Is attendance at the initial training program mandatory for Black Bear Diner franchisees?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Development Agreement.
Training
We conduct an initial training program which you and your general manager, if applicable, and assistant manager(s) must attend and complete to our satisfaction prior to beginning operation of the Franchised Restaurant. Under certain circumstances, for example, you are currently a multiunit operator or your personnel have been previously trained by us, and you receive our preapproval then we may waive the initial training program or certain aspects of it. The instructional material for initial training program is primarily on-the-job and conducted over approximately 8 weeks and is for approximately 320 hours as described in the chart below. We supplement on-the-job training with approximately 15-30 hours of classroom and interactive, online training modules which we refer to as "Bears in the Know." Except for the Grand Opening Module which is conducted over 14 consecutive days, training is typically conducted on Wednesday through Sunday as described in the chart below. We provide training at one or more of our company owned Black Bear Diner restaurants which we determine. In the future, we may certify certain franchisee-owned Black Bear Diner restaurants that meet our requirements as "Training Restaurant(s)." If so, you may be required to attend and complete training to our satisfaction at a Training Restaurant. Any training provided by us to any of your employees will be limited to training or guiding the employees
regarding the delivery of approved services to customers in a manner that reflects the service standards of the System. You are, and will remain, the sole employer of your employees during all training programs, and you are solely responsible for all employment decisions and actions related to your employees. You must ensure that your employees receive adequate training. The content of the training programs may be modified periodically.
If you are an Area Developer and sign an Area Development Agreement for five or more restaurants, your multi-unit operations manager must attend and satisfactorily complete our initial training program.
Ms. Camille Chavez our Vice President of Training & Development is responsible for all aspects of training and is generally experienced in conducting training programs. Ms. Chavez joined us in 2019 and has over 10 years of experience in developing, implementing and managing training programs for various franchise concept including curricula development, on-line training, interactive seminars and workshops, and "train the trainer" development.
We may provide and, if so, require that you, your General Manager or other managerial employees attend and successfully complete ongoing training programs including refresher training, seminars, informational classes and/or meetings. Attendance at such training programs will be at your sole expense, as to travel and living expenses. We will not charge a tuition fee for attending any mandatory courses but may, in our discretion, charge a reasonable 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.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 28–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document, attendance at the initial training program is generally mandatory for franchisees, their general manager (if applicable), and assistant managers. This training must be completed to Black Bear Diner's satisfaction before the restaurant begins operation. The initial training program is primarily on-the-job, conducted over approximately 8 weeks for approximately 320 hours. This is supplemented with 15-30 hours of classroom and interactive, online training modules called "Bears in the Know." Training is typically conducted Wednesday through Sunday, except for the Grand Opening Module, which is 14 consecutive days.
However, there are circumstances where Black Bear Diner may waive the initial training program or certain aspects of it. This may occur if the franchisee is a multi-unit operator or if their personnel have been previously trained by Black Bear Diner, and only with the franchisor's pre-approval. If the franchisee is an Area Developer and signs an Area Development Agreement for five or more restaurants, their multi-unit operations manager must also attend and satisfactorily complete the initial training program.
Black Bear Diner may also require franchisees and their managerial employees to attend and successfully complete ongoing training programs, including refresher training, seminars, informational classes, and meetings. Franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses for these programs. If a new General Manager is hired after the initial training, Black Bear Diner will provide training to the new General Manager for an additional fee of $3,000, and the new General Manager must complete the initial training program within 60 days of hire.
Ms. Camille Chavez, the Vice President of Training & Development, oversees all aspects of training. She joined Black Bear Diner in 2019 and has over 10 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing training programs for various franchise concepts.