services and electronic cash register/point-of-sale system (i.e., the “POS System”) we require, which we have the right to change at any time. Currently, our designated POS System is Clover POS; howev
From the filings
I'Milky
Retail foodSoftware purchasing at I'Milky is controlled by Owner and Operator Manhin 'Minni' Lam. The brand's tech stack currently consists of social media platforms (Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and YouTube), with no operational or POS systems mandated in the 2024 FDD. The addressable market is small: just 6 total units (4 franchised) across New York and New Jersey, but the brand is growing at 33% year-over-year.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
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.
7.5%of gross sales (FY2024)
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.
c media, including the Internet, or any social media, for viewing by the public that contains our registered trademarks without our prior written approval. You may not establish a Facebook®, MySpace®,
ing by the public that contains our registered trademarks without our prior written approval. You may not establish a Facebook®, MySpace®, SnapChat®, or similar page, post through Instagram® or on You
e Internet, or any social media, for viewing by the public that contains our registered trademarks without our prior written approval. You may not establish a Facebook®, MySpace®, SnapChat®, or simila
, MySpace®, SnapChat®, or similar page, post through Instagram® or on YouTube®, or utilize other, similar social media, without our prior written approval. You may not establish a Twitter® feed or oth
e Franchise Agreement. Payable to Franchisor or Franchisor’s Designee. Franchisor (or its designee) Reputation Service $300 to $500 Monthly will manage Franchisee’s Fee Google and Yelp accounts, inclu
that contains our registered trademarks without our prior written approval. You may not establish a Facebook®, MySpace®, SnapChat®, or similar page, post through Instagram® or on YouTube®, or utilize
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
25 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 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?
YesFranchise agreement
I’Milky has the right to independently access any and all information on your POS System, at any time, without first notifying you.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall submit to I’Milky, on or before the fifteenth (15th) day following the end of each month, financial reports on the income and expenses of the I’Milky Shop in the format specified in the Manual.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
(i) teas including Jasmine Green Tea, Earl Grey Black Tea, Qing Tea, I’Milky Black Tea, Oolong, (from us or our Affiliates), (ii) cans and bags (from us or our Affiliates), (iii) ancillary food products (from us or 12 I’Milky FDD – March 20, 2024 our Affiliates), (iv) packaging (from us or our Affiliates);
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 11
we have the right to change at any time
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
329280Item 8
As of the date of issuance of this FDD, ending on December 31, 2023, we received $329,280 in revenue from all required purchases and leases of products and services by franchisees, including purchases of items to be resold in the Shop, and rebates we receive from third-parties.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We and/or our affiliate(s) may receive payments or other compensation from Approved Suppliers or any other suppliers on account of these suppliers’ dealings with us, you, or other Franchised Businesses in the System, such as rebates, commissions or other forms of compensation.
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?
80Item 8
We estimate that your Required Purchases, purchases and leases from Approved Suppliers and purchases that must meet our specifications in total will be about 40% of your total purchases to establish the Shop and about 80% of your purchases to continue the operation of the Shop.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
You must pay our then- current supplier or non-approved product evaluation fee when submitting your request, as well as cover our costs incurred in evaluating your request.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
We may, but are not obligated to, grant your request to: (i) offer any products or services in connection with your Franchised Business that are not Approved Products and Services; or (ii) purchase any item or service we require you to purchase from an Approved Supplier from an alternative supplier.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesItem 11
You acknowledge and agree that we will own all rights and interest in each telephone number (regardless of whether such telephone number pre-existed any Franchise Agreement) and telephone directory listing, email address, domain name, social media platform, and comparable electronic identify that is associated in any…
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall at all times be compliant with all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, any and all requirements imposed by all applicable payment processors and payment networks, including credit card and debit card processors, and any and all state and federal laws, rules and regulations relating to data…
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesFranchise agreement
You must present customers with such evaluation cards or forms as the Franchisor may periodically prescribe, for return by the customers to I’Milky
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
I’Milky and/or its designated agents or representatives may conduct periodic quality control and records inspections of the I’Milky Shop at any time during the Term.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
I’Milky will revise the Manual periodically, at its discretion to conform to the changing needs of the Franchise Network and will distribute updated pages containing these revisions to You from time-to-time.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 14
We must approve your site before you open your I’Milky Business franchise.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesFranchise agreement
Unless otherwise approved in writing by I’Milky, You shall not establish a separate Website.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall spend at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) on a grand opening advertising program conducted in accordance with the guidelines for such a program in the Manual, in addition to Your regular monthly Local Advertising pursuant to Section 7.6.2 of this Agreement.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
Currently, we have Approved Suppliers for the following items that you must purchase in connection with the establishment and/or operation of your Franchised Business:
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Currently, we have Approved Suppliers for the following items that you must purchase in connection with the establishment and/or operation of your Franchised Business:
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
Payment of royalties and fees shall be made by electronic funds transfer or direct deposit.
