BusinessBrief
Ford’s Garage franchisee reviews service charge at Florida restaurants
Executives told Fox News that the franchisee’s program at five Florida locations could change, but discussions continue and no decision has been made.
The numbers
- Automatic service charge described in the franchisee’s team-service FAQ
- 20 percent of each check
- Florida Ford’s Garage locations testing one franchisee’s program, according to Fox
- 5 locations
A service-charge program at five Florida Ford’s Garage locations remains under review, the restaurant chain’s president told Fox News in a report published November 14.
Billy Downs said the program, tested by one franchisee, is being considered for changes and acknowledged that some customers oppose a mandatory charge. Marc Brown, president of franchisee 23 Restaurant Services, defended the program and told Fox News that discussions were continuing and no decision had been made.
The franchisee’s team-service FAQ describes an automatic 20% charge added to each check. It says any additional tip is optional and goes directly to the server, rather than being expected from guests. The FAQ describes the model as an alternative to relying on customary tipping.
Under that arrangement, the company says servers and bartenders receive commissions based on their sales rather than a percentage of the service fee. The existing FAQ dates to 2023 and was modified in April 2026.
What we don't know yet
- Will the franchisee change the program, and on what timetable?
- Would a future revision change the commission or optional-tip arrangements?
Timeline
The franchisee FAQ’s publication metadata date to October 5, 2023.
Fox News published interviews about the program’s review and the absence of a decision.
Sources cited
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