QuickBooks
Mandatoryhe cost of purchasing the Computer System to be between $3,000 and $6,000. This includes the purchase of a desktop or laptop computer (you may use a computer that you already own) Quick Books Small Bu
From the filings
+3.947% units YoYHQ-led decisions
Doc Popcorn
Retail foodSoftware purchasing decisions at Doc Popcorn are controlled at the franchisor level, with key executives including Vice President of Administration Stephen C. Heisner and President/CEO Daniel Fachner. The franchise currently mandates QuickBooks and lists NCR Silver as a technology vendor, serving an addressable market of 79 franchised locations. This small but growing chain, part of Dippin' Dots Holdings LLC, presents a targeted opportunity for vendors offering financial, POS, or operational tools.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Total units
79
79 franchised
Unit growth YoY
+3.947%
vs prior filing
AUV
—
Item 19, 2025
Royalty
6%
of gross sales
Ad fund
1%
national + local
Initial fee
$15K
per unit
Investment range
$175K–$376K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
2 years
from the filing
Item 19
No 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.
7%of gross sales (FY2025)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
1 of these are mandated in the franchise agreement. Each is named in Item 11 of the filing, the incumbents a challenger must displace or integrate with.
Facebook
els of distribution such as wholesale, Internet or mail order sales. You may not establish an account or participate in any social networking sites (including, without limitation, Facebook, MySpace, T
NCR Silver
ent that our suppliers increase their prices to us for any such technology. Point of Sale Fee Up to $79 per Monthly This fee is payable directly to the month Point of Sale vendor, NCR Silver or Square
Twitter
such as wholesale, Internet or mail order sales. You may not establish an account or participate in any social networking sites (including, without limitation, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or any other
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
27 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 explicit no's; 3 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must maintain the books and records of each Operating Unit on a computer using Quick Books Small Business Accounting Software (QuickBooks Pro or Premier for Windows versions only) and the standardized chart of accounts established by Franchisor and/or Franchisor’s affiliates or other software specified in…
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We have the right to independently access your electronic information and data through our proprietary data management and intranet system and to collect and use your electronic information and data in any manner we promote developing the System and the sale of Franchises.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must furnish Franchisor with reports of the Gross Revenue of Franchisee’s Business on a monthly basis.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
Our affiliate, DP, is the only approved supplier of the PopCart, PopKiosk, and the Doc Popcorn Blends.
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 11
We currently have an advisory council, the POPrietor advisory team (“PAT”).
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may, at any time, change the required point-of-sale system or the required equipment comprising the point-of-sale system, or require that Franchisee obtain and use a different point-of-sale system or different equipment.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
We did not derive any revenue from franchisees’ required purchases or leases during the last fiscal year.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Certain of our designated suppliers pay DP a rebate of up to 15% of purchases.
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?
30Item 8
We estimate that the purchase of supplies, equipment, inventory, fixtures, goods, services and products from DP or our designated or approved suppliers and distributors, or those meeting our standards and specifications, will be 90% of your total initial cost and between 30% to 50% of the total ongoing costs to…
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
We reserve the right to charge a fee to evaluate the proposed supplier as described in Item 6.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you desire to have a non-approved supplier or product or service designated as an approved supplier, product or service, you must submit samples of the supplier’s products and services to us, along with a written statement describing why such items, services, or suppliers should be approved for use in the system.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
All telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, social media websites, Internet addresses and e-mail addresses (collectively “Identifiers”) used in the operation of Franchisee’s Doc Popcorn Business constitute Franchisor’s assets, and upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, Franchisee will take such action within…
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
During and after the term of this Agreement, Franchisor has the right to inspect, copy and audit Franchisee's books and records, federal, state and local tax returns and any other forms, reports, information or data that Franchisor may reasonably designate.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor retains the right to modify, change, add to, delete or supplement the Library of Operating Manuals and to specify other systems, procedures or forms and notify Franchisee about changes in writing by fax, mail,
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee must obtain Franchisor’s prior written acceptance to the Permanent Site.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will not establish any website without Franchisor’s prior written approval.
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 its required contributions to the Advertising Fund, each Doc Popcorn® Franchise must spend 2% of its monthly Gross Revenue for local advertising, promotion and marketing.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will join and participate in a Local Advertising Cooperative that is established in a region that includes Franchisee’s Events or Permanent Sites.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase your point-of-sale software from our designated supplier.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will purchase all Doc Popcorn Products and Doc Popcorn Supplies and Equipment required for the operation of its Doc Popcorn Business from suppliers designated or approved by Franchisor
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
We currently require you to pay fees and other amounts due to us or our affiliates via Electronic Funds Transfer (“EFT”) or other similar means.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will participate in Franchisor's gift card program by purchasing custom gift cards from Franchisor, its affiliates or a designated supplier, offering gift cards for sale at the Fixed Operating Unit, and honoring Doc Popcorn® gift cards, in compliance with the specifications established by Franchisor.
People
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
All employees of Franchisee servicing the general public must wear specified clothing and adhere to Franchisor’s guidelines for appearance in accordance with the standards set forth in the Library of Operating Manuals.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee agrees to acquire and use the point-of-sale system designated by Franchisor or its affiliates for each PopStore or PopKiosk that Franchisee operates and for each PopCart, PopTruck, or PopTrailer that Franchisee operates from a Permanent Site.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We have the right to independently access your electronic information and data through our proprietary data management and intranet system and to collect and use your electronic information and data in any manner we promote developing the System and the sale of Franchises.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may charge our then-current fee (up to $500 per day, not including travel and living expenses) for attendance at the refresher training programs.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee or its designee must attend any Franchise Owner National Conventions, which will be held by Franchisor no more often than once per year, and any other conferences for which Franchisor determines Franchisee’s attendance is mandatory.
