(iv) Purpose of the Bar Louis Marketing Fund is to build brand equity, scale guest acquisition, and support system-wide marketing initiatives. Uses of the Fund include: (1) Brand & Creative Development; (2) Campaign strategy, creative development, photography, video production, and content creation for system-wide use; (3) Digital Ecosystem & CRM; (4) Website, SEO/SEM, email marketing, loyalty platforms (e.g., Thanx), SMS, app development, and customer data infrastructure; (5) Paid Media (National/Regional Scale); (6) Paid social, programmatic, influencer amplification, and multi-market advertising campaigns; (7) Influencer & Content Partnerships (Scaled); (8) Multi-location or multi- market influencer partnerships, contracted creators, and content production designed for use across paid media, social, email, website, and in-app channels; (9) Reputation, Listings & Social Management; (10) Platform management tools, review monitoring, listing optimization, and social media management infrastructure; (11) Technology, Reporting & Infrastructure; (12) Marketing dashboards, analytics tools, integrations with POS and ordering platforms, and system-wide reporting; (13) Strategic Partnerships & Brand Collaborations; and (14) National campaigns, vendor-supported programs, and brand partnerships that benefit the full system.
From the filings
Bar Louie
Full service restaurantBar Louie's 2026 FDD requires franchisees to license a data management platform directly from the franchisor, centralizing that purchase at headquarters. The network runs 40 locations, a majority of them — 22 of 40 — company-owned, with Thanx also named in the filing.
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
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
32 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
We have the right to specify the accounting software and a common chart of accounts, and, if we do so, you agree to use that software and chart of accounts (and require your bookkeeper and accountant to do so) in preparing and submitting your financial statements to us.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
You must provide us with unlimited access to each point-of-sale (POS) system and any other computer used in your business by modem or other high-speed connection during normal business hours.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
In addition, no later than the tenth (10th) day of each month (or, if we elect, other periodic time period) during the term of this Agreement after the opening of the Franchised Business, you agree to submit to us, in a format acceptable to us (or, at our election, in a form that we have specified): (a) a fiscal…
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
Currently we are the designated supplier of the data management platform license.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We may add to or delete items from the Approved Vendors List and Approved Supplies List, and such changes will be documented in the Manual.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
We currently do not derive revenue from any other purchases by our franchisees, but we may do so in the future.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
During our fiscal year of September 29, 2025 through December 31, 2025, we received approximately $22,499.88 in rebates and similar consideration from certain suppliers based on April 30, 2026 Bar Louie FDDv1 21 products those suppliers sold to Bar Louie franchisees.
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?
35Item 8
We anticipate that the cost of products and services which you must purchase from designated or approved suppliers or following our specifications on an ongoing basis will be approximately 35% to 45% of your monthly operating costs.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 6
You or the proposed supplier or vendor must pay the reasonable cost of the inspection and evaluation and the actual cost of any testing.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you would like to sell or use any product, material or supply or purchase any products from a supplier not on either of these lists, you must notify us and may need to submit samples and other information to us so that we can make an informed decision as to whether such product or supplier meets our standards.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
In addition, you will cease use of all telephone numbers and any domain names, websites, e-mail addresses, and any other print and online identifiers, whether or not authorized by us, that you have while operating the Franchised Business, and must promptly execute such documents or take such steps necessary to remove…
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesItem 1
You must follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards and comply with applicable privacy laws relating to customer credit card transactions.
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to participate in such programs as we require, and promptly pay the then-current charges of the evaluation service.
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
We will make periodic visits to the Restaurant to inspect aspects of the operation and management of the Restaurant, and may prepare reports about these visits outlining any suggested changes or improvements and detailing any defaults which are evident as a result of any such visit.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 16
We may change the approved product offerings and any related merchandising and promotional materials at any time.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 12
The franchise is granted for one location approved by us.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesFranchise agreement
Unless we have otherwise approved in writing, you agree not to establish or develop or permit any other party to establish or develop a Digital Site or Mobile Application relating in any manner whatsoever to the Franchised Business or referring to the Proprietary Marks.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 11
You must spend a minimum of $10,000 for grand opening marketing and promotional programs in conjunction with the Franchised Business’s initial grand opening, pursuant to a grand opening marketing plan that you develop and that we approve in writing (Franchise Agreement, Section 13.7).
