Can Christian Brothers Automotive franchisees be required to pay for additional mandatory training?
Christian_Brothers_Automotive Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
's Principal Operator and its Initial Service Manager, in connection with attending and participating in such training. Franchisor will assist Franchisee in the interviewing of an Initial Service Manager. Franchisor may, but is not required to, offer additional training. If Franchisor offers additional training, it may, in its sole discretion, make such additional training mandatory for the Franchisee's Principal Operator and Initial Service Manager or any successor to the Initial Service Manager. The additional training will take place at such locations as Franchisor reasonably selects, and Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that the reasonableness of the locations will be determined by Franchisor based on a wide variety of factors, including without limitation the locations of all franchisees participating in the training and the location of the available training facilities. Franchisor may establish such fees for the additional training, as Franchisor in its sole discretion deems appropriate. The Franchisee shall be responsible for the costs of such additional training, including all
Franchise Agreement (Ver 04-14-2025)
Franchisee: ___________
Franchisor: Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation
Property: ____________ 30
travel expenses, living expenses, and expenses of attendance and participation. Franchisee
will be charged, and agrees to pay, such fees as are established by the Franchisor from time
to time for such additional training, and the price of training materials, as established by
Franchisor, provided to the Principal Operator and Initial Service Manager. The Franchisor
may require that any successor to the Initial Service Manager (a) attend and successfully
complete, as determined in Franchisor's sole discretion, Franchisor's Initial Training
Program, and (b) attend and successfully complete, as determined in Franchisor's sole
discretion, any additional training that Franchisor determines is mandatory. Franchisee
will pay all costs related to such training. Franchisor agrees that Franchisee will not be
required to attend more than two mandatory training sessions during any twelve-month
period.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 76–372)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christian Brothers Automotive's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may be required to participate in additional training programs and are responsible for covering the associated costs. Christian Brothers Automotive may, at its discretion, deem additional training mandatory for the franchisee's Principal Operator, the Initial Service Manager, or any successor to the Initial Service Manager. This additional training will occur at locations selected by Christian Brothers Automotive, with location reasonableness determined by various factors, including the locations of participating franchisees and available training facilities.
Christian Brothers Automotive franchisees are responsible for the expenses associated with additional training, including travel, living, attendance, and participation costs. Franchisees will also be charged fees established by Christian Brothers Automotive for the additional training and the price of training materials provided to the Principal Operator and Initial Service Manager. Christian Brothers Automotive agrees that franchisees will not be required to attend more than two mandatory training sessions during any twelve-month period.
Furthermore, the FDD states that the franchisee's Principal Operator and Service Manager will attend continuing education and training programs that Christian Brothers Automotive designates as mandatory. The franchisee is responsible for all costs, including training fees, travel expenses, and living expenses, incurred in connection with the Principal Operator and Service Manager attending these programs. This ongoing training requirement ensures that franchisees and their key personnel stay updated with Christian Brothers Automotive's standards and practices, but it also represents a potentially significant ongoing expense for the franchisee.