Does Carls Jr. charge an additional fee for consultation and advice regarding the construction or renovation and operation of the Franchised Restaurant?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 8. Provide you with consultation and advice at no additional cost with regard to construction or renovation and operation of the Franchised Restaurant, building layout, furnishings, fixtures and equipment plans and specifications, training, purchasing and inventory control and those other matters as we deem appropriate. (Franchise Agreement, §12.A.)
- 9. Provide you with assistance, upon your request, in opening the Franchised Restaurant and in training your employees as we deem appropriate in light of your needs and the availability of our personnel. We have the right to charge you a fee for the opening training support team, depending on the level of support needed to open the Franchised Restaurant (as determined by us). (Franchise Agreement, §11.B.)
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 42–55)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, Carls Jr. provides consultation and advice regarding the construction or renovation and operation of the Franchised Restaurant at no additional cost. This includes advice on building layout, furnishings, fixtures and equipment plans and specifications, training, purchasing and inventory control, and other matters deemed appropriate by Carls Jr.
However, Carls Jr. does reserve the right to charge a fee for the opening training support team, depending on the level of support needed to open the Franchised Restaurant. This fee is determined by Carls Jr. It is important to note that while initial consultation and advice are provided at no additional cost, additional training programs may require tuition fees, and franchisees are responsible for travel, living, and other expenses incurred by their employees while attending these training sessions.
Prospective franchisees should clarify the scope of the 'no additional cost' consultation to fully understand what services are included. They should also inquire about the potential fees associated with the opening training support team to accurately budget for the initial setup and training phases of their Carls Jr. franchise.