Are Augusta Lawn Care franchisees required to attend annual regional or national conferences?
Augusta_Lawn_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ly complete initial training.
We currently conduct an annual national franchise conference that you (or your Operating Principal) must attend. The conference shall not occur more than one time per year. Currently, the national franchise conference fee is $500.
You (or your Operating Principal) and/or any previously-trained manager must attend any refresher or follow-up training that we designate. The cost of a follow-up training is $250 per additional training. You may also incur out-of-pocket costs in attending same.
Training for replacement managers or employees is required and provided on the same terms as the initial training provided to you, except that there may be a fee. Training for replacement managers will occur at a time we schedule on a space-available basis, and may not be available immediately after the replacement manager (or employee) is hired.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 21–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Augusta Lawn Care FDD, franchisees (or their Operating Principal) must attend the annual national franchise conference, which occurs no more than once per year. The current fee for this national conference is $500.
In addition to the mandatory national conference, Augusta Lawn Care may offer annual regional conferences. While attendance at the national conference is compulsory, the FDD does not state that attendance at regional conferences is required. However, Augusta Lawn Care franchisees may be required to pay fees for these regional conferences based on the franchisor's out-of-pocket costs to hold them.
Furthermore, Augusta Lawn Care (or the Operating Principal) and/or any previously trained manager must attend any refresher or follow-up training that Augusta Lawn Care designates. The cost of follow-up training is $250 per additional training, and franchisees may also incur out-of-pocket costs to attend.