Can an individual franchisee be the Operator of their Big O Tires store?
Big_O_Tires Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Your Big O Store will only be operated by the Operator or a Manager employed by you who is subject to approval by us; that is, Big O, in its discretion, may exercise the right to approve or disapprove your original and later Operators and Managers. If you are an individual, you may be the Operator. Your "Manager" is the individual who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of your Store. This individual could be the Operator or could be a different person. All initial and later Operators and Managers are also subject to approval by us. Our approval, if required, will be conditioned on the Operator's or Manager's successful completion of any training required by us. We may waive some or all of our initial training requirements for Operators or Managers who have already received training as a result of their affiliation with another Store or Big O franchisee or in other circumstances, in our sole discretion. If you are a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, we do not require your Operator or Manager to own an equity interest in you.
Your Operator or Manager shall complete, to our reasonable satisfaction, all training programs, which we require or provide at the time as we may reasonably prescribe. Except as otherwise described in Item 11 under "Training"; you must bear all expenses of these persons while they are receiving our training, including costs of travel, room and board, as well as wages of the persons receiving the training.
If you are a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, your Operator and each of your officers, directors, partners and their spouses, shareholders and their spouses, or members and their spouses, (and, if you are an individual, your spouse) must sign our standard Guaranty of Franchisee's Agreement, a copy of which is attached to the Franchise Agreement as Schedule 3. We may, in our sole discretion, limit or waive this requirement. Other than the above, we make no other recommendations
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 77–78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big O Tires's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if you are an individual, you may be the Operator of your Big O Tires store. The Operator, or a Manager employed by you, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of your store. However, Big O Tires retains the right to approve or disapprove your original and later Operators and Managers.
Big O Tires requires that all initial and later Operators and Managers are subject to their approval. This approval is conditional on the successful completion of any training required by Big O Tires. However, Big O Tires may waive some or all of the initial training requirements for Operators or Managers who have already received training as a result of their affiliation with another store or Big O Tires franchisee, or in other circumstances, at their discretion.
If the franchisee is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, Big O Tires does not require the Operator or Manager to own an equity interest in the company. Regardless of the business structure, the Operator or Manager must complete all required training programs to Big O's reasonable satisfaction. Franchisees should also note that they or their pre-approved representative must attend Big O's first national convention after their store opens for business.