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 6
After the first 30 days you are in business, you are required to spend each calendar month on local advertising and promotion, an amount equal to up to 3% of your Gross Sales; but currently we only require you to spend 1% on local advertising.
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to offer for sale, and to honor for purchases by customers, all gift cards and other affinity or convenience programs that we may periodically institute (including loyalty programs that we or a third party vendor operate, as well as mobile payment and/or customer affinity applications); and you agree to do…
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesFranchise agreement
If a Regional Fund has been established for your area when you start operations under this Agreement, then you must immediately become a member of such Regional Fund.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase certain food and drink products from a designated supplier.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must purchase and use only such equipment, fixtures and furnishings as we may designate or approve.
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree not to use any Payment Vendor for which we have not given you our prior written approval or as to which we have revoked our earlier approval.
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
All royalty fees, advertising (including Marketing Fund) contributions, monthly Technology Fee, amounts due for your purchases from us and other amounts which you owe to us will be paid through electronic funds transfer (using the ACH network).
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to offer for sale, and to honor for purchases by customers, all gift cards and other affinity or convenience programs that we may periodically institute
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
For each Restaurant, you must employ at least one on-property full-time General Manager, one full-time Kitchen Manager, one full-time Bar Manager, one full-time front of house Manager, and other managers as may be necessary to oversee day-to-day Restaurant operations.
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesItem 16
We may prescribe standard uniforms and attire for all Restaurant personnel.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
We will provide you specifications for the computer software and hardware of the point-of-sale (POS) system you must use.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesFranchise agreement
You also agree that we will have the right to control your POS System and remotely upload and download data to that POS System.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
Additionally, we periodically may require that previously-trained and experienced franchisees, managers, and other employees attend and successfully complete refresher training programs or seminars to be conducted at a location as we may designate, or on-line.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree that your Managing Owner and/or General Manager will attend the conventions and meetings that we may periodically require and to pay a reasonable fee (if we charge a fee) for each person who is required to attend
The vendor opportunity at Bar Louie
Bar Louie runs 40 full-service restaurant locations, 18 franchised and 22 company-owned, under parent company BLH Acquisition. Unit count is up 5.9% year over year, among the stronger growth rates in the segment. The franchised side of the network currently maps to a single identified operator running one location.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 8 requires franchisees to license a data management platform directly from the franchisor, centralizing that software decision at headquarters. With 22 of the brand's 40 locations company-owned, headquarters also directly controls software purchasing for the majority of the system outright.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Thanx appears in the filing, but nothing in the agreement requires a franchisee to use it — it is named, not mandated. The real software mandate sits in Item 8 rather than the technology item: franchisees must license a data management platform from the franchisor or an affiliate.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 sets an approved-supplier list model: franchisees must buy from an Approved Vendors List and Approved Supplies List set out in the manual, including the required data management platform license, and any alternative supplier needs prior written approval. With a 10-year initial term, renewal requires upgrading computer hardware and software to then-current standards and signing the then-current agreement, which may carry different terms — a recurring point for vendors to re-enter the conversation.
How to read the Bar Louie FDD
The Bar Louie FDD is filed with state franchise regulators in 2026. The embedded PDF viewer below lets vendors confirm Item 8's supplier language directly. Talk to FranCloud for a ranked target list across the full-service restaurant segment.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Bar Louie, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
Read the original document for the filing figures and their terms, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
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FDD alert
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
1 operators run 1 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Ownership
The portfolio behind Bar Louie
Ownership: blh acquisition.
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.