How does Black Bear Diner provide general guidance to franchisees?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
chise Agreement, Section 8.2)
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- Make a representative available to advise and offer general guidance to you by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, newsletters and other methods based on our and our franchisees' experience in operating other Black Bear Diner restaurants. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.6).
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- Send a field representative to your Franchised Restaurant as we deem necessary for the purpose of providing consultation, assistance and guidance in various aspects of the operation of the Franchised Restaurant. We may prepare written reports in accordance with the Bear Necessities Quality Control Program outlining any suggested changes or modifications in the operation of the your Franchised. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.6)
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- Provide additional training programs and courses to you, your general manager and other employees, which may be optional or mandatory. We reserve the right to charge a tuition fee for optional training programs. Mandatory training programs will be provided to you without tuition charge. You will be required to pay all travel and living expenses incurred by you and your employees while attending training. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.5)
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- At our discretion, conduct and administer a Black Bear Diner Convention for system franchisees. We currently conduct the Convention on an annual basis. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.5)
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- At our discretion, suggest menu item pricing policies to the extent allowed by law. You will determine the prices of the products and services that you offer to guests, except that we may establish maximum rates and prices for marketing and promotions if permitted by law. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.6)
Site Selection
If you enter into a Development Agreement with us, we will agree on with you and designate your Development Area. Your Development Agreement will have a schedule by which each Franchised Restaurant to be developed must be approved for commencement of operations. Before or after signing a Franchise Agreement, you and we will agree upon an approved location and protected area for your Franchised Restaurant. We do not determine the site for the first or any additional Franchised Restaurants to be developed under the Development Schedule, but you must receive our prior written consent to the development of a proposed site for the location of each of your Franchised Restaurants. We may, but are not obligated to, assist you in site selection, but you are ultimately responsible for selecting the site.
You are responsible for selecting the site for each of your Franchised Restaurants. In many instances franchisees have a proposed site prior to signing the Franchise Agreement. If you do not have a site which meets our criteria then you must select a site within the geographic area designated in the Franchise Agreement. Though you are solely responsible for selecting the site, we will provide site evaluation assistance at your request. The assistance consists of overall evaluation of alternative sites and at your request one site visit. Our prior approval of the site is required. The factors we consider in approving a site include general suitability, traffic pattern, ease of ingress and egress, visibility, availability of parking, proximity of similar business and the
general lease terms. We will approve or disapprove a proposed site within 15 days of receiving all requested information. Our approval of one or more sites is not a representation or a promise by us that a Franchised Restaurant at the approved site will achieve a certain sales volume or a certain level of profitability.
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, Black Bear Diner offers several avenues for providing general guidance and support to its franchisees. Black Bear Diner will make a representative available to advise and offer general guidance to franchisees via telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, newsletters, and other methods, leveraging the experiences of both the franchisor and other franchisees. This ensures franchisees have access to ongoing support and advice as needed. Black Bear Diner may also send a field representative to the franchised restaurant to provide consultation, assistance, and guidance in various aspects of the restaurant's operation. These visits may result in written reports outlining suggested changes or modifications based on the Bear Necessities Quality Control Program.
Black Bear Diner also provides additional training programs and courses to franchisees, their general managers, and other employees, which may be optional or mandatory. While mandatory training programs are provided without tuition charge, franchisees are responsible for covering all travel and living expenses incurred by themselves and their employees while attending training. Black Bear Diner may conduct and administer a Black Bear Diner Convention for system franchisees on an annual basis, providing another opportunity for guidance and networking.
Furthermore, Black Bear Diner may suggest menu item pricing policies to the extent allowed by law, although franchisees ultimately determine the prices of products and services offered, except for potential maximum rates and prices for marketing and promotions. Prior to opening, Black Bear Diner provides general guidelines and assistance in selecting the site for the Franchised Restaurant. Black Bear Diner also provides a layout for the interior of the Black Bear Diner restaurant along with specifications for the interior design, layout, décor, equipment, fixtures, furnishings and signs.