Is there a fee for the optional field training 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.
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, there is no fee for the optional field training. As part of the initial training program, Big O Tires specifies approximately one to 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 optional field training is conducted at a Big O Tires store, which can be at an existing franchisee's location or the franchisee's own store if approved by the Training Department. This hands-on training covers front office skills like marketing and customer relations, as well as back room skills such as accounting procedures, tire receiving, stacking, and clean-up.
Big O Tires holds the facilitated training, as well as the mandatory and optional field training, typically once a month or as often as needed. This lack of a fee for optional training can be a financial benefit for new franchisees, allowing them to gain additional practical experience without incurring extra costs.