FIVE GUYS

The vendor opportunity at Five Guys

Five Guys operates 1,558 total US locations, with 945 franchised units and 613 company-owned stores. The chain grew units by 2.273% year-over-year, adding net new locations that represent fresh deployment opportunities for software vendors. Franchisees pay a 6.0% royalty and sign 10-year initial agreements, creating a stable installed base with predictable renewal cycles.

For software vendors, the addressable market is the full system—1,558 units under a single brand standard. Because Five Guys mandates a specific point-of-purchase system, any vendor selling complementary or adjacent technology must integrate with that mandated POS and align with HQ's technology roadmap. The chain's average unit volume is not disclosed in the most recent FDD, so vendors should size opportunity based on unit count and the quick-service segment's typical per-store software spend.

Who controls software purchasing

Software purchasing authority sits at the corporate level. The 2026 FDD lists Victor J. Murrell as President and Chief Executive Officer of both Five Guys and FGE. Jane Murrell serves as Secretary and Treasurer. Three Executive Vice Presidents of FGE—James J. Murrell, Matthew D. Murrell, and Chad M. Murrell—round out the named leadership. No separate Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer is identified in the FDD, so initial outreach should target the executive team, particularly the EVPs who oversee operations.

Because the brand mandates technology at the system level, vendors should expect a centralized evaluation process. The Murrell family's deep involvement in day-to-day leadership suggests that strategic software decisions are made by a small, cohesive group rather than a diffuse buying committee.

Mandated and current tech stack

Five Guys mandates a point-of-purchase system from a vendor they specify. The FDD extract does not name the POS vendor, but the mandate is explicit: franchisees must use the system HQ designates. This creates a single integration surface for any vendor selling kitchen display systems, loyalty platforms, labor scheduling, inventory management, or analytics tools.

Beyond the mandated POS, the FDD references three additional technology systems: Cardilytics, Chemistry, and Yext. These are not described as mandated, but their inclusion in the FDD signals that they are recommended or system-standard tools. Cardilytics typically provides transaction-driven marketing analytics. Chemistry is likely a customer engagement or personalization platform. Yext handles location-data management across search and map ecosystems. Vendors competing with or integrating into these tools should understand this existing stack before approaching HQ.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD extract does not include Item 8 procurement language, so the designated-supplier versus approved-supplier framework is not publicly disclosed. Vendors should clarify during initial conversations whether Five Guys operates a closed procurement model or allows franchisees to source from approved vendors.

Renewal timing is clearer. Franchise agreements run 10 years, and Item 17 requires franchisees to give notice at least seven months before renewal. They must also repair and update equipment and premises, not be in breach, and sign the then-current agreement—though material terms like fees, protected territory, and renewal rights remain unchanged. This seven-month notice window, combined with the equipment-update requirement, creates a natural evaluation period for technology upgrades. With 945 franchised units and a 2.273% growth rate, a steady cadence of renewals and new openings provides recurring entry points for software vendors.

How to read the Five Guys FDD

The 2026 Five Guys Franchise Disclosure Document is filed with state franchise regulators and available in the embedded viewer below. For software vendors, the most relevant sections are Item 11 (the franchisor's obligations), which discloses the mandated POS and referenced technology systems, and Item 17 (renewal, termination, and transfer), which defines the renewal timeline and conditions that shape technology refresh cycles. Item 1 identifies the executive team that controls purchasing. Review these sections to understand the compliance requirements any software deployment must meet before you engage the buying center.

For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, FranCloud can help you prioritize outreach based on unit count, tech mandates, and renewal timing.