Chatime Franchise

The vendor opportunity at Chatime

Chatime operates a compact US footprint of 18 total units, with 16 franchised and 2 company-owned locations. The brand’s headquarters is in DE. While the system is small, its technology mandates are unusually comprehensive for a quick-service restaurant chain of this size. For a software vendor, the opportunity lies in displacing an incumbent mandated system or integrating with a tightly controlled, modern stack where every location uses the same core tools.

Who controls software purchasing

Purchasing authority sits at the HQ level. The Franchise Disclosure Document lists Yao-Hui (Henry) Wang, Li-Yu (Teresa) Wang, and Chen (Charlley) Zhao as directors, with Zhao also serving as Chairperson. The most direct points of contact for a vendor pitch are Steven Rothenstein, Head of US Development, and Carter A. Johnson, Franchise Launch Coordinator. These are the executives responsible for operational rollout and system standards, making them the likely buyers or influencers for any software that touches store operations.

Mandated and current tech stack

The 2026 FDD mandates six specific technology systems. For in-store operations, Revel is the required point of sale system and Bite provides the customer-facing self-serve kiosk. Workforce management is handled by Deputy for time and attendance and rostering. Digital engagement runs through Paytronix, which powers the loyalty digital application and CRM. Delivery aggregation is managed through Olo middleware. Finally, Samsung VXT is mandated for digital menu boards and supporting software. This stack leaves no obvious gaps in core QSR operational software, meaning any vendor pitch must be framed as a superior replacement or a complementary integration.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD does not include an Item 8 procurement extract in the available data, so the formal supplier designation process is not disclosed. However, the presence of named, mandated vendors across multiple categories strongly implies a designated-supplier model. The franchise agreement has a 10-year initial term. Renewal conditions include a requirement to renovate and refurbish the store as directed, execute a new agreement that may have materially different terms, and complete additional training. This renewal event, with its renovation trigger, is the most logical window for a vendor to propose a change in the mandated technology stack.

How to read the Chatime FDD

The full FDD is embedded below. For software vendors, the critical sections are Item 11, which details the franchisor’s obligations regarding the mandated technology systems, and Item 1, which identifies the executives who control the brand. The document was filed with state franchise regulators in 2026. Reviewing the exact language around technology mandates and the general release required at renewal will clarify the contractual barriers to entry. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, FranCloud can help.