From the filings
Software purchasing at Protein Bar and Kitchen is centralized at the corporate level, with the CEO and COO overseeing decisions. The franchise disclosure document (FDD) does not mandate any specific technology, so the existing tech stack remains undisclosed. With only 16 locations—13 company-owned and 3 franchised—the addressable market is small but highly concentrated under HQ control.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ongoing fee load
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
8%of gross sales (FY2026)
15% reference
Franchisor behaviours
25 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 explicit no's; 7 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
You must establish and maintain at your own expense a bookkeeping, accounting, and record keeping system conforming to the requirements and formats we periodically prescribe.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We will have unlimited, remote and independent access to certain information collected through or stored on your Computer System as we designate, including information regarding your Gross Sales, customer information, service and performance reports, and any other information relating to your Business.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
(3) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, annual profit and loss and source and use of funds statements and a balance sheet for your Business as of the end of that calendar year, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or, at our option, international accounting…
How the franchisor buys
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We may modify the list of Operating Assets and Vendors at any time, in which case we will allow you a reasonable amount of time to exhaust current inventories and begin purchasing new approved products or Operating Assets from an approved or designated Vendor.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
During the last fiscal year, we and our affiliates did not derive revenue from the sale of products or services to Protein Bar & Kitchen franchisees.
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 80% to 90% of your initial investment and 80% to 90% of your ongoing expenditures will require you to purchase products and services that will be restricted by us in some manner.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesFranchise agreement
If you would like us to consider approving a vendor that is not then approved by us, you must submit a written request before purchasing any items or services from that vendor.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you would like us to consider approving a Vendor or product that is not then approved, you must submit your request in writing before purchasing any items or services from that Vendor.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must secure and maintain in force throughout the Term all required licenses, permits and certificates relating to the operation of your Business and operate your Business in full compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations, including PCI compliance standards.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
We (or our designee) may at all times and without prior notice to you observe, photograph, record (both audio and video) your Business’s operation for consecutive or intermittent periods we deem necessary; remove samples of any products and supplies; interview your personnel and customers; inspect your Computer…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
We may periodically modify the Operations Manual, including in the form of memoranda and newsletters, to reflect changes in System Standards.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
If you fail to obtain our approval of any proposed site for your Business, and as a result you do not open your Business within the earlier of 120 days after signing the 18 Protein Bar and Kitchen Franchising, LLC 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document 1508.002.006/448324 Lease or 12 months of the Effective Date of the…
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesItem 11
You may not, without our prior written approval, develop, maintain or authorize any Online Presence that mentions your Business, links to any System Website, or displays any of the Marks.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 11
You must, at your expense and on the dates we designate before and after your Business opens, conduct a grand opening marketing program for your Business that complies with the requirements set forth in the Operations Manual.
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
you must spend, monthly, 1% of the prior month’s Gross Sales of your Business to locally advertise and promote your Business (the “Local Advertising Requirement”).
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 16
You must participate in the manner we specify in any group loyalty or other programs that we periodically establish.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
If we establish a Local Advertising Cooperative for the area in which your Protein Bar & Kitchen Business will be located then, you must sign any documents we require to become a member of a Local Advertising Cooperative and, subject to the Marketing Expenditure Cap, to contribute to and participate in the designated…
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
We may require you to purchase or lease brands, types, or models of Operating Assets only from Vendors we designate or approve, and we may mandate a limited number or a single source for some or all of those items.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We may require you to purchase or lease brands, types, or models of Operating Assets only from Vendors we designate or approve, and we may mandate a limited number or a single source for some or all of those items.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
Currently, you must authorize us to debit your designated bank account for all such amounts (the “EFT Authorization”) and sign and deliver to us any documents we and your bank require for such EFT Authorization.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
At least one such trained Designated Manager must remain on-site at all times during your Business’s operating hours.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
Currently, Toast is our designated supplier for the point-of-sale system.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We will have unlimited, remote and independent access to certain information collected through or stored on your Computer System as we designate, including information regarding your Gross Sales, customer information, service and performance reports, and any other information relating to your Business.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may charge you a reasonable fee for attendance at these programs and any training materials that we provide in connection with such training.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
We may require your Required Trainees and/or other personnel to attend an annual franchisee conference.
Who buys here
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 franchisee/operator personally, or a small franchisor still owner-run. Wears every hat.
Protein Bar and Kitchen is a quick-service restaurant concept headquartered in Illinois, operating 16 locations as of its 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Of these, 13 are company-owned and 3 are franchised. The brand is part of the pb restaurants group, although no additional information on the parent company is provided in the FDD. Average unit volume (AUV) stands at $1,388,405, with a 6% royalty fee and a standard 10-year initial franchise term. Year-over-year unit growth was not disclosed in the filing. The franchisee base is entirely single-unit operators—none of the six mapped franchisees control more than one location. This concentrated, predominantly corporate-owned footprint means that software vendors are selling into a small but tightly controlled ecosystem.
Software purchasing decisions at Protein Bar and Kitchen are centralized at the corporate level. The FDD names Jeff Drake as Chief Executive Officer and Jared Cohen as Chief Operating Officer, along with Nicholas Marsh (CEO of the parent company) and James McFeeters (Vice President of Franchising & Development). With no multi-unit franchisees and only three franchised locations, the franchisee voice in technology procurement is minimal. Vendors should target the HQ team in Illinois, where the CEO and COO are likely to be the primary decision-makers for any operational, POS, or back-office software. The absence of a CIO or dedicated technology role in the FDD suggests that such responsibilities may fall under operations or finance, further concentrating authority.
The 2026 FDD does not mandate or recommend any specific technology systems. There is no mention of a required point-of-sale vendor, online ordering platform, loyalty program, or inventory management tool. This silence means the existing tech stack is not publicly documented, and the franchisor may either allow franchisees to choose their own systems or operate a proprietary setup that is not disclosed in the FDD. For software vendors, this represents both an opportunity and a challenge: there is no entrenched incumbent, but also no clear signal of imminent replacement cycles. Any pitch must start by uncovering the current infrastructure through direct outreach.
Item 8 of the FDD, which typically outlines procurement restrictions, was not extracted for this analysis, so the franchise’s approved supplier model remains unknown. The renewal terms, however, provide a potential window for software contracts. The initial franchise agreement runs for 10 years, and franchisees in good standing may renew for two successive 5-year terms, provided they comply with the then-current System Standards—including any technology requirements. If the franchisor decides to standardize on a new platform, that mandate would likely be introduced at renewal, creating a hard deadline for franchisees to adopt. Given the small number of units, a single renewal cycle could open a meaningful sales opportunity. Vendors should monitor the age of existing franchise agreements and any upcoming renewals disclosed in state filings.
The full 2026 FDD is embedded below for your review. It contains detailed financial performance representations, the franchise agreement, and the list of current and former franchisees. As you assess the document, focus on Item 11 (franchisor’s obligations) for any technology support commitments, Item 8 for procurement rules, and Item 17 for renewal conditions that could trigger software upgrades. The FDD was filed with state franchise regulators in 2026. For a ranked list of franchise systems that match your ideal customer profile, including those with upcoming renewal windows and known tech gaps, connect with FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
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.
View only A one-time purchase: the original filing, yours to keep.
FDD alert
We’ll email you the moment Protein Bar and Kitchen Franchising files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
6 operators run 6 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| IN | 2 |
|---|---|
| UT | 1 |
| IL | 1 |
| ID | 1 |
| NY | 1 |
Ownership
unknown of pb restaurants.
Related Quick service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated August 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.