coverage that A&W periodically requires and satisfy other insurance- related obligations underwritten by an insurance company having a Best’s Insurance Guide rating of no less than “A+13”. You currently must have worker’s compensation coverage required by any applicable federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, commercial general liability coverage ($1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage combined), and boiler and machinery/energy equipment (including business income/extra expense) at a minimum limit of $50,000. Premiums depend on the insurance carrier’s charges, terms of payment, and your history. All insurance policies must name A&W, its parent and affiliated entities, and A&W Concentrate Company as additional insured parties. If you fail to obtain or maintain required insurance coverage for your Restaurant, A&W may do so on your behalf and invoice you for reimbursement of A&W’s costs to arrange the missing coverage.
From the filings
A&W Restaurants
Quick service restaurantA&W's headquarters directs software purchasing rather than leaving it to individual restaurants: franchisees must run the mandated Olo, PAR POS, and QSROnline systems, and A&W can require added hardware or substitute software after its own testing. The operator data maps roughly 173 located units, concentrated in WI, OR, OH, CA, and NY.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
5% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
3 technology requirements are recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.
The Technology System currently includes: (i) A&W’s designated restaurant management system (for an initial cost of $1,268 to $1,700 and ongoing cost of $168 to $212 per month, in both cases payable to our designated third party supplier), (ii) A&W’s designated digital learning platform (currently TalentLink, for an ongoing cost of $270 to $540 per year, payable to our designated third party supplier), (iii) A&W’s designated POS system and related hardware and software (currently, PAR POS, for an initial cost of $24,468 to $55,472 for Freestanding Restaurants and Endcap Restaurants and of $21,798 to $29,124 for Non-Traditional Restaurants and ongoing cost of $378 to $810 per month, in both cases payable to our designated third party supplier), (iv) Windows software (for an initial cost of approximately $864 to $1,296, payable to a third party supplier), (v) the internet that A&W requires (for an initial cost of approximately $216 and an ongoing cost of approximately $108 to $324 per month, in both cases payable to a third party supplier), (vi) the networking equipment that A&W requires (for an initial cost of approximately $1,620 to $2,700, payable to a third party supplier), (vii) the product date-labeling system that A&W requires (for an initial cost of approximately $500 and ongoing cost of $100 per month, in both cases payable to a third party supplier), (viii) the telephone system that A&W requires (for an initial cost of approximately $54 to $162 and an ongoing cost of approximately $43 to $108 per month, payable to a third party supplier), (ix) the wireless headset system that A&W requires (for an initial cost of $3,990 to $7,555, payable to a third party supplier), and (x) A&W’s designated restaurant ordering system (for an initial cost of $250 and ongoing subscription A&W FDD- 4/2026 ACTIVE 716274828v1 25 cost of $50 per month plus transaction fees, in both cases payable to our designated third party supplier). To use the PAR POS system, you will be required to sign a Technology Services Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit J.
You must obtain certain components of the Technology System from suppliers that A&W designates or approves. Currently, you must obtain and use: (i) A&W’s designated restaurant management system from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, QSROnline), (ii) A&W’s designated digital learning platform (currently, TalentLink) from A&W’s designated supplier, (iii) A&W’s designated POS system and related hardware and software (currently, PAR POS) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Retail Data Systems), (iv) A&W’s designated networking equipment from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Retail Data Systems), (v) A&W’s designated product date-labeling system (currently, MenuCommand® and MenuPilot®) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Daymark Safety Systems), and (vi) A&W’s designated restaurant ordering system (currently, Olo) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Mobo Systems, Inc. d/b/a Olo). You must also obtain certain other components of the Technology System in accordance with A&W’s specifications. A&W FDD- 4/2026 ACTIVE 716274828v1 16 You must obtain and maintain, at your own expense, prior to the opening of your Restaurant, the insurance coverage that A&W periodically requires and satisfy other insurance- related obligations underwritten by an insurance company having a Best’s Insurance Guide rating of no less than “A+13”. You currently must have worker’s compensation coverage required by any applicable federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, commercial general liability coverage ($1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage combined), and boiler and machinery/energy equipment (including business income/extra expense) at a minimum limit of $50,000. Premiums depend on the insurance carrier’s charges, terms of payment, and your history. All insurance policies must name A&W, its parent and affiliated entities, and A&W Concentrate Company as additional insured parties. If you fail to obtain or maintain required insurance coverage for your Restaurant, A&W may do so on your behalf and invoice you for reimbursement of A&W’s costs to arrange the missing coverage.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
21 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 3 explicit no's; 10 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
A&W will have independent access to and may poll your data files to upload, retrieve, analyze, download and use your daily sales activity information.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Franchisee shall submit to the Company (a) no later than thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar quarter during the Term of this Agreement, in a form the Company approves, a statement of the Restaurant’s profit and loss for the quarter and a balance sheet…
How the franchisor buys
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesFranchise agreement
The National A&W Franchisee Association (“NAWFA”) is a voluntary organization comprised of all Franchisees of the Company.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
The Company may add to, modify, substitute or discontinue systemwide supply contracts or exclusive supply arrangements in the exercise of its business judgment.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
90Item 8
Between 90% and 95% of your total purchases associated with establishing or operating your Restaurant must be either purchased from A&W, its affiliates or approved suppliers.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 6
As incurred. If you wish to have an Approval additional source approved, you (or the source) must reimburse A&W for A&W’s costs in evaluating the source and its product(s).
