What expenses are the franchisee responsible for when attending the Aw Annual Conference?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 5.4 Annual Conference. Each year during the term of this Agreement, you, a Principal Owner and/or your Operating Manager must attend our Annual Conference for franchisees if we hold such a conference. We may charge you a fee to attend the conference ("Annual Conference Registration Fee"). In addition, you are responsible for all travel expenses incurred by you, your Owners and/or Operating Manager in attending the conference. This provision does not obligate us to hold an Annual Conference of franchisees each year. If an Annual Conference is not held, you are not obligated to pay the Annual Conference Registration Fee. If you fail to attend any Annual Conference during the term of this Agreement, you remain obligated to pay the Annual Conference Registration Fee. We may require you to attend separate training, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to us, for your breach of this provision.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to attend the Annual Conference, along with a Principal Owner or Operating Manager. Aw may charge a fee to attend the conference, referred to as the "Annual Conference Registration Fee." In addition to this fee, the franchisee is responsible for covering all travel expenses incurred by themselves, their Owners, and/or their Operating Manager to attend the conference.
Even if a franchisee fails to attend the Annual Conference, they remain obligated to pay the Annual Conference Registration Fee. However, Aw is not obligated to hold an Annual Conference every year, and if no conference is held, the franchisee is not required to pay the Annual Conference Registration Fee.
If a franchisee breaches the agreement by failing to attend the Annual Conference, Aw may require them to attend separate training, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to Aw. This highlights the importance of budgeting for both the registration fee and travel expenses associated with the Annual Conference, as non-attendance does not waive the fee and may result in additional training requirements.