The computer system must be set up to enable us to have independent and immediate access to the information monitored, generated and stored by the system, and there is no contractual limitation on our access or use of the information we obtain. You must install and maintain equipment and a high-speed telecommunication line in accordance with our specifications to permit us to access the computer system (or other computer hardware and software) either electronically or at the Restaurant premises. This will permit us to electronically inspect and monitor information concerning your Restaurant’s Gross Sales and any other information that may be contained or stored in the equipment and software. You must make sure that we have access at the times and in the manner we specify, at your cost. Unless we designate a different system, you must purchase the Aloha computer/point of sale system. The approved supplier for the point of sale system, if we designate one, will be included in the Manual. We expect that the point of sale system will cost approximately $22,000 to $27,000. You must purchase a support contract for your point of sale system, which we anticipate will cost approximately $1,000 per year. You must obtain any upgrades and/or updates to the software used with the point of sale system, at your expense. In addition, we may require you to update and/or upgrade all or a portion of your point of sale system during the term of your Franchise Agreement, at your expense. The Franchise Agreement does not limit our ability to require you to update and/or upgrade your point of sale system or the cost of any update and/or upgrade. Neither we nor any affiliate of ours is responsible for providing you with any upgrades, updates or maintenance for your point of sale system.
From the filings
Black Rock Bar & Grill
Full service restaurantBlack Rock Bar & Grill is a full-service restaurant franchisor headquartered in Michigan with 12 total units (11 franchised, 1 company-owned). The FDD mandates the Aloha POS system and names several social platforms, while procurement runs through an approved-supplier list. Software vendors are pitching a small but concentrated operator base, primarily in MI, FL, and OH.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
4% 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 (FY2025)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
2 technology requirements are recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.
The following Financial Performance Representation shown in Table 4 are unaudited average Food Costs derived from the actual historical performance for the 2024 calendar year of all of our franchisees who have been open for at least 12 months as of December 31, 2024. Financial results of our affiliate, Fountain Square Restaurant Holdings, Inc., which operates a substantially similar business to the business being franchised are not included in Table 4. Since we measured only those Franchised Restaurants that completed 12 months of operation as of December 31, 2024, all 11 of our Franchised Restaurants met this criteria. In Table 4, we display the average performance of the 11 Franchised Restaurants and of these, how many met or exceeded the stated average Food Costs performance, as well as the median, and low and Black Rock Bar & Grill UNIT FDD 2025 RS 50 high range. Food Costs include all food and non-alcoholic beverage inventory from Sysco and our approved produce suppliers, from whom we have derived the data to develop this financial performance representation. Table 4 Average Number Percentage Median Low High Food Costs exceeding exceeding Average (Less Average than average percentage) 38% 5 45% 38% 30% 44%
In addition to these activities, we may also establish an intranet through which downloads of operations and marketing materials, exchanges of franchisee e-mail, System discussion forums and System- wide communications (among other activities) can be done. You may not maintain your own website; otherwise maintain a presence or advertise on the internet or any other mode of electronic commerce in connection with your Restaurant; establish a link to any website we establish at or from any other website or page; or at any time establish any other website, electronic commerce presence or URL which in whole or in part incorporates “Black Rock Bar & Grill” name or any name confusingly similar to the Proprietary Marks. You are not permitted to promote your Restaurant or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as, without limitation, Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, LinkedIn or Twitter, without our prior written consent. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Restaurant’s operation, including prohibitions on your and the Restaurant’s employees posting or blogging comments about the Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and MySpace, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools), whether currently existing or yet to be created. We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
You are not permitted to promote your Restaurant or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as, without limitation, Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, LinkedIn or Twitter, without our prior written consent. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Restaurant’s operation, including prohibitions on your and the Restaurant’s employees posting or blogging comments about the Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and MySpace, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools), whether currently existing or yet to be created. We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
You are not permitted to promote your Restaurant or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as, without limitation, Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, LinkedIn or Twitter, without our prior written consent. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Restaurant’s operation, including prohibitions on your and the Restaurant’s employees posting or blogging comments about the Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and MySpace, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools), whether currently existing or yet to be created. We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
Black Rock Bar & Grill UNIT FDD 2025 RS 10 (1) (2) (3) (4) Fees (1) Amount Due Date Remarks Management Fee 5% of Gross Sales, plus If incurred We may step in and manage expenses your Restaurant in certain circumstances, such as death, disability or prolonged absence. We will charge a management fee if we manage your Restaurant, and you must reimburse our expenses Point of Sale $1,000 Yearly Payable to approved supplier. System Support Your Point of Sale System must be kept up to date Aloha Pulse $125 Monthly Payable to the third party supplier (NCR.) It is a real time sales and labor reporting app. Notes: 1. Except as otherwise provided, all fees and expenses described in this Item 6 are nonrefundable and are uniformly imposed. Except as otherwise indicated in the preceding chart, we impose all fees and expenses listed and you must pay them to us. The amounts given may be due to changes in market conditions, our cost of providing services and future policy changes. At the present time we have no plans to increase payments over which we have control.
