From the filings

HQ-led decisions

TCBY

Retail food

Software purchasing at TCBY is driven by the franchisor, which mandates specific technology platforms across its 125-unit system. The brand currently requires Generations Homecare System and a Social Media Technology Platform, signaling a top-down procurement model. With an average unit volume of $429,373 and a 6% royalty, the addressable market is concentrated among single-unit operators under TCBY Franchising Holdco, LLC.

For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.

Live signals

Total units
125
125 franchised
Unit growth YoY
-17.219%
vs prior filing
AUV
$429K
Item 19, 2024
Royalty
6%
of gross sales
Ad fund
3%
national + local
Initial fee
$35K
per unit
Investment range
$488K–$699K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
2 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.

9%of gross sales (FY2025)

Ongoing fees: 9% of gross sales (FY2025)Royalty 6%, Ad fund 3%. Total 9% of gross sales. Drawn against a 15% reference scale.

15% reference

Royalty 6%Ad fund 3%

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.

FacebookMeta
MarketingItem 11

The Social Media Platform will allow you to upload templates of social media content to the Social Media Technology Platform to be posted on social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and other si

InstagramMeta
MarketingItem 11

y Platform. The Social Media Platform will allow you to upload templates of social media content to the Social Media Technology Platform to be posted on social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook

TwitterX
MarketingItem 11

ent prior to your use of the Marks or any content using the Marks on social media, in any form available now or in the future, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and your fa

Franchisor behaviours

What the franchisor requires

27 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 explicit no's; 3 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?

Yes

Item 11

We may independently access the information and data you collect and gather using any Computer System or other data collection equipment (such as an electronic cash register) we require for your Store, and there is no contractual limit on our right to do so.

Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You must submit monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements to us through the technology platform using a standardized chart of accounts.

How the franchisor buys

Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?

Yes

Item 8

We may, but are not required to, issue to you or to our approved suppliers (except as we deem necessary for purposes of production) the specifications of these items.

How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?

306453

Item 8

During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, we received revenues of $306,453 as a result of franchisee purchases of products and services.

Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Item 8

In the future, we may continue to receive and our affiliates may receive rebates or other payments from distributors, suppliers and other service providers based (directly or indirectly) on sales to 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?

65

Item 8

and 65% to 75% of your overall purchases of those items in operating your Store.

Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?

Yes

Item 8

If you request our approval of a new supplier and we choose to evaluate your proposed supplier, we may require you to reimburse us the reasonable costs we incur in making this evaluation

Communications

Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?

Yes

Item 17

transfer all telephone numbers and directory listings to us

Data and IT

Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You must secure and maintain in force throughout the Term all required licenses, permits and certificates relating to the operation of Your Store and operate Your Store in full compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, including PCI compliance standards.

Franchise management

Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You will present to your customers such evaluation forms as we periodically require and will participate in and request your customers to participate in any surveys performed by or on our behalf.

Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?

Yes

Franchise agreement

We and our designated agents have the right to, at any reasonable time and without prior notice to you, to inspect the Premises, to observe, photograph and record Your Store’s operations for such consecutive or intermittent periods as we deem necessary

Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?

Yes

Item 11

The Operations Manual may be modified by us from time to time to reflect changes in the image, specifications, standards, procedures, Approved Products, System, and System Standards.

Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?

Yes

Item 11

You must locate and obtain our written acceptance of the Premises before you sign a lease or sublease for or begin construction of the Premises.

Marketing

Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?

Yes

Item 11

If you are developing a new Store or Kiosk, you must spend a minimum of $10,000 on a grand opening advertising and promotional program that we require or approve.

Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?

Yes

Item 11

After the first year of operations, you must spend each month the greater of (a) 2% of Gross Revenue, or (b) $1,000.

Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You must, at your expense, participate in, and honor all provisions of any gift card and/or loyalty program that we have established or may establish and as we may modify, as further described in the Operations Manual.

Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?

Yes

Item 11

If a Cooperative exists or is established for the area in which your Store is located, you must join and participate in the activities of the Cooperative.

Operations

Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?

Yes

Item 8

purchase the products and services only from those vendors, distributors, suppliers and producers that we approve or specify.

Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Franchise agreement

In constructing and outfitting Your Store, you may use only those materials and items (including furniture, fixtures and equipment) we designate, and you may secure those items from and use only those providers (including an architect and general contractor) that we designate or approve from time to time.

Payments

Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

You must use our designated credit card processor.

Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?

Yes

Item 6

We currently require payment of all such amounts by pre-authorized electronic bank transfer, and you will execute and complete all documents necessary to allow us to initiate debit entries and/or credit correction entries to your designated bank account for that purpose.

Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?

