What is included in the initial training program provided by Big O Tires?
Big_O_Tires Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Before the opening of your Big O Store and provided you have paid the franchise fee, we make available to you the online Learning Management System. We also will provide an initial Online Training program and the Facilitated Training program for one person. The curriculum of the Facilitated Training program (which may be updated and revised at any time within the sole discretion of Big O), may be conducted at our company training facilities, in an online virtual classroom, or at any geographical location, in our discretion. Additionally, field training and operations certification will be conducted at a Big O Store designated by us. The number of weeks of this initial training will be the number specified by us in our discretion; currently, we specify approximately one or two days of Online Training, one and a half weeks of Facilitated training, three and a half weeks of required field training and two weeks of optional field training. There is no fee for the optional field training. The two week portion of the initial training program is conducted at a Big O Store. This training can be conducted by an existing franchisee of Big O at that franchisee's approved location, or at your Big O Store location if approved by the Training Department. This portion of the training program consists of "hands-on" training in front office skills (such as marketing and customer relations) and back room skills (such as recommended accounting procedures based upon our business model, receiving tires, stacking tires and clean-up). The configuration, content and timing of classroom training and "hands on" training may be determined based upon time and attendance considerations of each training session. The Online Training is offered on demand at any time. We hold the Facilitated Training, and mandatory and optional field training, as often as needed, typically once a month.
Each individual receiving the field training and certification must sign a Certification Program Agreement in the form of Exhibit U with Big O and the franchisee providing the training. Unless we waive the training requirements or a part of the training requirements, you, or if you are not an individual, your Operator (the person designated by you to assume the responsibility for the operation of your Big O Store), must attend and successfully complete the training program at any time following the execution of your Franchise Agreement and prior to your Big O Store opening for business. If you or your Operator fails to successfully complete the training program, at our direction you or your Operator must attend an additional training program at your cost or we may terminate the Franchise Agreement.
The tuition or training fee covering the initial training program for one person (which may be you if you are an individual or may be your Operator), is built into the franchise fee. You may send people in addition to your Operator to the initial training program. For all these additional trainees, you must pay a training fee of $75 per week per person for the classroom portion of the training and $500 per week per person for the one and a half weeks of mandatory field training and certification. You must bear all travel, lodging, food and all other living expenses that are incurred by each trainee while attending training programs.
We have not established a policy that requires any certain minimum amount of experience to be an instructor at our National Training Center or for our field training.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEM AND TRAINING (FDD pages 55–73)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big O Tires' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial training program includes an online Learning Management System, an initial Online Training program, and a Facilitated Training program for one person. The curriculum of the Facilitated Training program may be updated and revised at any time at Big O's discretion and may be conducted at their company training facilities, in an online virtual classroom, or at any geographical location. The initial training also includes field training and operations certification conducted at a Big O Store designated by Big O Tires.
The initial training program consists of approximately one or two days of Online Training, one and a half weeks of Facilitated training, three and a half weeks of required field training and two weeks of optional field training. The two-week portion of the initial training program is conducted at a Big O Store and consists of hands-on training in front office skills, such as marketing and customer relations, and back room skills, such as recommended accounting procedures based upon their business model, receiving tires, stacking tires, and clean-up. The Online Training is offered on demand at any time, and the Facilitated Training, and mandatory and optional field training, are held as often as needed, typically once a month.
The instruction materials include portions of their Manual known as the Franchise Policies & Standards Manual, and their new franchisee orientation program, handouts, media presentations, and online learning materials. The instructors for the Facilitated Training program in the initial training program are members of the Big O Training Department and other employees of Big O who are knowledgeable in the particular subject matter, but training may also periodically include non-employee speakers such as franchisees or supplier representatives. The instructors for the field training in the initial training program are franchisees designated by them.
Big O Tires may provide a "Fast Track" program to experienced Franchisees or experienced managers from their TBC Retail Holdings who purchase Big O franchises. The curriculum for this program will be determined via an evaluation by corporate resources (Big O Tires Management, Franchise Development, Franchise Business Consultants, and the Training Department). The Fast Track program may include any and all components of the standard outlined above, as well as additional components as defined by the evaluation process.