Brinker International Payroll

The vendor opportunity at Brinker International Payroll

Brinker International Payroll operates 52 full-service restaurant locations, 49 of which are company-owned and only 3 franchised. The brand posted 50% year-over-year unit growth, but the franchised footprint remains tiny. For software vendors, the addressable market is essentially the corporate parent: 3 franchisees are unlikely to drive independent purchasing decisions. The royalty rate is 1.25%, and the initial franchise term is just 1 year—an unusually short commitment that may signal frequent contract renewal activity at the franchisor level.

No average unit volume (AUV) is disclosed in the 2025 FDD. The brand is independently owned, with no parent company on file. This narrow ownership structure means any software sale must win over a centralized HQ team in Texas.

Who controls software purchasing

The FDD lists five key executives in Item 1. Joseph DePinto serves as Chairman of the Board. Kevin Hochman is President of Maggiano’s Little Italy, the brand’s core concept. Mika Ware holds the CFO title as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Aaron White is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief People Officer—a combined operations and HR role that likely influences operational technology decisions. Doug Comings is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Chili’s Grill & Bar.

No dedicated CIO or CTO is named, so the buying center for software likely involves the COO and CFO. Vendors should target Aaron White for operational tools and Mika Ware for financial or payment systems. The absence of a named technology executive suggests that IT purchasing may be managed within operations or finance.

Mandated and current tech stack

Brinker International Payroll mandates a specific, integrated technology stack. The Aloha Kitchen display system is required, along with Aloha POS by NCR Voyix. Payment processing runs through NCR connected payments P2PE, a point-to-point encryption platform. Digital ordering is handled by Olo by Olo Inc., including Olo’s Braintree payment solution.

This stack leaves little room for third-party POS, payments, or online ordering platforms. The NCR and Olo mandates are explicit in the FDD, meaning franchisees cannot substitute alternatives. Vendors selling complementary tools—such as labor scheduling, inventory management, or guest analytics—may find an opening if they integrate with NCR and Olo. However, any sale must clear corporate approval.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD does not include an Item 8 extract, so the procurement model—whether designated supplier, approved supplier, or open—is not disclosed. This gap makes it difficult to assess how rigid the supply chain is for non-mandated categories. Vendors should inquire directly about approved vendor processes during discovery.

Item 17 outlines renewal conditions. Franchisees must provide notice between 12 and 24 months before the end of the initial term. They must renovate and modernize the restaurant, remain in good standing, and sign the then-current franchise agreement, which may include higher fees and a successor fee. The renewal term can extend up to 10 years. The short 1-year initial term, combined with these renewal triggers, suggests that franchisees face frequent compliance checkpoints. For software vendors, this cadence could create periodic openings when franchisees are required to update systems as part of modernization.

How to read the Brinker International Payroll FDD

The 2025 FDD is the primary source for understanding technology mandates, executive leadership, and contractual terms. Item 1 lists the five executives named above. Item 11 details the mandated Aloha and Olo systems. Item 17 governs renewal and modernization requirements. Because no Item 8 procurement language is included, vendors should treat the supply chain as a black box until clarified by the franchisor.

For software vendors evaluating whether to pitch Brinker International Payroll, the data points to a small, HQ-controlled target with a locked-down tech stack and frequent renewal activity. If you need a ranked list of franchise targets matched to your product, FranCloud can help you identify the right opportunities.