Where does the standard staff training for Benihana franchise employees take place?
Benihana Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Currently, the Initial Training is held at our principal place of business and the In-Restaurant Training is held at your BENIHANA Restaurant. If we decide to conduct any training programs at any other location, you must reimburse us for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our training instructors, including wages, travel expenses, food and lodging, and auto rental.
| SUBJECT | CLASSROOM TRAINING HOURS | ON THE JOB TRAINING HOURS | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENIHANA SUSHI STANDARDS Sushi food specifications Sushi Awasezu &Sushi rice Standard menu items and their recipes "Specialty" rolls Happy Hour/LTOs Hibachi Food | 4 hours | 112 hours | Corporate or franchised restaurant (as we designate) |
| GUEST SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOL Safety of facility in compliance with applicable regulations and EcoSure standards; ServSafe (or equivalent) certification; Vendor selection; "Approved Source"; "Safety First" in sushi; Chef safety protocol for a guest | 8 hours | Corporate or franchised restaurant (as we designate) | |
| STANDARD EQUIMENT, TOOLS, AND UTENSILS Facility Kitchen Sushi Bar Bar | 2 hours | Our Office (Aventura, FL) | |
| STANDARD SERVICE Steps of Service Host, Bar, Lounge Sushi bar dining room Chefs Management in Dining Room Reservation Management Special Occasion celebration Guest Relations and Recovery Delivery and take out | 40 hours | 80 hours | Corporate or franchised restaurant (as we designate) |
| STANDARD SUPPLIES & UNIFORMS Dinnerware Mugs Uniforms (Host, Servers, Chefs, Server Assistant) | 2 hours | Our Office (Aventura, FL) |
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, the training locations vary depending on the type of training and the subject matter. Initial Training is held at Benihana's principal place of business, while In-Restaurant Training occurs at the franchisee's Benihana Restaurant. However, Benihana has the right to conduct training programs at other locations, requiring the franchisee to cover the expenses incurred by the training instructors. Ongoing Training may take place at Benihana's principal place of business, the franchisee's restaurant, or a designated Benihana Restaurant.
For specific subjects, the training locations are more defined. For example, training on standard equipment, tools, and utensils takes place at Benihana's office in Aventura, FL. Other subjects, such as Benihana sushi standards, guest safety and security protocol, and standard service, are taught at either a corporate or franchised restaurant, as designated by Benihana. This mixed approach allows Benihana to leverage both its corporate resources and the real-world environment of its restaurants for training purposes.
This means that a Benihana franchisee should be prepared to send their staff to various locations for training, and to potentially host training at their own restaurant. The franchisee is responsible for all expenses related to training, including wages, travel, lodging, and meals for their employees. Additionally, if training occurs at the franchisee's location, they may need to reimburse Benihana for the expenses of the training instructors. Franchisees should factor in these potential costs when budgeting for staff training and development.