LeapfrogLeapfrog
five terminals). This is true for any Mazzio’s concept. The office computer and printer are not included in any POS estimates. The office computer should be $1,500.00 - $2,000.00. Leapfrog POS has 3 O
From the filings
HQ-led decisions
Mazzio's
Quick service restaurantSoftware purchasing at Mazzio's is controlled at the headquarters level, where President and CEO Lori Carver and COO Craig Weiss oversee a system of 90 locations. The chain mandates a specific tech stack including Leapfrog POS and Dev Studios America, Inc. for its enterprise system, creating a defined addressable market for vendors who can integrate with or replace these systems.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Total units
90
42 franchised
Unit growth YoY
-6.667%
vs prior filing
AUV
$892K
Item 19, 2024
Royalty
4%
of gross sales
Ad fund
1%
national + local
Initial fee
$30K
per unit
Investment range
$400K–$2.51M
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
1 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.
5%of gross sales (FY2025)
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.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
19 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 6 explicit no's; 9 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
BOOKKEEPING AND RECORDS FRANCHISEE shall establish a bookkeeping and record keeping system conforming to the requirements prescribed by MAZZIO'S, relating without limitation, to the use and retention of sales checks, cash register tapes, purchase orders, invoices, payroll records, check stubs, sales tax records and…
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
(i) within twenty (20) days of the end of each month, unaudited statements of profit and loss of the RESTAURANT for the preceding month;
How the franchisor buys
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 11
These requirements are subject to change as MAZZIO’S adopts new technologies to support its competitive standing.
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?
95Item 8
We estimate that approximately 95% of your total purchase and leases to establish the Restaurant and 95% of your total purchases and leases to operate the Restaurant will be purchases and leases made in accordance with our standards and specifications.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
A developer or franchisee may submit a supplier for approval.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
FRANCHISEE acknowledges that as between MAZZIO'S and FRANCHISEE, MAZZIO'S has the sole rights to and interest in all telephone numbers and directory listings associated with any Name or Mark and authorizes MAZZIO'S and appoints MAZZIO'S its attorney-in-fact to direct the telephone company and all listing agencies to…
Franchise management
Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?
YesItem 11
Franchisees and developers are required to participate in the program selected by MAZZIO’S.
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
MAZZIO'S shall have the right at any time during business hours and without prior notice to FRANCHISEE to inspect the RESTAURANT and the business records, bookkeeping records, sales checks, cash register tapes, purchase orders, invoices, payroll records, check stubs, sales tax records and returns and other supporting…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
operating manual from time to time, if deemed necessary by MAZZIO'S to maintain or improve the standards of service or product quality or the efficient operation of the MAZZIO'S ITALIAN EATERY restaurant, to protect or enhance the goodwill associated with the Names and Marks or to meet competition, provided that no…
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesFranchise agreement
MAZZIO'S will assist FRANCHISEE in purchasing or leasing a suitable location for the RESTAURANT and approve the same either before or within thirty (30) days from the signing of this Agreement
Marketing
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
(b) You agree to spend 2½% annually on broadcast advertising or the approved media advertising specified above in subparagraph (a) above plus 1% for advertising, local sponsorships and other promotional programs, plus 1% for the advertising fund in each of your fiscal years for a total amount of not less than 4½% of…
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 11
Franchisees and developers are required to participate in the program selected by MAZZIO’S.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesFranchise agreement
FRANCHISEE, when a cooperative advertising association must be formed for his marketing area, shall become, and thereafter remain, a participating member of the same.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
MAZZIO’S may, at its sole discretion, elect to receive royalty and service fees and co-op fees through electronic debit transactions initiated by MAZZIO’S.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesFranchise agreement
(g) You agree to comply with all required MAZZIO'S technology upgrades, including, but not limited to: reporting sales electronically, offering on-line ordering, participation in gift card programs, intranet access and others.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesFranchise agreement
FRANCHISEE shall maintain at all times during the term of the Franchise a staff of trained employees sufficient to operate the RESTAURANT in accordance with this Agreement.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
FRANCHISEE shall install LeapfrogPOS or an acceptable POS system and pay the then-current price of such system which shall be based on the number of POS stations at the Restaurant.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
If we are not satisfied, we may require re-training, substitution of new personnel or other procedures to address the problem.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
You, or a key person from your organization, agree to attend the Annual Marketing Meeting and/or Franchise Convention as produced by MAZZIO’S.
