Who is responsible for travel and living expenses when attending Black Bear Diner training programs?
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
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, franchisees are generally responsible for covering travel and living expenses associated with attending training programs. This includes initial training for the franchisee, their general manager, and assistant managers, as well as ongoing training programs, refresher courses, seminars, and the Black Bear Diner Convention.
Specifically, the FDD states that attendance at these training programs will be at the franchisee's "sole expense, as to travel and living expenses." Black Bear Diner does not charge a tuition fee for mandatory courses but may charge a reasonable fee for optional training programs. Franchisees are also responsible for all costs associated with their managerial employees attending the annual training meeting for General Managers.
This means that prospective Black Bear Diner franchisees need to factor in these travel and living expenses when budgeting for the costs of starting and operating the franchise. These costs can potentially include transportation, accommodation, meals, and other incidental expenses incurred while attending the training programs. It is important to note that if a franchisee requests to reschedule the Projected Opening Date, they must reimburse Black Bear Diner for costs including travel and lodging expenses resulting from the rescheduling.