Yes

Item 8

You must, at your expense, participate in, and honor all provisions of any gift card or loyalty programs we establish, and use any designated providers we specify for such programs.

People

Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?

Yes

Item 15

However, you must either manage your Store yourself, or use a full time “on Premises” manager.

Point of sale

Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

Currently, we require the following hardware and software components for the Computer System: A custom model point-of-sales system from Treatware

Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?

Yes

Item 11

We may independently access the information and data you collect and gather using any Computer System or other data collection equipment (such as an electronic cash register) we require for your Store, and there is no contractual limit on our right to do so.

Training

Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?

Yes

Item 11

We may charge fees for these additional or refresher training courses.

Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?

Yes

Franchise agreement

You or at least one of your Entity Owners (if you are an Entity) and, when we request, the manager of Your Store and/or an approved trainer if you are a multi-unit franchisee must attend all national conventions and regional meetings that we designate as mandatory.

The filing answers no to 4 questions
  • Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?Item 8
  • 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 20
  • Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Item 11

The vendor opportunity at TCBY

TCBY operates 125 franchised locations, all under single-unit operators, with no multi-unit owners reported. The brand is part of TCBY Franchising Holdco, LLC, and its most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) was filed in 2025. For software vendors, this is a concentrated system where the franchisor’s mandates directly influence technology adoption. The average unit volume (AUV) sits at $429,373, and the royalty rate is 6%, giving operators a clear cost structure that affects their appetite for third-party tools. However, the system contracted by 17.2% year-over-year, so vendors should assess churn risk when building a target list.

Who controls software purchasing

Purchasing authority at TCBY rests with the franchisor. The FDD does not name specific HQ executives, but the presence of mandated technology platforms indicates a centralized decision-making process. Vendors should direct pitches to the corporate team at TCBY Franchising Holdco, LLC, rather than individual franchisees. Since all 125 units are franchised and operated by single-unit owners, there is no multi-unit operator layer to influence buying decisions. The lack of disclosed company-owned units further reinforces that the franchisor sets the tech agenda.

Mandated and current tech stack

The 2025 FDD explicitly mandates two systems: Generations Homecare System and a Social Media Technology Platform. Generations Homecare System is an operational platform, while the social media tool covers marketing and engagement. No other named vendors or systems are disclosed in the FDD, leaving gaps around POS, payroll, or inventory management. For software sellers, this means there may be open categories where the franchisor has not yet locked in a provider, but any pitch must account for the existing mandates and demonstrate integration capabilities.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 of the FDD does not provide an extract on procurement rules, so the exact model—designated supplier, approved supplier, or open—is not publicly clear. However, the mandated tech suggests a controlled environment. Renewal terms offer a potential window for software discussions: franchisees must give 90 to 180 days’ notice before their 10-year agreement expires, sign a new Franchise Agreement (which may have materially different terms), and comply with refurbishment and training requirements. This renewal cycle, combined with the recent unit decline, could create openings for vendors offering efficiency or compliance tools, though no specific contract dates are disclosed.

How to read the TCBY FDD

The embedded PDF below contains the full 2025 FDD, filed with state franchise regulators. Key sections for software vendors include Item 11 (mandated tech), Item 8 (procurement), and Item 17 (renewal conditions). Focus on the named systems and any operational requirements that signal pain points or integration needs. For a ranked list of franchise targets based on tech mandates and unit economics, FranCloud can help prioritize your outreach.

Questions vendors ask

TCBY, answered from the filing

The FDD does not list specific executives, but the franchisor mandates technology, indicating HQ controls purchasing decisions. Vendors should target the corporate team at TCBY Franchising Holdco, LLC.
The 2025 FDD mandates Generations Homecare System and a Social Media Technology Platform. No other named systems are disclosed, but these are required across the 125-unit system.
TCBY has 125 total units, all franchised. Company-owned units are not disclosed. The system saw a -17.2% unit decline year-over-year, with all operators being single-unit.
The FDD does not extract specific Item 8 procurement signals, so the model is unclear. However, mandated tech suggests a designated or approved supplier approach rather than an open market.
Renewal terms require 90-180 days' notice and a new 10-year agreement. With recent unit decline, contract openings may align with renewal cycles, but no specific timing is disclosed.
The 2025 FDD is filed with state franchise regulators. You can view the embedded PDF below for full details on tech mandates, fees, and terms.
Source

Read the filing itself

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FDD alert

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The brands you can actually sell into, from the filings.

Operator footprint

Who runs the locations

128 operators run 128 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.

Operators by units owned

Single-unit128

Ownership

The portfolio behind TCBY

unknown of tcby franchising holdco.

Related Retail food brands

Primary franchise filings · updated July 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.