We may, from time to time, offer franchisees that meet program requirements the oppor- tunity to participate in limited-time product offerings through which franchisees prepare menu items in existing Restaurant kitchens using primarily existing products and equipment for take-out or delivery only via third party delivery platforms under separate trademarks (each a “Virtual Brand Offering”). To participate in a Virtual Brand Offering, you must execute the “New Product Offering Program Addendum” for such offering. Currently, we offer franchisees the opportunity to partici- pate in three Virtual Brand Offering Programs: 1) “The Burger Den” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer lunch and dinner menu items, including beef burgers, chicken burgers, milkshakes, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Burger Den” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platforms, (2)“The Melt Down” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including handcrafted melts, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Melt Down” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats deliv- ery platform, and (3) “Banda Burritos” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including burritos, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “Banda Burrito” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platform.
From the filings
DFO
Full service restaurantDFO's headquarters, part of Denny's, requires every franchisee to run its Standard Enterprise Technology Platform for point-of-sale and back-office functions, using only approved hardware, software, and service providers. The system spans 1,274 units, 1,212 of them franchised, though franchised outlets are down 4.79% year over year.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
4.5% 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 (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
4 technology requirements are recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.
We may, from time to time, offer franchisees that meet program requirements the oppor- tunity to participate in limited-time product offerings through which franchisees prepare menu items in existing Restaurant kitchens using primarily existing products and equipment for take-out or delivery only via third party delivery platforms under separate trademarks (each a “Virtual Brand Offering”). To participate in a Virtual Brand Offering, you must execute the “New Product Offering Program Addendum” for such offering. Currently, we offer franchisees the opportunity to partici- pate in three Virtual Brand Offering Programs: 1) “The Burger Den” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer lunch and dinner menu items, including beef burgers, chicken burgers, milkshakes, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Burger Den” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platforms, (2)“The Melt Down” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including handcrafted melts, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Melt Down” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats deliv- ery platform, and (3) “Banda Burritos” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including burritos, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “Banda Burrito” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platform.
We may, from time to time, offer franchisees that meet program requirements the oppor- tunity to participate in limited-time product offerings through which franchisees prepare menu items in existing Restaurant kitchens using primarily existing products and equipment for take-out or delivery only via third party delivery platforms under separate trademarks (each a “Virtual Brand Offering”). To participate in a Virtual Brand Offering, you must execute the “New Product Offering Program Addendum” for such offering. Currently, we offer franchisees the opportunity to partici- pate in three Virtual Brand Offering Programs: 1) “The Burger Den” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer lunch and dinner menu items, including beef burgers, chicken burgers, milkshakes, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Burger Den” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platforms, (2)“The Melt Down” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including handcrafted melts, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Melt Down” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats deliv- ery platform, and (3) “Banda Burritos” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including burritos, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “Banda Burrito” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platform.
We may, from time to time, offer franchisees that meet program requirements the oppor- tunity to participate in limited-time product offerings through which franchisees prepare menu items in existing Restaurant kitchens using primarily existing products and equipment for take-out or delivery only via third party delivery platforms under separate trademarks (each a “Virtual Brand Offering”). To participate in a Virtual Brand Offering, you must execute the “New Product Offering Program Addendum” for such offering. Currently, we offer franchisees the opportunity to partici- pate in three Virtual Brand Offering Programs: 1) “The Burger Den” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer lunch and dinner menu items, including beef burgers, chicken burgers, milkshakes, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Burger Den” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platforms, (2)“The Melt Down” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including handcrafted melts, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “The Melt Down” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats deliv- ery platform, and (3) “Banda Burritos” through which participating franchisees utilize their existing Restaurant kitchens, products and equipment to prepare and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items including burritos, certain sides items, beverages and other products we designate under the “Banda Burrito” trademark for take-out or delivery only on the DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates or UberEats delivery platform.