You are not permitted to promote your Restaurant or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as, without limitation, Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, LinkedIn or Twitter, without our prior written consent. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Restaurant’s operation, including prohibitions on your and the Restaurant’s employees posting or blogging comments about the Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and MySpace, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools), whether currently existing or yet to be created. We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
You are not permitted to promote your Restaurant or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner on any social or networking websites, such as, without limitation, Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, LinkedIn or Twitter, without our prior written consent. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Restaurant’s operation, including prohibitions on your and the Restaurant’s employees posting or blogging comments about the Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and MySpace, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools), whether currently existing or yet to be created. We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
28 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 explicit no's; 4 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
The computer system must be set up to enable us to have independent and immediate access to the information monitored, generated and stored by the system, and there is no contractual limitation on our access or use of the information we obtain.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall also submit to us, for review or auditing, such other forms, reports, records, information and data as we may reasonably designate, and which pertain to the Franchised Business, in the form and at the times and places reasonably required by us, upon request and as specified from time to time in writing.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
Our affiliate Black Rock Distribution Co. is the only approved supplier of equipment or products such as our cooking rocks, ovens, oven parts, various plates, cooking tools, utensils and small wares that you must purchase or lease.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We may revoke our prior approval of any product or supplier at any time, and after your receipt of written notice from us regarding our revocation you must stop using that product or stop purchasing from that supplier.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
896333Item 8
In the last fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, we and our affiliates earned Allowances in the amount of $896,333.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We have the right to collect and retain any and all allowances, rebates, credits, incentives, or benefits (collectively, “Allowances”) offered by manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors to you, to us, or to our affiliates, based upon your purchases of products and services from manufacturers, suppliers, and…
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?
70Item 8
approximately 70% to 80% of your total purchases in the continuing operation of the Restaurant.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 6
(Franchise current initial franchise Franchise Agreement Agreement) fee for a single unit franchise Transfer Fee (Multi- 50% of our then- Upon completion of Unit Operator current initial franchise the transfer Agreement) fee for a single unit franchise Product or Supplier $250 With submission to Payable if you…
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you wish to purchase, lease or use any products that we have not previously approved, or purchase or lease from a supplier we have not previously approved, you must submit a written request for approval or you must request the supplier to do so.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
Upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, Franchisor may exercise its authority, Black Rock Bar & Grill FA 2025 RS 19 pursuant to such documents, to obtain any and all of Franchisee’s rights to the telephone numbers of the Franchised Business and all related telephone directory listings and other business…
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to comply with the then-current Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards as those standards may be revised and modified by the PCI Security Standards Council (see www.pcisecuritystandards.org), or any successor organization or standards that we may reasonably specify.
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall participate in all customer surveys and satisfaction audits, which may require that you provide discounted or complimentary products, provided that such discounted or complimentary sales shall not be included in the Gross Sales of the Franchised Business.
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
As we reasonably determine necessary, visits to and evaluations of the Restaurant and the products and services provided to make sure that our high standards of quality, appearance and service of the System are maintained.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
We may from time to time revise the contents of the Manuals and the contents of any other manuals and materials created or approved for use in the operation of the Franchised Business.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesFranchise agreement
No site may be used for the location of the Franchised Business unless it is first accepted in writing by us.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesItem 11
You may not maintain your own website; otherwise maintain a presence or advertise on the internet or any other mode of electronic commerce in connection with your Restaurant; establish a link to any website we establish at or from any other website or page; or at any time establish any other website, electronic…
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesFranchise agreement
you shall be required to spend a minimum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) on a grand opening advertising campaign to advertise and promote the opening of the Franchised Business.
