Under what circumstances can the Operating Partner of a Checkers franchise not be an individual?

According to Checkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Operating Partner, who is responsible for the direct, on-premises supervision of the Franchised Restaurant, can be either the franchisee themselves or another Operator appointed by the franchisee to manage the day-to-day business activities. The FDD defines "Operator(s)" as an individual or the individuals appointed and authorized by the franchisee to conduct day-to-day business activities at the Franchised Restaurant.

This indicates that the Operating Partner does not necessarily have to be a single individual. The franchisee can appoint multiple individuals as Operators to fulfill the responsibilities of the Operating Partner, meaning the role can be shared by more than one person. However, each of these individuals must have sufficient experience in the operation of a quick service restaurant (in Checkers' opinion) and must successfully complete Checkers' initial training program.

This flexibility allows a Checkers franchisee to structure the management of their restaurant in a way that best suits their needs and resources. For example, a franchisee who owns multiple restaurants might appoint different Operators to oversee each location, or they might choose to have a team of Operators working together at a single restaurant. However, the franchisee (or their Operating Partner) must remain active in overseeing the Franchised Restaurant's ongoing business activities, even if they appoint an Operator for day-to-day operations.