The filing answers no to 4 questions
- Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?Franchise agreement
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Franchise agreement
- Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?Franchise agreement
The vendor opportunity at Doc Popcorn
Doc Popcorn operates 79 franchised locations, with all units under franchise agreements and no company-owned stores disclosed in the 2025 FDD. The brand is part of Dippin' Dots Holdings LLC, a parent entity whose broader portfolio could signal centralized purchasing influence. Year-over-year unit growth sits at 3.947%, indicating slow but steady expansion. For software vendors, the immediate addressable market is modest—79 locations—but the franchise's mandated technology and HQ-level decision-making create a clear path to system-wide adoption with a single sale.
The royalty rate is 6.0%, and the initial franchise term is 5 years. Average unit volume (AUV) is not disclosed in the most recent FDD. The operator footprint is concentrated: only 1 mapped operator is on file, located in Wisconsin, with no multi-unit operators identified. This suggests a highly centralized franchise where most franchisees are single-unit owners, reinforcing the likelihood that technology decisions are made at headquarters rather than by individual operators.
Who controls software purchasing
The 2025 FDD lists several executives in Item 1 who are relevant to a software sales process. Stephen C. Heisner serves as Vice President of Administration, a role that typically oversees operational systems, compliance, and vendor management. Daniel Fachner holds the titles of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman, placing him at the center of strategic technology investments. Martin Azambuya, Director and Senior Director of Franchise & Distributor Sales, and Adam Timothy Gross, Vice President of Sales, may also weigh in on tools that affect franchise operations or sales enablement. Tammy Isom, Franchise Development Manager, could be a gatekeeper for initial outreach.
Given the small operator base and the absence of multi-unit franchisees, purchasing authority almost certainly rests with this HQ team. Vendors should direct their pitch to Heisner for administrative and financial tools, and to Fachner for broader platform decisions.
Mandated and current tech stack
Doc Popcorn's FDD mandates QuickBooks, making it the required financial software across all 79 locations. This creates an immediate integration requirement for any vendor selling complementary tools—POS, payroll, inventory, or analytics—that must sync with QuickBooks. NCR Silver is listed as a technology vendor, strongly implying it is the current or recommended point-of-sale system. Vendors offering POS alternatives must be prepared to displace an incumbent with existing system-wide penetration.
The brand also maintains a presence on Facebook and Twitter, though these are standard marketing channels rather than operational mandates. No other mandated or recommended technology systems are named in the available FDD extracts. The absence of a listed CRM, scheduling, or inventory platform represents a potential gap for vendors to fill.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 of the FDD, which would detail procurement restrictions—whether franchisees must buy from designated suppliers, approved suppliers, or have open choice—was not extracted. Without this data, the procurement model remains unknown. Vendors should clarify during discovery whether HQ imposes supplier restrictions that could block or accelerate adoption.
Item 17 provides concrete renewal mechanics. Franchisees may renew for an additional 5-year term if they provide written notice between 3 and 6 months before expiration, are in full compliance with the Franchise Agreement, execute the then-current agreement, update equipment (potentially including a refurbishment program), pay a $2,500 renewal fee, sign a general release, and meet other conditions. This renewal cycle, combined with new unit openings at a 3.9% growth rate, creates periodic windows where technology evaluation is likely—either because franchisees must upgrade equipment or because new locations need onboarding.
How to read the Doc Popcorn FDD
The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document is the definitive source for understanding Doc Popcorn's technology mandates, procurement rules, and decision-maker roster. The embedded PDF viewer below provides full access to the filing. Key sections for software vendors include Item 1 (executives and ownership), Item 8 (procurement restrictions), Item 11 (mandated and recommended technology), and Item 17 (renewal and equipment update requirements). Cross-reference these sections to build a complete picture of the sales opportunity and timing.
For a ranked target list of franchise brands aligned with your software category, FranCloud can help prioritize your outreach.
Questions vendors ask
Doc Popcorn, answered from the filing
Key buying center contacts include Stephen C. Heisner (VP of Administration) and Daniel Fachner (President/CEO). Martin Azambuya (Director of Franchise Sales) and Adam Timothy Gross (VP of Sales) may also influence operational tool decisions.
The 2025 FDD mandates QuickBooks for financial management. NCR Silver is listed as a technology vendor, suggesting it is the recommended or current point-of-sale system across the 79-unit system.
There are 79 total units, all franchised. The operator footprint is small, with 1 mapped operator in Wisconsin. No company-owned units are disclosed in the FDD.
The FDD does not provide an extract for Item 8 procurement restrictions. Without this data, the model is unknown—it could be open, approved-supplier, or designated-supplier. Direct inquiry with HQ is required.
Franchise agreements run 5 years. Renewal requires notice 3–6 months before expiration, a $2,500 fee, and equipment updates. With 3.9% unit growth, new openings and renewals create periodic evaluation windows.
The 2025 FDD is filed with state franchise regulators. You can review the embedded PDF viewer below to analyze Item 11 tech mandates, Item 8 procurement rules, and Item 17 renewal conditions directly.
Source
Read the filing itself
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment Doc Popcorn files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
1 operators run 1 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit1
Top states by locations
| WI | 1 |
|---|
Ownership
The portfolio behind Doc Popcorn
unknown of dippin dots holdings l l c.
Related Retail food brands
Primary franchise filings · updated August 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.