Must the manager of a Chesters restaurant devote all of their time to the restaurant?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Your principal owners need not participate in the Restaurant's day-to-day operations, and we do not necessarily recommend that you do so. However, if they do not do so, you must employ a manager to participate in the Restaurant's day-to-day operations. Your manager must devote the necessary time and efforts to supervise and conduct the Restaurant's operation. Your manager and other Restaurant employees must attend and complete our initial brand standard training program to our satisfaction. All who do so will be considered certified in our brand standard training program. Your manager and other on-site employees need not have an equity interest in the Restaurant or you but must agree in writing to preserve confidential information to which they have access. We do not require franchisee owners to sign a guarantee of performance.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 34–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if the principal owners of the franchise do not participate in the restaurant's daily operations, a manager must be employed. This manager is required to dedicate the necessary time and effort to supervise and conduct the restaurant's operations. The manager, along with other restaurant employees, must attend and successfully complete Chesters' initial brand standard training program to become certified. While the manager and other on-site employees are not required to have an equity interest in the restaurant, they must agree in writing to protect any confidential information they access.
This requirement ensures that even if the franchisee is not directly involved in the day-to-day activities, there is a designated individual responsible for maintaining Chesters' standards and overseeing operations. The emphasis on training and confidentiality agreements highlights the importance Chesters places on consistent quality and protecting proprietary information across all franchise locations.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that if they plan to be hands-off owners, they must budget for a qualified manager and ensure that this manager is fully trained and committed to the role. It also means understanding the legal obligations related to confidential information and ensuring that all employees, especially the manager, are bound by these obligations. Chesters does not require franchisee owners to sign a guarantee of performance.