Does Carbones Pizzeria require an owner to participate personally in the direct operation of the Restaurant?
Carbones_Pizzeria Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Although not required we strongly recommend that one of your owners participate personally in the direct operation of the Restaurant. Although we do not prohibit it, we strongly discourage any form of "absentee ownership" of a Carbone's pizza restaurant.
If one of your owners will not act as the operations manager you must have an operations manager to conduct on-site supervision of your Restaurant operations. This manager must complete our initial training program. This individual is not required to own any equity interest in your Restaurant business.
If you are an entity, including a partnership, or you transfer your Franchise Agreement to an entity, including a partnership, you and any other owners (and your and their spouses) must sign a personal guaranty of all obligations under the Franchise Agreement and agreeing to be bound by all such obligations.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD page 23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carbones Pizzeria's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, while not mandatory, Carbones Pizzeria strongly recommends that at least one owner actively participate in the direct operation of the Restaurant. Although absentee ownership is not prohibited, Carbones Pizzeria strongly discourages it.
If an owner chooses not to be the operations manager, the franchisee must appoint an operations manager to oversee the Restaurant's daily activities. This operations manager is required to complete the initial training program provided by Carbones Pizzeria. It is important to note that the operations manager is not required to have any ownership stake in the Restaurant business.
For franchisees structured as entities, such as partnerships, all owners, including their spouses, must provide a personal guarantee. This guarantee ensures that they are personally liable for all obligations under the Franchise Agreement and are bound by its terms.