Must a Bonchon franchisee who is an individual designate a General Manager?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If an individual, you must either serve as or designate a General Manager. If you are an individual, we recommend that you personally serve as your own General Manager. If you are an entity, then your Operating Principal may serve as your General Manager or you may designate a General Manager. If your Operating Principal will have on-premises management responsibility over the Restaurant's daily operations on a full-time basis, then we will consider your Operating Principal to be the General Manager. The General Manager, who will have full-time day-to-day management responsibility for your Bonchon Business and Restaurant, will exercise on-premises supervision and personally participate in the direct operation of the Business and Restaurant. You must inform us in writing of your General Manager and any replacement General Manager in advance. We must approve your General Manager(s) before you appoint them. Your General Manager(s) must attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program. In addition to your General Manager, you must employ a second full-time manager to serve as your assistant or kitchen manager (the "Manager"). Your Manager will also have day-to-day management responsibility for your Bonchon Business and Restaurant, and will exercise on-premises supervision and personally participate in the direct operation of the Business and Restaurant. The Manager must attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 69–71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee is an individual, they must either serve as the General Manager or designate one. Bonchon recommends that individual franchisees personally serve as their own General Manager. The General Manager has full-time, day-to-day management responsibility for the Bonchon business and restaurant, including on-premises supervision and direct participation in operations.
Bonchon must be informed in writing of the designated General Manager and any replacements in advance, and Bonchon must approve the General Manager before appointment. The General Manager must also attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program. In addition to the General Manager, a Bonchon franchisee must employ a second full-time manager to serve as an assistant or kitchen manager, referred to as the "Manager." This Manager also has day-to-day management responsibilities, including on-premises supervision and direct participation in the business's operation, and must attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program.
These requirements ensure that every Bonchon restaurant has qualified and trained management personnel overseeing daily operations. For prospective franchisees, this means understanding the commitment required either to personally manage the restaurant or to find and train a suitable General Manager and assistant manager who meet Bonchon's standards.