Is attendance at development training required for Carls Jr. franchisees, and if so, who is responsible for determining if the training is completed to satisfaction?

According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, development training is required for franchisees. The franchisee must complete any development training required by Carls Jr. to the company's satisfaction. The franchisee is responsible for paying a tuition fee for each person attending the development training, with the fee amount determined by Carls Jr. from time to time.

In addition to the mandatory development training, Carls Jr. also offers optional development training, which franchisees may attend upon payment of a tuition fee set by the company. The franchisee is responsible for covering all travel, living, and other expenses incurred by themselves and their employees while attending both the required and optional development training programs.

This means that prospective Carls Jr. franchisees should budget not only for the tuition fees associated with the development training but also for all related travel and living expenses. Furthermore, franchisees must ensure that they meet Carls Jr.'s standards for satisfactory completion of the training, as determined by the company. Failing to meet these standards could potentially impact the franchisee's ability to move forward with the restaurant development process.