The 2026 U.S. FDD describes one full-service Batteries Plus Store format under individual and Multiple Unit Franchise Agreements. After opening, the franchisee operates a staffed retail-and-commercial outlet selling approved products and repair services, while Batteries Plus, L.L.C. controls supply, technology, digital channels, key accounts, operating standards and reporting.
How does a Batteries Plus franchise operate after opening?
The Store combines walk-in specialty retail, scheduled repair, online fulfillment and commercial-account selling. The franchisee supplies management and labor; the franchisor supplies the controlled assortment, supply chain, software, digital demand programs and compliance framework.
The franchisee hires the team, serves retail and commercial demand, fulfills products and repairs, and maintains inventory and records. Batteries Plus sets the operating architecture through Ascent sourcing, the Retail Management System, Omni-Channel Program, Key Accounts Program, Operations Manual, approved marketing and audit rights.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 11, 12, 15 and 19, pp. 26-36 and 45-48; Franchise Agreement §§2, 10(I), 10(N) and 11(H). See the official franchise website.
What does the Store sell, and who buys it?
The authorized offering includes approved batteries, light bulbs, related products, device repair, key fob repair and replacement, and other approved services. Buyers are individual retail customers, local commercial accounts and multi-location Key Accounts assigned under franchisor rules.
Associates identify products, process sales and perform authorized testing, installation, device repair and key fob work. The official services page shows walk-in and appointment paths; the FDD-controlled approved list determines what a Store may offer.
The franchisee prospects and serves business customers under the Commercial Sales Area policy. Batteries Plus separately administers Key Accounts for multi-location users. The business solutions page describes local delivery, site assessments, recycling and account support.
The Omni-Channel Program routes online demand to Stores for pickup, selected repair appointments or shipment. The official buy-online, pick-up-in-store process requires Store selection, readiness notice and order verification at handoff.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 1, 12 and 16, pp. 1-3, 34-36 and 40; Franchise Agreement §§2(C), 2(E), 10(K)-(M).
How does work move through a Batteries Plus Store?
The path depends on whether demand is a stocked product, in-Store service, off-site repair or commercial solution. Each path enters the Retail Management System for order, inventory, payment and reporting records.
- Actor
- Associate, commercial salesperson, e-commerce or Key Accounts team.
- Action
- Accept a walk-in, appointment, online order, lead or assigned account request.
- System/asset
- Website, Omni-Channel Software and Salesforce.com CRM.
- Output
- Demand assigned to a Store and service path.
- Actor
- Associate, Device Repair Technician or commercial lead.
- Action
- Cross-reference, test or diagnose; confirm specifications and create a work order.
- System/asset
- ProSource RMS, approved tools, catalogs and Tech Center PC.
- Output
- Approved product, service scope or account solution.
- Actor
- Store team, Ascent Battery Supply, L.L.C. or approved supplier.
- Action
- Reserve stock or order approved batteries, bulbs and repair parts.
- System/asset
- Back Office Software, purchase orders and Ascent supply chain.
- Output
- Available inventory or confirmed timing.
- Actor
- Associate, trained technician, delivery personnel or Ascent.
- Action
- Pick, test, install, program or repair; route designated off-site work to Ascent.
- System/asset
- Work order, approved equipment and repair station.
- Output
- Completed order ready for pickup or delivery.
- Actor
- Associate, customer and delivery personnel where offered.
- Action
- Verify completion, release the order, collect payment and process required recycling.
- System/asset
- ProSource RMS, Fiserv and Omni-Channel order record.
- Output
- Closed transaction, receipt and customer record.
- Actor
- Store manager, franchisee, planning support and franchisor.
- Action
- Post sales, update inventory and receivables, replenish and report.
- System/asset
- Back Office Software, Salesforce.com CRM and Avalara AvaTax.
- Output
- Auditable records and stock for the next order.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 8, 11 and 12, pp. 20-23 and 28-36; Franchise Agreement §§10(E)-(G), 10(K)-(N), 12 and 13; Software Access Agreement §§1-6. Examples: phone-repair intake and key fob programming.
Who performs each operating function?
The Store requires full-time supervision by the franchisee, a Principal Owner or an approved operating manager. The franchisee controls employment decisions; Batteries Plus controls manager approval, required training and operating standards.
A Principal Owner holds at least 10% of the franchisee entity. The owner or approved manager supervises full time without conflicting management commitments. A Multiple Unit Franchisee must devote full-time effort to development and system operations.
The approved Store Manager directs daily work. The franchisee hires, schedules, compensates and disciplines associates, who handle sales, service, orders and inventory within their training.
Two people complete initial Device Repair Training, and a trained technician trains additional employees within 30 days. The FDD says Batteries Plus expects a WISE Certified Device Repair Technician during operating hours; it states no staffing ratio.
The Principal Owner and commercial-sales lead complete the Commercial Sales Effectiveness Program. A dedicated full-time commercial employee is an Item 19 criterion for a “Commercial Sales Focused Store,” not a universal staffing requirement.
