Are Bambu Certified Team Leaders required to have an equity interest in a Bambu shoppe?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are not required to participate personally in the direct day-to-day management and/or operation of your shoppe. However, at all times during the term of your Franchise Agreement, you must have at least three designated Bambū Certified Team Leaders, one of which may be you, who are responsible for the supervision and management of your Bambū shoppe. One of your Bambū Certified Team Leaders must be available at all times to be at the Bambū shoppe upon our demand. At least one of your Bambū Certified Team Leaders may not engage in any other business or other activity, directly or indirectly, that requires any significant management responsibility or time commitment, or otherwise may conflict with his or her obligations to operate and manage the shoppe. We do not require that the Bambū Certified Team Leaders have an equity interest in the shoppe.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 42–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bambu does not require that Certified Team Leaders have an equity interest in the shoppe. However, the franchisee must designate at least three Bambu Certified Team Leaders, one of whom may be the franchisee, to supervise and manage the Bambu shoppe.
One of the designated Bambu Certified Team Leaders must be available at all times to be at the shoppe upon demand. Additionally, at least one of the Bambu Certified Team Leaders cannot be involved in any other business or activity that would require significant management responsibility or time commitment, or otherwise conflict with their obligations to operate and manage the Bambu shoppe.
This policy provides flexibility for franchisees in structuring their management team. Franchisees can choose to offer equity to attract and retain high-quality managers, but it is not a mandatory requirement. This may reduce the initial financial burden on franchisees, as they do not need to allocate equity in the business from the outset.