What initial training programs does Batteries Plus Bulbs provide to franchisees?
Batteries_Plus_Bulbs Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
your Stores according to the Development Schedule.
Training. Our initial training program, the initial startup and commercial sales effectiveness training programs, are conducted primarily at our corporate training center in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in one of our Stores and online. We currently offer the initial startup training program 11 to 13 times each year, with one class for commercial and one class for retail generally offered each month. You must attend the one week on-site commercial training in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, within three months of signing your Franchise Agreement. Once completed, you must open your store for commercial sales. Within one month of opening for commercial sales, you must also complete your online training modules covering battery product, bulb product, commercial selling and operations. Once a site is secured, you will attend the one week on-site retail training program offered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Once the one week retail training is complete, you will spend an additional week of training in a designated store. The initial startup training program includes instruction relating to Store operations, understanding the equipment and product use, costs and cash control, customer service, accountability for sales and marketing, methods of controlling operating costs and the Retail Management System. You also must complete additional virtual training covering human resources, selling, operations, and finance.
You may not open your Store unless each proposed Store manager who will oversee day-to-day operations and management of the Store ("Store Manager") successfully completes the initial start up training program, including all online courses. We anticipate that you (if franchisee is an entity, a Principal Owner) will be a proposed Store Manager. If we determine that the proposed Store Manager is not qualified to manage the Store, we will allow you to select a substitute Store Manager to complete the initial start up training program.
While new franchise owners must successfully complete all the training programs, we will make available to new Store associates of existing franchise owners various tools included in the initial start up training program.
INITIAL START UP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEW FRANCHISE OWNERS
| Type of Fee | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Management SystemCost | $38,968 | |
| Omni-Channel Program Access Fee | $10,000 | |
| Monthly Software Support Fee | Currently $472per month | |
| Omni-Channel Maintenance Fees | Then-current fee as described in the Operations Manual, currently $200 per month | |
| Omni-Channel Program Fees | Varies, incudes administrative fee on certain product and reimbursement of key account, e-commerce and other program expenses and services provided to you | |
| Managed Security Services (PCI | Currently $170 per month | |
| Compliance) Program Fee | ||
| Avalara Avatax Service Fee | Varies, currently $26per month | |
| Payment Gateway Fee | Varies, currently $22per month | |
| Salesforce.com CRM Fee | Varies, currently $50per month | Training will be provided at the Batteries Plus Support Office in Pewaukee, Wisconsin or another location we select, at our option. |
A Principal Owner and the person responsible for commercial sales (if different) must participate in our Commercial Sales Effectiveness Program. The Program takes place before and after the Store opens.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 34–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Batteries Plus Bulbs' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, new franchisees are required to complete the initial startup and commercial sales effectiveness training programs. These programs are held primarily at the Batteries Plus Bulbs corporate training center in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in existing stores, and online. The initial startup training program is offered 11 to 13 times each year, with separate classes for commercial and retail training generally offered each month. Franchisees must attend a one-week on-site commercial training in Pewaukee, Wisconsin within three months of signing the Franchise Agreement, and open their store for commercial sales upon completion. Within one month of opening for commercial sales, franchisees must complete online training modules covering battery product, bulb product, commercial selling, and operations. After securing a site, franchisees will attend a one-week on-site retail training program in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, followed by an additional week of training in a designated store.
The initial startup training program includes instruction on store operations, equipment and product use, costs and cash control, customer service, sales and marketing accountability, methods for controlling operating costs, and the Retail Management System. Franchisees must also complete additional virtual training covering human resources, selling, operations, and finance. Store Managers must successfully complete the initial start up training program, including all online courses, before the store can open. If a franchisee (or a Principal Owner, if the franchisee is an entity) will not be a Store Manager, they must have two approved Store Managers on staff at all times who have successfully completed the training requirements. The franchisee (or Principal Owner) must also complete designated portions of the initial start up training program.
Batteries Plus Bulbs also provides a Device Repair Training Program, which takes place over three days. For new franchisees opening their first store for retail sales, two individuals must attend and successfully complete the program. The Device Repair Technician must then train additional employees within 30 days of opening. Batteries Plus Bulbs expects franchisees to have a WISE Certified Device Repair Technician on staff during all hours of operation. Device Repair Training is conducted each month at the Pewaukee, Wisconsin, training facility as part of the initial start up training program. The instructional materials for all training programs include the Batteries Plus® Online training modules, the Batteries Plus® Product, Operations, and Technical Training manuals, handouts and visual aids, and will include lecture, classroom discussion, hands-on demonstration and/or practice training at a Batteries Plus® Store. The content of the training programs may be modified periodically.
In addition to the above, a Principal Owner and the person responsible for commercial sales (if different) must participate in the Commercial Sales Effectiveness Program. The Program takes place before and after the Store opens. The program is a combination of instructor-led training in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, along with in market training, weekly coaching phone calls between the participants and your assigned Sales Effectiveness Coach.