Unless we specifically approve, you do not have the right to use other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing, to make sales outside your Protected Territory. Otherwise, and except for our guidelines regarding advertising in general, which can be found in our Franchise Agreement, we place no specific limits on your ability to advertise or solicit or accept orders from outside of your Protected Territory to be filled at your Restaurant and you may not provide delivery services or catering services (directly or through a first party or any third party, including Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, DoorDash and other providers) without first obtaining our prior written consent, which we may grant or deny in our sole discretion, and which if granted, may be subject to any conditions and restrictions we may impose, including your strict adherence to our system standards and restrictions regarding the types of products and services you may offer and the geographic area in which you may provide such delivery and/or catering services. The exclusivity of your Protected Territory will not depend on the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
From the filings
Buffalo's Cafe
Full service restaurantSoftware purchasing at Buffalo's Cafe is controlled at the FAT Brands level, where Drew Martin serves as Chief Information Officer. The FDD names DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates by Uber, and Uber Eats, and mandates an approved Information System. The addressable market is 12 franchised domestic restaurants.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
6% 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
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.
Unless we specifically approve, you do not have the right to use other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing, to make sales outside your Protected Territory. Otherwise, and except for our guidelines regarding advertising in general, which can be found in our Franchise Agreement, we place no specific limits on your ability to advertise or solicit or accept orders from outside of your Protected Territory to be filled at your Restaurant and you may not provide delivery services or catering services (directly or through a first party or any third party, including Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, DoorDash and other providers) without first obtaining our prior written consent, which we may grant or deny in our sole discretion, and which if granted, may be subject to any conditions and restrictions we may impose, including your strict adherence to our system standards and restrictions regarding the types of products and services you may offer and the geographic area in which you may provide such delivery and/or catering services. The exclusivity of your Protected Territory will not depend on the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
Unless we specifically approve, you do not have the right to use other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing, to make sales outside your Protected Territory. Otherwise, and except for our guidelines regarding advertising in general, which can be found in our Franchise Agreement, we place no specific limits on your ability to advertise or solicit or accept orders from outside of your Protected Territory to be filled at your Restaurant and you may not provide delivery services or catering services (directly or through a first party or any third party, including Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, DoorDash and other providers) without first obtaining our prior written consent, which we may grant or deny in our sole discretion, and which if granted, may be subject to any conditions and restrictions we may impose, including your strict adherence to our system standards and restrictions regarding the types of products and services you may offer and the geographic area in which you may provide such delivery and/or catering services. The exclusivity of your Protected Territory will not depend on the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
Unless we specifically approve, you do not have the right to use other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing, to make sales outside your Protected Territory. Otherwise, and except for our guidelines regarding advertising in general, which can be found in our Franchise Agreement, we place no specific limits on your ability to advertise or solicit or accept orders from outside of your Protected Territory to be filled at your Restaurant and you may not provide delivery services or catering services (directly or through a first party or any third party, including Uber Eats, Postmates, GrubHub, DoorDash and other providers) without first obtaining our prior written consent, which we may grant or deny in our sole discretion, and which if granted, may be subject to any conditions and restrictions we may impose, including your strict adherence to our system standards and restrictions regarding the types of products and services you may offer and the geographic area in which you may provide such delivery and/or catering services. The exclusivity of your Protected Territory will not depend on the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
22 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 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
We and our affiliates do have independent access to the information generated and stored in your Information System.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
We and/or our affiliates will derive revenue (to include rebates and other material consideration) on account of these purchases and leases and may impose mark-ups on products and equipment sold to and/or leased by franchisees.
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 11
There is presently no advertising council, however there is an advisory board of franchisees with whom we hold occasional meetings, typically annually, during which franchisees who volunteer to attend, provide their thoughts, suggestions and viewpoints, but all decisions regarding advertising are in our discretion.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We may periodically modify specifications for and components of the Information System.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We and/or our affiliates will derive revenue (to include rebates and other material consideration) on account of these purchases and leases and may impose mark-ups on products and equipment sold to and/or leased by franchisees.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you wish to procure any items from a supplier other than ones we have previously approved or designated, you must deliver written notice seeking approval of the supplier.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesItem 17
assign to us all of your business telephone numbers.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
Conduct, as we deem advisable, inspections of the Restaurant and evaluations of the products sold and services rendered in and from the Restaurant.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 14
We may modify or supplement the Manuals upon notice or delivery to you.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
Once you have located a potential site, you must submit to us for our review a real estate site evaluation package, including demographic and other information regarding the proposed site and neighboring areas.
