Is attendance at the Black Bear Diner Convention mandatory for franchisees?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
onable fee for any optional training.
You or your General Manager is required to attend the Black Bear Diner Franchise Convention at which seminars, workshops and other training may be conducted. The Convention will be held at a location we designate. Attendance at the Convention will not be required for more than three (3) days during any calendar year. You are required to pay all costs to attend the convention; however, we may elect to offset certain costs otherwise required of you based upon the level of payments received (if any) from third party suppliers as described in Item 8. Should you or your General Manager fail to attend the Convention, we may assess a fee as described in Item 6.
Your General Manager and up to two assistant managers must attend the annual training meeting for General Managers that we may hold or sponsor. You are responsible for all costs of your managerial employees to attend the annual training. Attendance at the General Manager annual training meeting will not be required for more than two (2) days during any calendar year. Should your managerial employees fail to attend the annual training meeting, we may assess a fee as described in Item 6.
If you hire a new General Manager after completing initial Training Program, we will provide training to your General Manager for an additional fee of $3,000. Any General Manager hired by you must attend and successfully complete the initial Training Program within 60 days of hire. We may, based on your or your General Manager's personal qualifications and experience, revise, modify or alter the initial training program.
All our training is on-the-job training.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 28–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Black Bear Diner's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, attendance at the Black Bear Diner Franchise Convention is required for either the franchisee or their General Manager. The convention includes seminars, workshops, and other training, and it will not exceed three days in any calendar year. The location of the convention is determined by Black Bear Diner.
The franchisee is responsible for covering all costs associated with attending the convention; however, Black Bear Diner may offset certain costs based on payments received from third-party suppliers. If neither the franchisee nor their General Manager attends the convention, Black Bear Diner may assess a fee, the amount of which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD.
In addition to the Franchise Convention, the General Manager and up to two assistant managers must attend an annual training meeting, which will not exceed two days. The franchisee is responsible for all costs associated with their managerial employees attending this training. Failure to attend may also result in a fee as described in Item 6. Black Bear Diner also offers ongoing training programs, including refresher training, seminars, informational classes, and meetings, which may be mandatory, with the franchisee responsible for travel and living expenses.