For a Carvel franchise, can an Owner serve as the Primary Contact and/or a Manager?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are required to devote your best efforts to the proper and effective operation of the Shoppe. You (if you are an individual) and your Owners (if you are an Entity) are not required to participate in the actual operation of the Shoppe but may serve, with our consent, as the Primary Contact and/or a Manager. However, we do not recommend an investment in a Shoppe for investors interested in an absentee management business.
You must appoint a Primary Contact who will be responsible for, and have decision-making authority regarding, the Shoppe and its operation. You may not appoint, remove, or replace the Primary Contact without our prior written approval. Your Primary Contact may be (but is not required to be) an Owner. Your Primary Contact must successfully complete Primary Contact Training to our satisfaction. We may, in our sole discretion, permit your Primary Contact to serve as a Manager for the Shoppe, provided that it is their full-time job, they otherwise qualify for the position, and they successfully complete the Management Training Program.
You must have at least two Managers that are dedicated to your Shoppe. Your Managers must have day-to-day management responsibility for your Shoppe, exercise on-premises supervision, and personally participate in the direct operation of the Shoppe. Your Managers may be (but are not required to be) an Owner. If you operate a Hosted Express Shoppe located in a Host Facility, the Manager may be the same manager for the Host Facility. Your Managers must complete the Management Training Program to our satisfaction. You must inform us in writing of the identity of your Managers and any successor Managers.
If you operate four or more Shoppes, we may require you to hire one or more additional Managers to serve as a Director of Operations to provide additional support and supervision to multiple Shoppes. Your Directors of Operations must meet any minimum standards for such position and must complete the Management Training Program and any other training programs that we specify to our satisfaction.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 82–83)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if the franchisee is an individual, they may serve as the Primary Contact with Carvel's consent. If the franchisee is an entity, an Owner may serve as the Primary Contact, also with Carvel's consent. The Primary Contact is responsible for the Shoppe's operation and must complete Primary Contact Training. Carvel must approve the appointment, removal, or replacement of the Primary Contact.
An Owner can also be a Manager. Carvel requires at least two Managers for each Shoppe, who must have day-to-day management responsibility and exercise on-premises supervision. These Managers may be Owners, but are not required to be. All Managers must complete the Management Training Program. For Hosted Express Shoppes located in a Host Facility, the Manager may be the same manager for the Host Facility.
Carvel may permit the Primary Contact to serve as a Manager if it is their full-time job, they otherwise qualify for the position, and they successfully complete the Management Training Program. If a franchisee operates four or more Shoppes, Carvel may require them to hire additional Managers to serve as a Director of Operations to provide additional support and supervision to multiple Shoppes. These Directors of Operations must meet minimum standards and complete the Management Training Program.