for and components of the Computer System. Currently, we require the following hardware and software components for the Computer System: A custom model point-of-sales system from Treatware, which incl
From the filings
TCBY Store
Retail foodSoftware purchasing at TCBY is controlled at the headquarters level by executives including CEO Nelson Tejada and VP of Finance Julie Girardot. The system mandates the Treatware platform across its 172 franchised locations. With an average unit volume of $515,646 and a 10-year initial term, the addressable market for vendors is a concentrated, single-brand operator base.
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.
9%of gross sales (FY2021)
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.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
29 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 3 explicit no's; 2 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?
YesItem 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesItem 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?
306453Item 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?
YesItem 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?
65Item 8
and 65% to 75% of your overall purchases of those items in operating your Store.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 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, which will be a flat rate based on our actual out-of-pocket expenses to evaluate the proposed supplier.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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 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 advertise Your Store or the Approved Products over the internet (or any other form of electronic commerce) or establish a related site on the world wide web without our prior written consent.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesFranchise 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 8
use the computer equipment and operating software, including any point-of-sale or electronic cash register (“Computer System”) that we specify from time to time
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 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?
YesItem 11
We may charge fees for these additional or refresher training courses.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise 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 3 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
The vendor opportunity at TCBY
TCBY operates a system of 172 franchised locations, all held by single-unit operators. The brand is part of TCBY Enterprises, LLC. The most recent Franchise Disclosure Document, filed in 2021, reports an average unit volume of $515,646. The system has experienced a year-over-year unit decline of 14.85%, which signals a contracting footprint. For software vendors, the total addressable market is capped at these 172 units, with no multi-unit operators to leverage for scaled rollouts. The royalty rate stands at 6%, and the initial franchise term is 10 years.
Who controls software purchasing
Purchasing authority sits at the headquarters level. The 2021 FDD lists Nelson Tejada as Chief Executive Officer and Betsy Schmandt as President of Franchising. Julie Girardot serves as Vice President of Finance, a role typically central to vendor evaluation and budget approval. Richard T. Hankins, Senior Director of Development and Real Estate, and Brian Mooney, Senior Director of Franchise Operations, round out the named leadership. No chief information or technology officer is disclosed. Vendors should direct initial outreach to the finance and operations leadership, as they are the most likely stakeholders in a technology decision for this size of system.
Mandated and current tech stack
The only mandated technology disclosed in the 2021 FDD is Treatware. This platform is required across the system. No other point-of-sale, back-office, or customer-facing software mandates are named in the filing. The absence of additional named vendors in the FDD does not mean other tools are not in use, but it does mean the franchisor has not formalized them as system-wide requirements. A vendor pitching a complementary or replacement solution must be prepared to navigate a relationship where Treatware is the entrenched, mandated standard.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
The FDD does not provide an Item 8 extract that clarifies whether TCBY uses a designated supplier, approved supplier, or open procurement model for technology. This lack of disclosure means vendors must clarify the procurement path during early conversations with HQ. Renewal terms, outlined in Item 17, require 180 days’ prior notice, execution of the then-current Franchise Agreement, a general release of claims, and potential refurbishment of the premises. The renewal term is 10 years. Given the recent unit contraction, the volume of upcoming renewals that could trigger technology re-evaluations may be lower than in a growing system.
How to read the TCBY FDD
The 2021 FDD is the foundational document for understanding the legal and operational constraints of selling into this franchise. It lists the 172-unit footprint, the mandated Treatware system, and the HQ executives who control purchasing. The embedded PDF viewer below contains the full filing. Review Item 1 for the corporate structure under TCBY Enterprises, LLC, Item 11 for the franchisor’s obligations regarding the mandated platform, and Item 17 for the renewal conditions that can open windows for technology displacement. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, talk to FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
TCBY Store, 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 TCBY Store files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
187 operators run 187 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Ownership
The portfolio behind TCBY Store
unknown of tcby franchising holdco.
Related Retail food brands
Primary franchise filings · updated June 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.