If a Bonchon franchisee is a business entity, which individuals besides the Operating Principal are required to undergo training before employment or promotion?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
If you are entering into a franchise agreement for the operation of your third Bonchon Business, then you must designate an "Area Manager" to us in writing prior to opening your (or your affiliates', collectively with you) third Bonchon Business. The Area Manager will oversee the operations of each Bonchon Restaurant that you and/or your affiliates own and operate. The Area Manager must be certified to manage multi-unit operations. Your Area Manager must also have first attended, received and hold a current Bonchon approved nationally accredited food manager certification from the National Restaurant Association in addition to any safe food handling courses required by the local municipality in which the subject Restaurant is located. Once your Area Manager has obtained its Bonchon approved nationally accredited food manager certification, then your Area Manager must
attend and successfully complete our Initial Training Program (and such additional training that we may require) prior to the opening of your third Bonchon Business. Your Area Manager may not hold any other position in your organization or business entity or in any of your Bonchon Businesses or Restaurants while he/she is serving as your Area Manager.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 68–69)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if the franchisee is a business entity, the General Manager and the Manager are required to attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program. If the franchisee is developing their third Bonchon Business, they must designate an Area Manager who must also attend and successfully complete the Initial Training Program and be certified to manage multi-unit operations.
The General Manager has full-time, day-to-day management responsibility for the Bonchon Business, exercising on-premises supervision and directly participating in the business's operation. The Manager also has day-to-day management responsibilities, including on-premises supervision and direct participation in operations. The Area Manager oversees the operations of each Bonchon Restaurant owned and operated by the franchisee and/or its affiliates.
Each successor General Manager, Manager, and Area Manager must also satisfy Bonchon's initial training requirements and attend any other reasonable training that Bonchon specifies. The franchisee bears the expense for this training. Failing to employ and train a successor Operating Principal, General Manager, Manager, or Area Manager constitutes a material breach of the Franchise Agreement.