You must participate in the integrated online ordering system we designate for the New Product Offerings, which may be Olo or another online ordering program we designate. For each Virtual Brand Offering concept there is a $5.00 per month fee and a $0.09 trans- action fee payable to Olo for the integration of a new concept through Olo Rails We have established and maintain an intranet for the System through www.den- nys.onelogin.com (“Intranet”). We may post, update, and distribute the Manuals and other confi- dential information through the Intranet, and may otherwise use the Intranet to communicate with you and other franchisees. We have no obligation to maintain it indefinitely, and we may disman- tle it at any time. (Franchise Agreement, Section 5.11).
NOTE 9: Restaurants using the Standard Enterprise Technology Platform will pay a weekly fee for technology support (“SETP Support Fee”), payable through your franchise account. The SETP Support Fee includes technology support, standard reporting, and menu/discount maintenance based on the marketing calendar. This fee will adjust as necessary based on planned support requirements. The current SETP Support Fee is $55 per week. In addition, we collect recurring fees on behalf of third parties: data extraction and software delivery $60 annually (DINE only), end- point protection $25 per device, and software subscription of $125 per month for Xenial and $48.65 per month for DINE. Additional fees may be required based on the optional services you choose. We may increase these fees, including the SETP Support Fee, at any time, provided, however, that such increase will never be more than (1) the amount equal to any increase in our actual costs to provide the prod- ucts and services associated with this fee since the last time we established or increased this fee, plus (2) 20% of the total cost to provide the products and ser- vices associated with this fee. Additional menu maintenance, specialized data ex- tracts or reporting, and all other service requests are subject to charges and ex- penses. These charges are collected weekly, monthly, or annually through your franchise finance account based on vendor invoicing. (See Exhibit J) Customer-facing payment terminals from Verifone have a monthly service fee of $28 per device. We use a mobile and online ordering system through Mobo Systems, Inc. (Olo). With Olo, customers can place an order through mobile or online devices connected to the internet (such as a smartphone or computer) and submit credit card payment. For Standard Enterprise Technology Platform units, the order will automatically print on restaurants' front of house printers, kitchen printers or kitchen displays. For Non-Standard Enterprise Technology Platform units, the
NOTE 9: Restaurants using the Standard Enterprise Technology Platform will pay a weekly fee for technology support (“SETP Support Fee”), payable through your franchise account. The SETP Support Fee includes technology support, standard reporting, and menu/discount maintenance based on the marketing calendar. This fee will adjust as necessary based on planned support requirements. The current SETP Support Fee is $55 per week. In addition, we collect recurring fees on behalf of third parties: data extraction and software delivery $60 annually (DINE only), end- point protection $25 per device, and software subscription of $125 per month for Xenial and $48.65 per month for DINE. Additional fees may be required based on the optional services you choose. We may increase these fees, including the SETP Support Fee, at any time, provided, however, that such increase will never be more than (1) the amount equal to any increase in our actual costs to provide the prod- ucts and services associated with this fee since the last time we established or increased this fee, plus (2) 20% of the total cost to provide the products and ser- vices associated with this fee. Additional menu maintenance, specialized data ex- tracts or reporting, and all other service requests are subject to charges and ex- penses. These charges are collected weekly, monthly, or annually through your franchise finance account based on vendor invoicing. (See Exhibit J)
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
21 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 7 explicit no's; 6 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 reserve the right to connect to and extract data from your systems, including total sales and adjustments.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
One hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the franchised business during the Term, Franchisee is required to provide to the Company an unaudited compilation of a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet, in a form prescribed by Company, of the franchised business as prepared by a…
How the franchisor buys
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 8
Franchisee Association (“DFA”) created the Supply Chain Oversight Committee (“SCOC”) to collaborate on strategic supply chain oversight and improvements for traditional, full-service restaurants within the contiguous 48 United States.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 11
We may periodically modify standards for the Computer System, and, if so, you must comply with the modified standards for, or otherwise acquire, at your cost, the modified Computer System and the computer hardware and software comprising the Computer System.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
In the 2025 fiscal year, we did not derive any revenue from Denny’s franchisees’ required purchases and leases of products and services.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
However, there are a limited number of products where we and franchisees receive rebates.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
How- ever, you may purchase or lease from any approved vendor and may purchase from any other vendor you select if you first submit to us a written request for approval for the vendor.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
If Franchisee is in default of any obligations under this Agreement, Company may, in addition to its other remedies, temporarily remove references to the Restaurant from the Website and reroute phone numbers as Company deems appropriate.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Nevertheless, if ever applicable, Franchisee, its affiliates, and their respective principals will: (i) obtain, maintain and adhere to all applicable standards established by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI-DSS”);
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
Periodically inspect your Restaurant and deliver to you a report of our evaluation.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
Periodically modify the Brand Standards / HACCP to reflect changes in standards, specifications and operating procedures.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 12
You are permitted to operate the Restaurant only at the location we have approved.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesItem 16
You may not advertise, promote, post, or list information relating to the Restaurant on the Internet (through the creation of a website or otherwise), without our prior written consent.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
If an Ad Coop is established for the area in which you operate a Denny’s restaurant, you must immediately become a member of the Ad Coop and must execute the Ad Coop Membership Agreement and other documentation as we or the Ad Coop may require of members.
