The vendor opportunity at Surf'N'Fries USA
Surf'N'Fries USA is a quick-service restaurant concept headquartered in Texas with a total footprint of 5 franchised units. The brand operates no company-owned locations, and all 5 units are run by 4 distinct franchise operators, none of whom are multi-unit owners. The unit-band split confirms all operators fall into the 1-unit category, with zero operators in the 2–9, 10–24, or 25+ bands. Geographically, the system is spread thin: 2 units in California, 1 in Nevada, and 1 in Texas. This is a very small, independent franchise system with no parent company on file.
For software vendors, the addressable market is exactly 5 locations. There is no disclosed year-over-year unit growth, and the FDD does not report average unit volume (AUV). The royalty rate is 5.0%, and the initial franchise term runs 10 years. While the total unit count is low, the absence of any mandated technology stack means every location is a potential greenfield for POS, payroll, scheduling, inventory, or customer engagement tools—if you can reach the decision-maker.
Who controls software purchasing
The 2022 FDD lists only three executives in Item 1: Carrie Sams holds both the President and Chief Operating Officer title and the Chief Executive Officer title, while Ranae Biggerstaff serves as Head of Development. No CIO, CTO, VP of IT, or operations technology role is disclosed. In a system this small, software purchasing authority almost certainly rests with Carrie Sams. Vendors should prepare to engage directly with the CEO’s office. The operator base consists of 4 single-unit franchisees who are unlikely to have independent purchasing authority for core systems unless the franchisor explicitly permits it—and the FDD provides no signal either way.
Mandated and current tech stack
The most notable finding in the Surf'N'Fries USA FDD is the complete absence of mandated or recommended technology systems. Item 11, which typically discloses required POS, KIOSK, or back-office platforms, contains no named vendors or systems. This is uncommon even among emerging brands and suggests the system either has no standardization or leaves technology decisions entirely to franchisees. For a vendor, this means there is no incumbent to displace and no RFP-driven procurement cycle to navigate—just a direct sale to a small HQ team.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 of the FDD, which would normally outline procurement obligations and designated suppliers, contains no extract. This leaves the procurement model undefined in the public record. Vendors should clarify during initial outreach whether Surf'N'Fries USA requires approved-supplier status or operates an open purchasing environment.
On the renewal side, Item 17 provides some structure. Franchisees can renew for two additional consecutive 5-year terms if they meet conditions including compliance with the franchise agreement, satisfaction of all monetary obligations, provision of notice, no default, right to remain in possession of the premises, and—critically—a requirement to renovate or modernize the outlet to then-current standards at the franchisor’s request. This modernization clause could trigger technology upgrades at renewal, creating a natural software sales window. However, with only 5 units and 10-year initial terms, these windows will be rare and scattered.
How to read the Surf'N'Fries USA FDD
The full 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below. It contains the legal and operational detail vendors need to assess compliance requirements, territory rights, and any indirect technology obligations buried in the operations manual references. Pay close attention to Item 11 for any updates to mandated tech that may have occurred after 2022, and to Item 17 for the full renewal conditions that could drive future software purchasing events. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, FranCloud can help you prioritize outreach across the entire US franchise landscape.