The filing answers no to 6 questions
- Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?Item 11
- 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 11
- Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?Item 8
- Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?Item 8
- Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?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
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The vendor opportunity at Mazzio's
Mazzio's Italian Eateries operates 90 locations across the United States, with a nearly even split between 48 company-owned and 42 franchised units. The brand's average unit volume (AUV) sits at $891,754, providing a solid financial baseline for its operators. However, the system is contracting, with a year-over-year unit growth rate of -6.667%. For software vendors, this signals a chain that may be focused on operational efficiency and cost control—making a strong ROI case critical. The initial franchise term is 15 years, with a 4.0% royalty fee, indicating a long-term, stable relationship with the franchise network.
Who controls software purchasing
Technology decisions at Mazzio's are centralized at the headquarters level. The buying center is led by President and CEO Lori Carver and Chief Operating Officer Craig Weiss. For sales, marketing, or customer-experience platforms, Stuart Myers, the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, is a key stakeholder. Operational tools may also fall under the purview of Mark Himmelberg, Director of Franchise Operations, or Mark Handrick, Director of Construction and Facilities, for any hardware or facilities-integrated software. The chain's ownership structure is independent, with no parent company on file, meaning decisions are made within this executive team without external corporate oversight.
Mandated and current tech stack
The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) explicitly mandates a specific technology stack for all locations. The core system is provided by Dev Studios America, Inc., which serves as the mandated POS and Enterprise system. Additionally, the chain mandates Leapfrog for both its point-of-sale and back-office management software. This tightly controlled environment means any new vendor must either offer a compelling replacement for these mandated systems or provide a complementary solution that integrates seamlessly with the existing Leapfrog and Dev Studios infrastructure.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
The procurement model for technology is not detailed in the available FDD extracts, leaving the designated or approved supplier process unclear. The franchise agreement has a 15-year initial term, with the option for 5-year renewals if the franchisee is in good standing. Renewal conditions include passing the last two Franchise Business Consultant inspections, completing a Manager In Training program certification, and bringing the facility into compliance with critical remodel criteria. These remodel and renewal events, which require a new agreement and a $6,000 fee, can serve as natural triggers for technology evaluation and adoption by both the franchisor and franchisees.
How to read the Mazzio's FDD
The 2025 Mazzio's FDD is the definitive source for understanding the legal and operational constraints within this franchise system. The document is filed with state franchise regulators and contains the binding obligations for franchisees, including the mandated technology vendors named in Item 11. For a software vendor, the FDD reveals the exact compliance requirements your product must meet and identifies the executives responsible for enforcing them. The full document is embedded below for your detailed review. For a ranked target list of franchise systems that match your ideal customer profile, talk to FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
Mazzio's, answered from the filing
The executive team, led by President and CEO Lori Carver and COO Craig Weiss, controls purchasing. Stuart Myers, SVP of Sales and Marketing, is a likely influencer for customer-facing tech.
The 2025 FDD mandates Dev Studios America, Inc. for the POS/Enterprise system, and Leapfrog for both the POS and BackOffice systems.
There are 90 total units, comprising 42 franchised and 48 company-owned locations, with a -6.7% year-over-year unit growth.
The specific procurement model for technology is not disclosed in the most recent FDD's Item 8 extract, so the designated or approved supplier status is unclear.
With a 15-year initial term and 5-year renewals, major system overhauls are infrequent. Look for openings tied to the renewal cycle or compliance with critical remodel criteria.
The 2025 FDD was filed with state franchise regulators. You can read the full document in the embedded viewer below.
Source
Read the filing itself
Every number on this page traces back to this document. Read it in full, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment Mazzio's files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
33 operators run 47 mapped locations. 5 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit28
2–9 units5
Top states by locations
| OK | 23 |
|---|---|
| AR | 7 |
| TX | 5 |
| MS | 4 |
| MO | 2 |
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Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.