Marketing
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 7
You must spend a minimum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) on a Grand Opening promotion for your Restaurant which must take place no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the initial opening of your Restaurant and no later than thirty (30) days following such initial opening.
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
In addition to contributing to the BNAF, you must also spend 2% of net sales each calendar quarter on local advertising and promotion of your Restaurant.
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 8
You must accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express as well as such other credit and debit cards and other non-cash systems, loyalty and gift cards as we specify, and you must obtain, replace and modify all equipment required to implement the same in accordance with our policies and procedures.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You will also purchase products from a designated vendor that GAC Supply sells to that vendor for distribution to you.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must purchase all furnishings (including indoor and outdoor furniture), fixtures, decor, signage, equipment, computer hardware, software, uniforms, merchandise, flat screen television monitors, menu board system, in-store music system and sound system, inventory and other supplies, food products, ingredients…
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
At our request, we may require you to pay Royalty and BNAF payments due by electronic funds transfer or any similar arrangement, in which case you must sign the documents that are necessary for us to implement the payment system.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 8
You must accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express as well as such other credit and debit cards and other non-cash systems, loyalty and gift cards as we specify, and you must obtain, replace and modify all equipment required to implement the same in accordance with our policies and procedures.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 11
Throughout the term of the Franchise Agreement, you must maintain in the employ of the Restaurant at least one General Manager who has completed the Manager Training Program or has been certified pursuant to BFCI’s General Manager Certification Program, and at least one Assistant Manager who has completed the Manager…
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesItem 16
You must use certain uniforms approved by us.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You must purchase or lease and maintain, at your own expense, only those brands, types, makes and/or models of Information Systems computer hardware and software, communications hardware and software, point of sale hardware and software, kitchen display systems, kiosk(s), data and/or databases and any other items…
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We and our affiliates do have independent access to the information generated and stored in your Information System.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We will provide additional training at your expense, including any travel, lodging and meals and other related costs, if you make a reasonable written request for this training.
The filing answers no to 2 questions
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Buffalo's Cafe
Buffalo's Cafe operates 12 franchised domestic full-service restaurants, with no company-owned units. The Item 19 figure is $2,350,384 for a cohort of 10 out of 12 full-service and franchised domestic Restaurants for Buffalo's Cafe, plus 42 franchised Fatburger co-branded Restaurants in operation for 12 full months. Franchised outlet count declined 7.7% year over year.
Who controls software purchasing
Buffalo's Cafe is part of FAT Brands, a strategic multi-brand operator whose portfolio includes Johnny Rockets, Elevation Burger, Fatburger, Twin Peaks, Native Grill and Wings, and Hot Dog On A Stick. Drew Martin is named as Chief Information Officer of FAT Brands. Taylor Wiederhorn is President and CEO of BFCI and Co-CEO and Development Officer of FAT; Kenneth J. Kuick is Treasurer and CFO of BFCI and CFO and Co-CEO of FAT; Mason Wiederhorn is Chief Brand Officer of FAT. Technology decisions likely consolidate at the FAT Brands level.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Item 11 requires franchisees to purchase or lease and maintain only those brands, types, makes, and models of Information System hardware and software that the franchisor specifies. This includes point of sale hardware and software, kitchen display systems, kiosks, and data management tools. Franchisees may not use any hardware or software system or component that has not been approved. The FDD names DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates by Uber, and Uber Eats in Item 12.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 establishes an approved-supplier list. Franchisees must purchase most items from currently approved suppliers, with designated sole-source suppliers for construction, menu systems, and decor. Franchisees may propose a supplier for approval. The franchisor has buying arrangements with approved suppliers for volume discounts. Renewal terms are 10 years, subject to signing the then-current franchise agreement, paying a renewal fee equal to 40% of then-current Initial Fees, and renovating the premises.
How to read the Buffalo's Cafe FDD
The embedded PDF viewer below contains the brand's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 2 names the officers, Item 8 sets supplier restrictions, Item 11 covers technology and training, Item 17 governs renewal, transfer, and termination, and Item 19 provides financial performance representations. For a ranked target list of franchise systems, talk to FranCloud.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Buffalo's Cafe, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
42 operators run 43 mapped locations. 1 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| CA | 26 |
|---|---|
| WA | 3 |
| AZ | 3 |
| TX | 3 |
| PA | 2 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Buffalo's Cafe
Ownership: FAT Brands.
Related Full service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.