For Bonchon, when must the Operating Principal undergo training if they hold an ownership interest in the franchise?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ues or strategies. Policy statements are not part of the Manuals, are not contracts and do not create any contractual or other binding obligation on either you or us.
7.02 Initial Training Program/Partner Training Program
After entering into this Agreement and before the opening of the franchised Restaurant (although in no case earlier than two months before the opening of the Restaurant), your General Manager and Manager must attend and successfully complete an initial training program (the "Initial Training Program") which we will provide at no additional expense to you. If you (if franchisee is an individual) or your Operating Principal (if franchisee is an entity) will engage in the on-site management of the Restaurant's day-to-day operations on a full-time basis, then you or your Operating Principal will be considered the General Manager and must attend and successfully complete our Initial Training Program. If you (if franchisee is an individual) or your Operating Principal (if franchisee is an entity) will not be supervising the day-to-day operation of your Bonchon Restaurant on a full-time basis, then you must either attend and successfully complete our Initial Training Program or our partner training program (the "Partner Training Program") at no expense to you prior to opening your Bonchon Restaurant, and an additional manager must successfully complete the Initial Training Program (the Bonchon Restaurant must have at least two (2) fully-trained managers who intend to work in the Restaurant on a full-time basis). The Initial Training Program and Partner Training Program will be conducted for approximately 15 days to up to 20 days and may take place at our Restaurant Support Center in Dallas, TX and/or at a Bonchon Training Restaurant we designate. We will determine the date of commencement, location and duration of the Initial Training Program and Partner Training Program and notify you of them.
Any attendee of the Initial Training Program must have first attended, received and hold a current Bonchon approved nationally accredited food manager certification in addition to any safe food handling courses required by the local municipality in which the Restaurant is located. You agree to produce such certification to us for review before you (if the franchisee is an individual), your Operating Principal and/or your General Manager, Area Manager as applicable, attends the Initial Training Program. No such certification is a prerequisite for attending our Partner Training Program. In addition, any attendee of the Initial Training Program or Partner Training Program must sign and return to us the Trainee Waiver, Assumption of Risk and Indemnification Agreement in the form of Exhibit I to this Agreement, prior to such attendance.
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 an entity, the Operating Principal's training requirements depend on their role in the restaurant's operations. If the Operating Principal will be involved in the on-site, full-time daily management of the Bonchon restaurant, they are considered the General Manager and must complete the Initial Training Program. This training must be completed after signing the Franchise Agreement but no earlier than two months before the restaurant opens.
However, if the Operating Principal will not be supervising the restaurant's daily operations full-time, they have the option to complete either the Initial Training Program or the Partner Training Program before the restaurant opens. In this case, Bonchon also requires that an additional manager successfully completes the Initial Training Program, ensuring that the restaurant has at least two fully-trained managers who will work full-time.
Regardless of which training program the Operating Principal attends, they must first obtain a Bonchon-approved nationally accredited food manager certification, in addition to any local safe food handling courses required by the municipality. They must also provide proof of this certification before attending either the Initial Training Program or the Partner Training Program. Additionally, all attendees must sign and return a Trainee Waiver, Assumption of Risk and Indemnification Agreement before attending either training program.