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
You will be required to sign our Payment Card Agreement (Exhibit I) and participate in our credit and gift card programs.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 8
All franchisees other than institutional operators of non-traditional Denny’s are required to participate in our gift card program, under which you will sell and redeem gift cards that are com- mon to all participating restaurants.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
We require that you employ at least three managers for the Restaurant.
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will also require its employees, in the performance of their duties, wear neat, clean, and uniform attire as described in the Manuals.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You must purchase, use and maintain the computerized point of sale cash collection sys- tem (including all related hardware and software) that we require or approve in writing for use in connection with the operation of the Restaurant (“Technology Platform”).
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We reserve the right to connect to and extract data from your systems, including total sales and adjustments.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
The Company or a third party may impose a modest training fee for such refresher or additional courses recommended by the Company, and Franchi- see will be responsible for any and all expenses incurred in connection with any such refresher or additional courses of training including, without limitation, the cost of…
The filing answers no to 7 questions
- Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Item 11
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Franchise agreement
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?Item 8
- Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
- Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?Franchise agreement
- Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?Franchise agreement
The vendor opportunity at DFO
DFO operates 1,274 full-service restaurants, 1,212 of them franchised, though franchised outlets are down 4.79% year over year. Item 19 of the FDD makes a financial performance representation, reporting average net sales of $1,951,330 in 2025 for traditional franchised restaurants open at least 12 months, excluding The Den restaurants. DFO is part of Denny's, alongside sibling brand Keke's Breakfast Cafe.
Who controls software purchasing
DFO's headquarters, led by CEO Chris Bode, sets the technology mandate centrally through its Standard Enterprise Technology Platform (SETP): franchisees must purchase, use, and maintain the computerized point-of-sale cash collection system the company requires or approves, and must use only approved hardware, software, and service providers. Franchisees must also participate in the integrated online ordering system DFO designates, which may be Olo or another program the company designates.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
The filing names DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats as the only approved third-party delivery platforms for its virtual brands, The Burger Den, The Meltdown, and Banda Burrito. Olo, Verifone, and Xenial are in use per the filing. Beyond those named systems, DFO mandates its own SETP for point-of-sale and back-office functions and requires franchisees to purchase the Computer System, gift card processing equipment, and related supplies only from approved vendors. Franchisees must also join the gift card program through its service provider, currently Comdata Stored Value Systems, and keep at least one user on the dennys.onelogin intranet.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list: franchisees must buy goods, services, supplies, fixtures, equipment, and inventory only from vendors listed in the Brand Standards Manual, and may request approval for alternative suppliers. The mapped operator footprint here is small — 3 operators across Texas and California. The initial term runs the lesser of 20 years or the lease term, with no renewal right, though DFO may sign a 10- or 20-year Successor Franchise Agreement with qualified franchisees — with franchised outlets down 4.79% year over year, near-term activity likely concentrates in successor agreements and transfers.
How to read the DFO FDD
The embedded viewer below carries DFO's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 and Item 11 language summarized above.
Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like DFO where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
DFO, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
Read the original document for the filing figures and their terms, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
3 operators run 3 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| TX | 2 |
|---|---|
| CA | 1 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind DFO
Ownership: Denny's.
Sibling brands
Related Full service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.