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesFranchise agreement
If the Franchisee wishes to propose an alternative source of supply, the Franchisee may petition the Company for approval of a new source through written request.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
at the Company’s option, either change the telephone numbers utilized by the franchised business or, upon the Company’s written demand, direct the telephone company to transfer the telephone numbers listed for the franchised business to the Company or to any other person or location that the Company directs.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisee must also comply with payment card industry (“PCI”) standards, norms, requirements and protocols, including PCI Data Security Standards.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
Inspect the operation of your Restaurant.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
The Restaurant must be in a specified location, which is selected by you, and which must be approved by A&W.
Marketing
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisee shall have a “Grand Opening” promotion within three (3) months after the Restaurant has opened for business to the public.
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 11
A&W will require you to spend the amount of the OSA Funds on approved local marketing programs of your own choice in accordance with the Marketing Committee’s One Store Marketing Account policy and procedures then in effect.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesFranchise agreement
If the Franchisee’s Restaurant is, or will be located in a market that is ever serviced by an advertising cooperative, Franchisee shall become a member of that advertising cooperative to the extent membership is required pursuant to the A&W Marketing Committee and policies adopted jointly by the Company and NAWFA.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase the postmix products for use in preparing these fountain beverage products, along with these ready-to-drink packaged beverage products and frozen beverage products, from your main distribution center or from a PepsiCo, Inc. local bottler, as required in your jurisdiction.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must obtain certain components of the Technology System from suppliers that A&W designates or approves.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
the Franchisee agrees to sign and deliver to the Company the documents the Company requires (the current form of which is set forth in Appendix VII) to authorize the Company to debit the Franchisee’s business checking account automatically for the continuing royalty fees, continuing advertising fees and/or other fees…
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesFranchise agreement
must, prior to commencing operations and throughout the Term of this Agreement, maintain a trained staff in sufficient numbers as the Company requires so that the Franchisee may promptly, efficiently and effectively service customers according to the System’s standards.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
A&W’s designated POS system and related hardware and software (currently, PAR POS) from A&W’s designated supplier (currently, Retail Data Systems)
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
A&W will have independent access to and may poll your data files to upload, retrieve, analyze, download and use your daily sales activity information.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisee shall pay, without limitation all travel, lodging, meals and other related and incidental expenses associated with the Management Training Course and any refresher course, as well as any tuition, fees or associated labor or other related costs or materials charges requested by the Company.
The filing answers no to 3 questions
- Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?Item 8
- Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?Item 8
- Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?Franchise agreement
The vendor opportunity at A&W Restaurants
A&W Restaurants, a wholly owned subsidiary of A Great American Brand, LLC, reports Item 19 average Net Sales of $1,297,747 for the 59 Reporting Freestanding Restaurants open all 12 months of 2025, and $783,397 for the 52 Reporting C&G Restaurants. The operator data maps roughly 173 located units, mostly single-unit operators, concentrated in WI, OR, OH, CA, and NY.
Who controls software purchasing
A&W's headquarters, led by CEO and President Betsy Schmandt alongside Chairman Kevin M. Bazner, directs the Technology System directly: A&W may mandate added memory, ports, accessories, peripherals, and new or substitute software, and after its own testing, franchisees must install those additions at their own expense on A&W's schedule. Franchisees must also maintain an accounting system covering books of account, tax returns, daily reports, gross-revenue statements, profit-and-loss statements, and balance sheets.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Olo, PAR POS, and QSROnline are mandated: the FDD obliges franchisees to use all three. Item 8 also requires the TalentLink digital learning platform and the MenuCommand® and MenuPilot® date-labeling system from Daymark Safety Systems, with PAR POS and networking equipment from Retail Data Systems. To use the PAR POS system specifically, franchisees must sign a Technology Services Agreement. Franchisees must also purchase any proprietary software A&W develops or designates through a third party, executing a standard license agreement for it.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list: between 90% and 95% of total purchases associated with establishing or operating a restaurant must come from A&W, its affiliates, or approved suppliers, including required components of the Technology System.
How to read the A&W Restaurants FDD
The embedded viewer below carries A&W's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 and Item 11 language summarized above.
Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like A&W Restaurants where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
A&W Restaurants, answered from the filing
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
153 operators run 173 mapped locations. 11 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| WI | 51 |
|---|---|
| OR | 13 |
| OH | 11 |
| CA | 10 |
| NY | 8 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind A&W Restaurants
Ownership: a great american brand.
Related Quick service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.