System and Method for Franchise, Finance, Real Estate, And Supplier Relationship Management

Abstract

A system and computer-implemented method for delivering documents associated with a commercial transaction using a computer in communication with a computer network include receiving documents associated with a designated commercial transaction from a first party via the computer network, storing the documents for subsequent access via the computer network in a computer readable storage device, notifying a second party that the documents are available via the computer network, and logging a date that the documents are available to the second party in a log file stored on the computer readable storage device. The system and method may also include receiving a request from a second party via the computer network to review documents for the designated commercial transaction, allowing access to the documents by the second party via the computer network; and logging a date that the documents are accessed via the computer network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for documenting information provided to prospective purchasers, comprising:
 a server in communication with a network;   a user device in communication with the network;   a computer readable storage device having stored data and instructions executable by the server to:   receive prospective purchaser information and electronically store the prospective purchaser information;   receive company information and electronically store the company information, the company information including a disclosure document describing a purchase opportunity;   receive a request generated by the user device for information associated with at least one company;   process the request generated by the user device to select the company information based on the prospective purchaser information;   provide access to the company information including the disclosure document via the user device; and   store information indicative of access to the disclosure document.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions to store information indicative of the disclosure document being viewed by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions that receive an e-signature associated with the disclosure document via the user device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions executable by the server to:
 receive approval from a user via the user device to access the disclosure document electronically using the network. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions executable by the server to:
 store an archive copy of the disclosure document accessed by the user device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions executable by the server to:
 generate an electronic receipt in response to the user device receiving access to the disclosure document; and 
 generate an electronic receipt in response to the disclosure document being viewed. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions executable by the server to:
 store log information in the computer readable storage device associated with communications exchanged via the server associated with the prospective purchaser and the company information. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the log information includes a date the disclosure document was sent to the prospective purchaser. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the log information includes a date the prospective purchaser was provided access to the disclosure document. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the log information includes a date the prospective purchaser viewed the disclosure document. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the log information includes version information associated with the disclosure document for which access was provided to the prospective purchaser. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the prospective purchaser information comprises real estate information and financing information. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the computer readable storage device includes instructions executable by the server to:
 search previously received company information to match the prospective purchaser real estate information; and 
 notify the prospective purchaser of matching real estate information. 
 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method for delivering documents associated with a commercial transaction using a computer in communication with a computer network, the method comprising:
 receiving documents associated with a designated commercial transaction from a first party via the computer network;   storing the documents for subsequent access via the computer network in a computer readable storage device;   notifying a second party that the documents are available via the computer network;   logging a date that the documents are available to the second party in a log file stored on the computer readable storage device;   receiving a request from a second party via the computer network to review documents for the designated commercial transaction;   allowing access to the documents by the second party via the computer network; and   logging a date that the documents are accessed via the computer network.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 obtaining an electronic signature from the second party via the computer network; and 
 logging a date that the electronic signature is obtained. 
 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  wherein the documents comprise documents associated with a franchise purchase. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 obtaining consent from the second party via the computer network to access the documents via the computer network; and 
 logging an indication that the consent was obtained prior to notifying the second party that the documents are available. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 archiving a version of the documents accessed by the second party. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  wherein allowing access to the documents comprises electronically sending the documents to the second party via the computer network. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14  wherein allowing access to the documents comprises allowing the second party to view the documents via the computer network using a browser.