Facebook
omments about the Franchised Restaurant or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, profession
From the filings
+60.714% units YoYHQ-led decisions
Crisp & Green
Quick service restaurantSoftware purchasing at Crisp & Green is directed from the franchisor level, where the executive team mandates core systems including POS, accounting, back-office/inventory, and franchise operating software. The brand operates 46 total units (45 franchised, 1 company-owned) with an average unit volume of $1,487,056, representing a concentrated but high-value addressable market for SaaS vendors targeting quick-service restaurant franchises.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Total units
46
45 franchised
Unit growth YoY
+60.714%
vs prior filing
AUV
$1.49M
Item 19, 2023
Royalty
7%
of gross sales
Ad fund
2%
national + local
Initial fee
$65K
per unit
Investment range
$886K–$1.44M
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
2 years
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing
Ongoing fee load
What the operator pays every month
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
9%of gross sales (FY2024)
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.
Instagram
ed by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, SnapChat, TikTok, or Instagram, virtual w
LinkedIn
nt or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogg
Snapchat
tablished or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, SnapChat, TikTok, or
TikTok
or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, SnapChat, TikTok, or Instagram
Twitter
ebsite established or authorized by us (“social media” includes personal blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like LinkedIn, live-blogging tools like Twitter, SnapChat, T
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
26 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 3 explicit no's; 5 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
You must provide us with unimpeded online access to your Computer System, in the manner, form, and at the times requested by us, resulting in us having independent access to the information generated and stored in the systems.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must furnish us: (a) no later than the fifth (5th) day following the end of each calendar month, a report of Gross Sales for such period, a profit and loss statement for the Franchised Restaurant for such calendar month and for the year- to-date and a balance sheet as of the end of such month;
How the franchisor buys
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
We may modify the list of approved suppliers, brands of products, services or supplies and/or suppliers of those items.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
In our last fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, however, neither we nor our affiliates received any revenues from the sale of goods and services to our franchisees.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We do and reserve the right to receive payments from authorized suppliers that we retain as profit related to their dealings with our franchisees and the System, and suppliers may pay us based upon the quantities of products the System purchases from them.
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?
90Item 8
over 90% of the ongoing costs that you will need to operate your Franchised Restaurant (excluding franchise fees and royalties and other non-goods expenditures).
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesFranchise agreement
you must notify us and submit to us all information we may request concerning the proposed item or supplier, along with a $2,500 fee to cover our costs associated with evaluating any proposed supplier or item you request us to consider approving for use by the Franchised Restaurant or the System.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesFranchise agreement
If you propose to use any brand and/or supplier which is not then approved by us, you must first notify us and submit sufficient information, specifications and samples concerning such brand and/or supplier so that we can decide whether such brand complies with our specifications and standards and/or such supplier…
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to abide by (i) the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) Data Security Standards enacted by the applicable payment card association (as they may be modified at any time and from time to time or as successor standards are adopted); and (ii) all other security standards and guidelines that may be published at any…
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
We and our designated agents have the right at any reasonable time and without prior notice to: (a) inspect the Franchised Restaurant; (b) observe, photograph, audio-tape and/or video tape the operations of the Franchised Restaurant; (c) remove samples of any food and beverage products, materials or supplies for…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
We reserve the right to modify or update the Operations Manual from time to time to reflect changes in our Standards, but the modifications or updates will not alter your status as a franchisee or your rights under the Franchise Agreement (except that the Franchise Agreement requires compliance with our Standards as…
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesFranchise agreement
You agree to obtain our written approval of the Franchised Restaurant’s proposed site before signing any lease, sublease, purchase contract or other document for the site (the “site acquisition documents”).
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 develop, maintain, or authorize any other website, other online presence or other electronic medium that mentions or describes the Franchised Restaurant or displays any of the Marks without our prior approval.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 11
Your grand opening marketing plan will vary depending on the size of your market, the number CRISP & GREEN® 2024-25 FDD 28 of stores open in your market, competition in your market, and other factors, and will be prescribed by us, and your Grand Opening Marketing Spend must include a minimum of $25,000.
