What are the franchisee's obligations regarding payment for additional in-restaurant training provided by Benihana?
Benihana Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Initial Training before you open the BENIHANA Restaurant.
In-Restaurant Training will be for a period we deem necessary to prepare for the opening of the BENIHANA Restaurant. There will be no additional fee for the In-Restaurant Training. You will be responsible, however, for all travel, living and lodging expenses for our personnel providing the In-Restaurant Training. At your request, we will, subject to our prior approval and availability, provide the assistance of additional personnel in connection with the In-Restaurant Training, provided that you reimburse us for the salaries and wages of all such additional personnel. If you request that the In-Restaurant Training be provided for more than 20 working days, you must pay all salaries, wages, and travel, living and lodging expenses of our personnel during the extending In-Restaurant Training period.
You must pay all expenses you incur in connection with the Initial Training and In-Restaurant Training, including the costs of your employee's wages, travel, lodging, living, meals and other expenses of your employees.
Initial Training will be offered at various times during the year depending on the number of franchisees entering the System, replacement general managers and other personnel needing training, the number of new BENIHANA Restaurants being opened, and the timing of the scheduled openings of BENIHANA Restaurants.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 36–47)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Benihana's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may request additional in-restaurant training, but they are responsible for covering specific costs associated with it. Benihana will provide in-restaurant training deemed necessary to prepare for the restaurant opening without an additional fee. However, the franchisee is responsible for the travel, living, and lodging expenses of Benihana personnel providing this training.
If the franchisee requests additional personnel for in-restaurant training, Benihana may provide them subject to prior approval and availability, but the franchisee must reimburse Benihana for the salaries and wages of these additional personnel. Furthermore, if the in-restaurant training extends beyond 20 working days, the franchisee is obligated to pay all salaries, wages, and travel, living, and lodging expenses for Benihana's personnel during the extended training period.
During the operation of the Benihana Restaurant, franchisees can request additional in-restaurant training, but they must pay a training fee for each trainer provided by Benihana and reimburse all of Benihana's expenses. Franchisees are also responsible for all expenses incurred in connection with both the Initial Training and In-Restaurant Training, including the costs of their employee's wages, travel, lodging, living, meals, and other expenses.