Who is responsible for covering the accommodation, meal, and travel expenses for the Chatime Initial Training Program?
Chatime Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
depending on the vendors and suppliers.
- (2) Initial Training and Related Personnel Cost. We conduct an initial training program for your benefit (the "Initial Training Program"). Prior to and during the period of your Chatime Store opening under your Franchise Agreement, we will provide any on-site portion of the Initial Training Program (the "Initial Training") to you and your employees, up to four persons. The Initial Training will be conducted by one or two Franchisor representatives. You must pay us a fee of $5,000 for each Franchise Agreement. Please note that the complete Initial Training Program generally lasts two weeks and any additional follow-up training (if applicable) generally lasts approximately five to ten days. You will pay for you and your employee's reasonable accommodations, meal and related travel expenses. If you are required to attend the Initial Training Program at our designated training center, we estimate that the amount of travel and living expenses you will spend on you and your employees will be $200 per person per day.
The above estimated costs are for up to four people to attend Initial Training, to be conducted by one or two Franchisor representatives. If additional persons are required to attend Initial Training, the costs will increase proportionately. There may also be additional training time needed to achieve required competency levels. The amount of time required is a function of each individual's ability to personally demonstrate the competencies. This may increase your costs for travel, hotels, and meals for you and your designated representatives. Any wages or salaries you pay trainees while they attend train
Source: Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment (FDD pages 17–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chatime's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for covering the accommodation, meal, and travel expenses for themselves and their employees during the Initial Training Program. Chatime provides the on-site portion of the Initial Training Program for the franchisee and up to four employees.
The FDD states that if the franchisee is required to attend the Initial Training Program at Chatime's designated training center, the estimated travel and living expenses are $200 per person per day. This cost is an estimate for up to four people. If additional people are required to attend, the costs will increase proportionately. The complete Initial Training Program generally lasts two weeks, and any additional follow-up training lasts approximately five to ten days.
Prospective franchisees should consider these costs when evaluating the overall investment required to start a Chatime franchise. These expenses can add up quickly, especially if the training center is far from the franchisee's location or if more than four employees need to be trained. It is also important to note that wages or salaries paid to trainees during training are not included in the estimated costs.