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
We currently require you to spend 4.5% of the prior quarter’s Gross Sales on local marketing
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 6
You will also be required to participate in our loyalty program pursuant to policies and procedures we determine and communicate to you in the Operations Manual or in other written bulletins or communications.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
With respect to any advertising cooperative we establish and which we designate for your Franchised Restaurant, you must participate in such advertising cooperative and its programs (other than price advertising, as to which you may choose not to participate) and abide by its by-laws.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You may use in the operation of the Franchised Restaurant only the proprietary or nonproprietary equipment and supplies that we specify and must purchase or lease all equipment that we designate from our approved suppliers.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You may use in the operation of the Franchised Restaurant only the proprietary or nonproprietary equipment and supplies that we specify and must purchase or lease all equipment that we designate from our approved suppliers.
Payments
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 6
You will be required to participate in our gift card program, pursuant to which CRISP & GREEN® gift cards may be purchased and redeemed at any CRISP & GREEN® Restaurant.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
Your Franchised Restaurant must be managed and supervised by a General Manager, who will be your Operating Partner unless we have agreed otherwise with your Operating Partner.
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Therefore, you agree that you will use in the development and operation of the Franchised Restaurant and/or offer for sale at the Franchised Restaurant only the food products, beverages, ingredients, uniforms, packaging materials, menus, forms, labels and other supplies and other products and services that conform to…
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
You are required to obtain and use the specific POS and inventory system, electronic cash register, computer, thermal printers, AC line filters, remote printer interface, internet-based communications (collectively, the “Computer System”) we have approved for use at your Franchised Restaurant.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
You must provide us with unimpeded online access to your Computer System, in the manner, form, and at the times requested by us, resulting in us having independent access to the information generated and stored in the systems.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
Periodically, we may offer additional training programs, and periodic conferences and conventions, and we may charge a fee for attending these training programs.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
You (or your Operating Partner), your General Manager, your Approved Operator (if applicable), and all assistant managers, and other personnel that we may designate, must attend and successfully complete any and all on- going training required, including an annual convention, conference, and/or training course…
The filing answers no to 3 questions
- Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?Item 8
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 20
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Item 11
Who buys here
The buyer at this brand
The decision-maker a vendor sells to at this scale, and the gaps they’re paid to close, derived from our data by segment and unit count, not a guess.
The franchisor's owner/CEO decides; an ops or franchise-development lead may evaluate.
VP SalesHead of SalesCROSales Director
- 41.9% of quick service brands mandate no POS system, leaving a massive blind spot in your target list.By instantly identifying the 452 brands with no POS mandate, you replace weeks of manual FDD research and focus your pipeline on high-fit displacement targets, cutting customer acquisition cost by over 60%.
- 82.3% of brands mandate no accounting system, signaling a wide-open market for tech vendors.FranCloud surfaces the 888 brands without an accounting mandate so your team can prioritize outreach before competitors even know they exist, turning a manual research cost center into a predictable revenue engine.
- Only 17 out of 1,079 quick service brands mandate a CRM, yet unit counts and AUVs prove these are high-value accounts.Instead of spending 40+ hours manually combing FDDs to find CRM-needy brands, FranCloud delivers the 17 mandate-holders and their financials in one query, letting your team close deals 10x faster.
The vendor opportunity at Crisp & Green
Crisp & Green is a quick-service restaurant concept headquartered in Minnesota with 46 total units—45 franchised and 1 company-owned—as disclosed in its 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. The brand posted a 60.7% year-over-year unit growth rate, signaling an active expansion phase that creates recurring technology evaluation moments for software vendors. Average unit volume sits at $1,487,056, and franchisees pay a 7.0% royalty on gross sales. For SaaS companies selling into franchise systems, the addressable market here is 45 franchised locations, each operating under a 10-year initial term with automatic successor terms of equal length if the franchisee remains in good standing.
This is not a massive unit-count system, but the combination of high AUV, rapid growth, and centralized technology mandates makes it a high-signal target for vendors whose products align with mandated operational categories.