For a manager-run Store, the franchisee or Principal Owner must remain active in oversight or complete investor training, and the Store must retain at least two approved, fully trained Store Managers. The FDD does not present the model as absentee ownership.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 11 and 15, pp. 31-33 and 39; Franchise Agreement §10(D) and §10(I).
Which suppliers and operating systems are mandatory?
Approved products, designated suppliers, proprietary software, specified hardware, payment processing, network security and franchisor data access are embedded in daily operation.
A proposed supplier or item requires prior approval. Batteries Plus may test it, charge evaluation costs, revoke approval and require discontinuation within 30 days. The franchisor and Ascent receive supply-chain revenue and rebates.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 8 and 11, pp. 20-23 and 28-30; Franchise Agreement §10(E); Software Access Agreement §§1-6. See the official technology overview.
What geographic and channel limits apply?
Protection applies to competing full-service Stores, not broadly to customers or channels. The Protected Area, Market Area, E-Commerce Territory and Commercial Sales Area perform different functions.
No other franchised or company-owned full-service Store is established there while the franchisee remains compliant. Dissimilar channels remain reserved.
Advertising or solicitation outside requires written consent. Other system operators may advertise inside the Protected Area.
Unselected qualifying online orders are assigned by delivery address; overlap goes to the closest Store.
The franchisee may pursue business customers under current policy, but other Batteries Plus franchisees may pursue the same accounts.
The Key Accounts Program is separately controlled: Batteries Plus sets service rules, revenue recognition and compensation and may sell to Key Accounts inside the Protected Area. The National Accounts page describes the customer proposition; the FDD governs assignment.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 12, pp. 34-37; Franchise Agreement §§2(B)-(E), 10(K)-(L).
What does the franchisor control, and what remains with the franchisee?
The franchisee controls local execution and employment. Batteries Plus controls brand presentation, assortment, suppliers, technology, digital channels, Key Accounts, advertising, Store hours, procedures, data access and compliance review.
- Hire, schedule, compensate and supervise employees.
- Execute customer service, inventory and approved repairs.
- Prospect commercial accounts under current policy.
- Maintain premises, licenses, safety and recycling compliance.
- Products, services, suppliers and inventory standards.
- Design, equipment, hours and approved advertising.
- Omni-Channel, Key Accounts, e-commerce and pricing boundaries.
- Manager approval, records, data, inspections and audits.
- Ascent sourcing and off-site device repair.
- Field consulting and Inventory Planning as a Service.
- NMF Fund, Digital Co-op Fund and national accounts.
- TRG hardware, Fiserv, Salesforce.com CRM and security.
The Franchise Agreement permits minimum and maximum prices, subject to law. Store customer data is jointly owned by franchisor and franchisee; Key Account data is shared under franchisor policy.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 8, 11, 14 and 15, pp. 20-23, 26-34 and 38-39; Franchise Agreement §§10-13.
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At December 31, 2025, Batteries Plus had 734 Stores: 601 franchised and 133 company-owned. Franchisees therefore operated 81.9% of the customer-facing network.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, Tables 1, 3 and 4, pp. 63 and 69-71. Calculations: 601 ÷ 734 = 81.9%; 133 ÷ 734 = 18.1%; total = 100.0%.
Which operating questions remain to be confirmed?
The FDD defines the control structure but leaves current implementation details in the Operations Manual, supplier lists and program policies.
- Reconcile “New Store Commercial Support” and “Commercial as a Service,” which use overlapping 12-month language and different fee descriptions.
- Obtain the current Approved Suppliers List, Approved Supplies List and Ascent sole-source schedule.
- Confirm current Retail Management System versions, RepairQ workflow, upgrade cycle, data access and outage procedures.
- Map the Protected Area, Market Area, E-Commerce Territory and Commercial Sales Area against nearby Stores and Key Accounts.
- Verify Store Manager coverage, WISE certification expectations and commercial-sales staffing for the planned schedule.
The principal operating dependency is the integrated control layer: Ascent sourcing, Retail Management System, Omni-Channel and Key Accounts rules, approved marketing, customer-data policies, reporting and audit rights.
What is the practical operating-model conclusion?
Batteries Plus is a controlled specialty-retail and service network with a material commercial-sales component, not an inventory-only storefront.
The customer mechanism matches retail and business demand to approved batteries, lighting, device repair, key fob and related solutions through a Store, online channel or managed account. The franchisee’s central responsibility is full-time supervision of a trained team that sells, diagnoses, fulfills, records and replenishes accurately.
The strongest dependency is the franchisor-controlled supply-and-technology stack, particularly Ascent, the Retail Management System, Omni-Channel Program and Key Accounts Program. Protected Area rights cover competing full-service Stores, while commercial customers and electronic channels follow separate rules. The largest undisclosed issue is how current Operations Manual policies implement first-year commercial support, staffing coverage and order allocation in the proposed market.
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