People
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
(v) uniforms (from us or our Affiliates), (vi) point-of-sale system (the “POS System”) and then-current software we require you to use in connection with that POS System and your Shop;
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You must purchase and use the complete computer software services and electronic cash register/point-of-sale system (i.e., the “POS System”) we require, which we have the right to change at any time.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesFranchise agreement
I’Milky has the right to independently access any and all information on your POS System, at any time, without first notifying you.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 6
Initial training for no charge for You or your Operating Principal, Operating Principal Owner and one other (as defined in Item 15), if person is free; $500 Additional you are a legal entity, and per person for all Persons/Additional As incurred up to one (1) additional other persons plus Training Fee Shop staff; if…
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 14
If and when we do, you (or your Operating Principal) must attend a regional or national conference, which shall not occur more than one time per year.
The filing answers no to 4 questions
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?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?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Franchise agreement
- Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?Franchise agreement
The vendor opportunity at I'Milky
I'Milky is a small but fast-growing retail food franchise. With 6 total units (4 franchised, 2 company-owned) and 33% year-over-year unit growth, the brand is expanding, though its footprint remains concentrated in New York (7 units) and New Jersey (1 unit) according to operator data. The addressable market for software vendors is limited but could grow as new franchisees come on board. The average unit volume is not disclosed in the 2024 FDD, but the royalty rate is 5.5% and initial terms are 5 years.
Who controls software purchasing
All purchasing decisions at I'Milky are made by Owner and Operator Manhin “Minni” Lam, the sole executive listed in the FDD. There are no multi-unit operators—all 8 mapped operators are single-unit, meaning each franchisee likely follows HQ’s directives. Vendors should target Lam directly for any software pitches.
Mandated and current tech stack
The 2024 FDD mandates no point-of-sale, inventory, or operational technology. Instead, franchisees are required to maintain a presence on six social media platforms: Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and YouTube. No other tech systems are named, leaving the door open for vendors of POS, scheduling, loyalty, and other operational tools to propose solutions.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 of the FDD does not specify any procurement requirements, indicating an open supplier model for non-mandated items. Franchisees may source their own technology, but with Lam as the central decision-maker, securing his endorsement could drive adoption. Franchise agreements last 5 years, with renewal terms also 5 years, subject to good standing, payment of a renewal fee, and modernization of the shop. With the brand's rapid growth, new franchisees may be signing agreements regularly, creating potential entry points for software vendors.
How to read the I'Milky FDD
The 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document is available below in our embedded viewer. It contains detailed information on the franchise system, including the items cited here. Key sections for vendors include Item 1 (business background), Item 8 (restrictions on sources of products and services), and Item 11 (franchisor’s assistance, advertising, computer systems, and training). The FDD is filed with state franchise regulators.
For a ranked list of top franchise targets based on tech readiness and growth, connect with FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
I'Milky, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment I'Milky files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
5 operators run 5 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| NY | 4 |
|---|---|
| NJ | 1 |
Related Retail food brands
Primary franchise filings · updated August 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.