Are mandatory training programs at Black Bear Diner free of tuition charges?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
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. The following is a schedule of the initial train
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, mandatory training programs do not have tuition charges. However, franchisees are responsible for covering all travel and living expenses incurred while attending the training. Black Bear Diner may charge a reasonable fee for any optional training programs.
Black Bear Diner requires franchisees or their General Manager to attend the Black Bear Diner Franchise Convention, where seminars, workshops, and other training may be conducted. Franchisees are responsible for all costs associated with attending the convention, although Black Bear Diner may offset certain costs based on payments received from third-party suppliers. If a franchisee or their General Manager fails to attend the Convention, Black Bear Diner may assess a fee.
Furthermore, the General Manager and up to two assistant managers must attend the annual training meeting for General Managers, with the franchisee responsible for all costs associated with their managerial employees' attendance. If a new General Manager is hired after the initial training program, Black Bear Diner will provide training to the new General Manager for an additional fee of $3,000. Any General Manager hired must attend and successfully complete the initial Training Program within 60 days of hire.
Black Bear Diner's initial training program is primarily on-the-job training, supplemented with classroom and interactive online training modules. The Vice President of Training & Development is responsible for all aspects of training and has experience in developing and managing training programs for various franchise concepts.