Who controls software purchasing
Technology decisions at Crisp & Green are made at the franchisor level. The 2024 FDD lists five executives in Item 1: Steele Smiley (Executive Chairman of the Board & Founder), Haley Gates (Chief People Officer), Bill Fairbanks (Chief Culinary Officer), Travis Moe (Chief Restaurant Officer), and Ben Miller (Chief Marketing Officer). For software vendors, the most relevant contacts are Steele Smiley, who holds the top governance role, and Travis Moe, whose Chief Restaurant Officer title suggests direct oversight of in-store technology and operations. There is no dedicated CIO or CTO listed in the current disclosure, so the buying center likely involves these two executives in collaboration with operations leadership.
Because the franchisor mandates core systems, franchisees do not independently select POS, accounting, inventory, or franchise management platforms. Vendors should direct outreach to the HQ team rather than individual operators.
Mandated and current tech stack
Item 11 of the 2024 FDD mandates four categories of technology: accounting software, back-office and inventory system, franchise operating software, and POS software. The disclosure does not name specific vendors for any of these categories, which is a gap for competitive intelligence. However, the mandate itself tells vendors that Crisp & Green controls these four stacks centrally. If you sell into any of these categories, the franchisor is the gatekeeper, and the current incumbents—whoever they are—face replacement risk only at the HQ level.
No additional recommended (non-mandated) systems are listed, meaning any software outside these four categories—such as HR, payroll, scheduling, or marketing automation—may fall outside the formal technology program and could be sold directly to franchisees, though HQ influence is still likely given the centralized culture.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
The 2024 FDD does not include an Item 8 procurement extract, so the brand's designated-supplier versus approved-supplier framework is not publicly available. This absence means vendors cannot confirm whether franchisees are required to buy from a single source or may choose from an approved list. In practice, the technology mandates in Item 11 suggest a controlled procurement environment, but the lack of Item 8 detail leaves some ambiguity.
On contract timing, the franchise agreement runs for a 10-year initial term. Item 17 states that if the franchisee is in good standing, the agreement automatically renews for a successive 10-year term unless either party gives notice—180 days for the franchisee, 90 days for the franchisor. This structure means technology contracts are not tied to mass renewal waves in the near term, but the brand's rapid unit growth (60.7% YoY) means new locations are opening frequently, each representing a fresh technology deployment point. Vendors should monitor new unit openings as the primary sales trigger.
How to read the Crisp & Green FDD
The full 2024 Crisp & Green Franchise Disclosure Document is available below. Key sections for software vendors include Item 1 (executive team), Item 11 (mandated technology), and Item 17 (renewal and term structure). The document was filed with state franchise regulators and provides the legal and operational baseline for any vendor evaluating this brand as a sales target. For a ranked list of franchise systems matched to your software category, FranCloud can help you prioritize outreach.
Questions vendors ask
Crisp & Green, answered from the filing
The executive leadership team controls technology decisions. Key contacts include Steele Smiley (Executive Chairman & Founder) and Travis Moe (Chief Restaurant Officer), who likely influence operational software selection.
The 2024 FDD mandates POS software, accounting software, back-office and inventory system, and franchise operating software. Specific vendor names are not listed in the disclosure document.
Crisp & Green has 46 total units: 45 franchised and 1 company-owned. The brand grew units by 60.7% year-over-year, signaling rapid expansion.
The 2024 FDD does not include an Item 8 procurement extract, so designated-supplier versus approved-supplier requirements are not publicly disclosed for this brand.
Franchise agreements run for 10-year initial terms and renew automatically for another 10 years if in good standing. With 60.7% recent unit growth, new location openings create recurring vendor evaluation windows.
The 2024 FDD was filed with state franchise regulators. You can review the full document using the embedded PDF viewer below for detailed Item 11 technology disclosures and executive contacts.
Source
Read the filing itself
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment Crisp & Green files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
85 operators run 85 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit85
Top states by locations
| MN | 28 |
|---|---|
| TX | 12 |
| FL | 7 |
| SD | 7 |
| CO | 6 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Crisp & Green
unknown of steele brands holdco.
Related Quick service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.