What are the requirements for a Carls Franchised Restaurant to be designated as a Certified Training Restaurant?
Carls Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
In addition, if you operate three or more Franchised Restaurants, we may require, in our sole discretion, that (A) you obtain and maintain a certification from us for one or more of your Franchised Restaurants to be an authorized training restaurant (a "Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant") and (B) one or more of your General Managers obtain and maintain a certification from us as a trainer authorized to provide our FMTP to your new trainees (a "Certified Franchisee Management Trainer"). Your Certified Franchisee Management Trainers may provide our FMTP at a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant in accordance with our System standards for such training. To become a Certified Franchisee Management Trainer, a General Manager must (i) complete our FMTP, (ii) maintain specific food safety programs, (iii) attend any required additional training program as specified by us from time to time, and (iv) meet other qualifications that we may specify from time to time. To be designated as a Certified Training Restaurant, your Franchised Restaurant must (a) meet compliance scores that we specify, (b) fully comply with our then-current System standards, (c) maintain established personnel requirements, in addition to a Certified Franchisee Management Trainer, (d) remain compliant with all health department or other regulatory requirements; and (e) meet any other requirements that we may specify from time to time. We may, in our sole discretion, revoke certification for a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant or a Certified Franchisee Management Trainer. If we revoke certification, we may require your trainees to attend the FMTP at another location that we designate.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 41–54)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 FDD, Carls may require franchisees who operate three or more restaurants to obtain certification for one or more of their locations to serve as an authorized training restaurant, called a "Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant." To receive this designation, the franchisee's restaurant must meet several criteria.
First, the restaurant must achieve compliance scores specified by Carls. Second, it must fully comply with the brand's then-current System standards. Third, the restaurant needs to maintain established personnel requirements, including having a Certified Franchisee Management Trainer on staff. Fourth, the restaurant must remain compliant with all health department and other regulatory requirements. Finally, the restaurant must meet any other requirements that Carls may specify from time to time.
Carls retains the sole discretion to revoke certification for a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant. If certification is revoked, Carls may require trainees to attend the Franchisee Management Training Program (FMTP) at an alternative location designated by Carls. This ensures that training standards are maintained even if a previously certified location no longer meets the requirements.