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
At a minimum you must spent 2% of Gross Sales or $6,000 each month, whichever amount is higher, on local advertising for your Restaurant, and each month you must spend the equivalent of 1% of retail cost for food promotions.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
If a Cooperative has been established for a geographic area where your Restaurant is located when the Franchise Agreement is signed, or if any Cooperative is established during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you must become a member of the Cooperative.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall not purchase or lease from any supplier until and unless such supplier has been approved in writing by us.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must obtain all food and beverage items, ingredients, supplies, materials, fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including point of sale, computer hardware and software, security systems, communication systems and audio/visual equipment), and other products used or offered for sale at the Restaurant solely from…
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
At all times, you shall maintain credit card relationships with the credit and debit card issuers or sponsors, check or credit verification services, financial center services, and electronic funds transfer systems (together, “Credit Card Vendors”) that we designate as mandatory.
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
The Royalty Fee and Brand Development Fee will be withdrawn from your designated bank account by electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) weekly on Wednesday based on the Restaurant’s Gross Sales for the preceding week ending Sunday.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 6
We have developed a gift card program for Black Rock Restaurants. and you must participate in it.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
You must also retain other personnel as are needed to operate and manage the Restaurant.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
Unless we designate a different system, you must purchase the Aloha computer/point of sale system.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
The computer system must be set up to enable us to have independent and immediate access to the information monitored, generated and stored by the system, and there is no contractual limitation on our access or use of the information we obtain.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
We reserve the right to conduct additional or refresher training programs, seminars and other related activities regarding the operation of the Franchised Business.
The filing answers no to 2 questions
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 11
- Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Black Rock Bar & Grill
Black Rock Bar & Grill operates 12 total units — 11 franchised and 1 company-owned — across Michigan (7), Florida (3), and Ohio (2). The FDD reports an Item 19 average of $3,424,595 for franchised restaurants that completed 12 months of operation as of December 31, 2024. Franchised outlets declined 21.4% year over year, so the addressable base is contracting rather than expanding. For software vendors, this is a small, concentrated target: 13 mapped operators, all single-unit, with no multi-unit franchisees.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 2 names Lonny Morganroth (Chief Executive Officer), Branden Morganroth (Chief Financial Officer), Bradley Gasser (Vice President of Franchise Operations), Jeff Cox (Director of Operations), and Madelyn Coponen (Director of Marketing). The FDD requires franchisees to use systems that meet franchisor specifications and that can electronically interface with the franchisor's computer system. That makes HQ operations and finance the practical gatekeepers for any software that touches POS, reporting, or back-office workflows.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Item 11 obliges franchisees to use the Aloha point-of-sale system by NCR Voyix. The filing states: "Unless we designate a different system, you must purchase the Aloha computer/point of sale system." Franchisees must also purchase a support contract for the POS, anticipated at roughly $1,000 per year, and must obtain upgrades and updates at their own expense. The franchisor is not responsible for providing upgrades, updates, or maintenance for the POS.
The FDD also names NCR by NCR Voyix in Item 6, and Sysco in Item 19. Item 11 names Facebook by Meta, Instagram by Meta, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter by X. The filing does not attach a binding requirement to those named platforms beyond the general obligation to use systems that meet franchisor specifications.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 requires franchisees to purchase all food, beverage, supplies, equipment, and technology solely from suppliers who demonstrate the ability to meet the franchisor's standards. The franchisor maintains an approved-supplier list in the Manual and may negotiate system-wide purchase arrangements. Franchisees may propose new suppliers, but approval is discretionary. The franchisor estimates that 70% to 80% of continuing operating purchases will come from approved suppliers or conform to specifications.
Renewals under Item 17 are automatic for franchisees in substantial compliance, with a 20-year renewal term. The franchisor may require updated documents and a renewal fee, and may refuse renewal if the franchisee lacks a written lease commitment for the renewal period. With no multi-unit operators and a shrinking franchised base, software vendors should treat each unit as a separate sales cycle, with HQ approval required for any system that must interface with the franchisor's infrastructure.
How to read the Black Rock Bar & Grill FDD
The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below. Item 2 lists the officers, Item 8 covers supplier restrictions, Item 11 sets technology and training requirements, Item 17 governs renewal and termination, and Item 19 provides the financial performance representation. For a ranked target list of franchise systems that fit your software, talk to FranCloud.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Black Rock Bar & Grill, answered from the filing
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
13 operators run 13 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| MI | 7 |
|---|---|
| FL | 3 |
| OH | 2 |
Related Full service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.