lord Signage $5,000 $15,000 As required by Before Suppliers suppliers opening Equipment4 $156,050 $251,000 As required by Before Suppliers, suppliers opening Designated Suppliers, Full Swing, Kisi, SQ
From the filings
The Back Nine
Full service restaurantSoftware and simulator purchasing at The Back Nine runs through corporate: Item 7 obliges every location to use Full Swing Golf simulators, and Item 11 requires QuickBooks Online for accounting. The system has grown to 124 units, up 380% year over year, and sits inside The Golf Studio ownership group.
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.
13%of gross sales (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
2 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.
lish and maintain a bookkeeping and accounting system which conforms to our standards and specifications as described in the Operations Manual. We currently require you to utilize QuickBooks online an
s for internet and social media advertising at times and using platforms and services we deem to be in the best interest of our franchisees and our franchise system. This includes Facebook, Instagram,
rnet and social media advertising at times and using platforms and services we deem to be in the best interest of our franchisees and our franchise system. This includes Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitte
at times and using platforms and services we deem to be in the best interest of our franchisees and our franchise system. This includes Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, Th
al Media 1 hour 0 hours Virtual and HQ in Washington, UT Website 1 hour 0 hours Virtual and HQ in Washington, UT Troubleshooting 0.5 hours 0 hours Virtual and HQ in Washington, UT Payrix Payments 0.5
s Manual. We currently require you to utilize QuickBooks online and our primary website for all bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting. You will be required to create and maintain Quickbooks for accou
l media advertising at times and using platforms and services we deem to be in the best interest of our franchisees and our franchise system. This includes Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Bluesky, L
and using platforms and services we deem to be in the best interest of our franchisees and our franchise system. This includes Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Ti
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
25 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 3 explicit no's; 6 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?
YesItem 11
We currently require you to utilize QuickBooks online and our primary website for all bookkeeping, accounting, and reporting.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We will have independent access to the information that will be generated and stored in your integrated information system.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesItem 6
You will deliver to us, as outlined in the Operations Manual, an itemized report of your Gross Revenues for the preceding month.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee acknowledges that (i) Franchisor or Franchisor’s affiliate(s) may be the sole approved supplier(s) of certain products and services that Franchisee is required to purchase to operate the Franchised Business
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We reserve the right to revoke approval of any item or supplier that does not continue to meet our then-current standards upon written notice to you.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
1222682Item 8
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, we received a total of $1,222,682 in revenue from required purchases, or 19.6% of our total revenue.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We have the right to collect and retain any and all allowances, rebates, credits, incentives, or benefits (collectively, “Allowances”) offered by manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors to you, to us, or to our affiliate, based upon your purchases of products (including proprietary products) and services from…
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?
85Item 8
We estimate that your purchase or lease of products, supplies and services from approved suppliers (or those which meet our specifications) will represent approximately 85% - 95% of your costs to establish your Franchised Business and approximately 85% - 95% of your costs for ongoing operation.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
If you request that we approve a proposed item or supplier, we reserve the right to charge an evaluation fee equal to our actual out-of- pocket expenses and actual costs we incur, not to exceed $2,500 per product or source.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you would like us to consider another item or supplier, you must make such request in writing to us and have the supplier give us samples of its product or service and such other information that we may require.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisee acknowledges that, as between the Franchisee and the Franchisor, the Franchisor has the sole rights to and interest in all telephone, telecopy or facsimile machine numbers and directory listings associated with any Mark.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
Inspect the Franchise and conduct activities to ensure compliance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement and Operations Manual to assure consistent quality and service throughout our franchise system.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisor reserves the right to make revisions to the Operations Manual
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
You may not sign a lease or purchase a site unless we have provided our approval of the site.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee shall refrain from creating a separate website and/or social media accounts and shall work with Franchisor to assure that Franchisee’s location may be advertised through the main BACK NINE website and social media accounts.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 7
This is your required ad spend amount during the last 60 days preceding opening, and first 30 days of operation after opening to ensure you have an effective launch.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase The Back Nine FDD 2026 A 17 all equipment, fixtures, inventory, supplies and services from our designated suppliers, approved suppliers and contractors or in accordance with our specifications.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You must purchase The Back Nine FDD 2026 A 17 all equipment, fixtures, inventory, supplies and services from our designated suppliers, approved suppliers and contractors or in accordance with our specifications.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisor also reserves the right to require that Royalty payments and Brand Marketing Fund contributions be made by means of electronic funds transfer and the Franchisee agrees to provide the information and sign the documents necessary to implement such transfer payments within thirty (30) days of receiving…
People
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisor will make available to the Franchisee standards and specifications for products and services offered at or through THE BACK NINE Store and specifically, for the equipment used, food and/or beverage sold in the space, electronics, display cases, uniforms, materials, forms, menu boards, items and…
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
The Franchisee shall equip the Store with an integrated store information system currently being used by Franchisor, including Franchisor’s current website, tee time booking system, payment processor and social media pages, computer systems (including hardware, software and point of sale system (“POS System”))…
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We will have independent access to the information that will be generated and stored in your integrated information system.
Sales and CRM
Must the franchisee use a CRM system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
We have a mandatory supplier for your CRM software, which is primarily set up by us and is a custom and fully integrated to B9 software, as listed in our operations manual.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may charge a reasonable training fee for these additional training sessions.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
Each year, usually in conjunction with our annual convention, you or the designated managers of your Franchise will be required to attend up to 12 to 16 hours of programs and seminars, depending upon program and seminar availability.
The filing answers no to 3 questions
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 11
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at The Back Nine The Back Nine runs 124 units nationwide, 120 franchised and 4 company-owned, in the full-service restaurant segment, with unit count up 380% year over year in the 2026 FDD. The system is part of The Golf Studio ownership group.
Who controls software purchasing Item 2 names Wil Bangerter as Founder and CEO, Brady Carlsen as Chief Operating Officer, and Darren Wilstead as Director of Franchise Sales — the team above any location-level buying.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required Item 7 makes Full Swing Golf simulator technology mandatory. Item 11 requires QuickBooks Online for accounting. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Payrix, QuickBooks, and Twitter by X are named in Item 11 without any purchase requirement attached.
Procurement, renewals, and timing Item 8 sets an approved-supplier list: franchisees must buy equipment, fixtures, inventory, and services from designated or approved suppliers, or according to franchisor specifications, with alternates subject to the franchisor's sole discretion. Franchisees may propose an alternate supplier for approval. The initial term is 10 years, with up to three additional 5-year renewal terms, a $5,000 renewal fee, and retraining. The FDD makes a financial performance representation, and the 380% year-over-year unit growth points to a fast-expanding pipeline of new locations.
How to read The Back Nine FDD The full 2026 disclosure document is embedded below via the PDF viewer, filed with state franchise regulators. For a ranked list of franchise systems that fit your product better than this one, talk to FranCloud.
Questions vendors ask
The Back Nine, 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 The Back Nine files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
362 operators run 374 mapped locations. 8 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| TX | 58 |
|---|---|
| FL | 30 |
| AZ | 21 |
| NJ | 19 |
| GA | 18 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind The Back Nine
unknown of the golf studio.
Related Full service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.