What is the nature of the Initial Training Program that Cinch I.T. provides?
Cinch_I_T Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Franchise Agreement; or (b) operate or permit others to operate within your territory.
Training
You, or your Operating Principal (if you are an entity), and one technician and one salesperson must successfully complete our Initial Training Program ("Initial Training Program") to our reasonable satisfaction, prior to commencing operations of your Franchised Business.
The Operating Principal may attend either the technical training module or sales training modules only if they function in that capacity for the Franchised Business. The CINCH I.T. franchise model requires that at all times you must employ at least one trained salesperson and one trained technician each of whom has satisfactorily completed the Initial Training Program. Vacancies in either position must be filled within 90 days and the Initial Training Program for that module commenced within 30 days after hire.
We will provide the Initial Training Program for two people as follows: a Pre-Training Program followed by the "Cinch University" Training Program with a curriculum containing distinct modules: franchise owner administration, sales training, and technical training.
The Pre-Training Program is conducted via telephone, Webinar and our Intranet. The time to complete the Pre-Training varies depending on how much time you can devote to training and how quickly you are able to absorb the materials. We expect Pre-Training to take you 4-6 weeks to complete and it must be completed prior to attending the "Cinch University" Training Program outlined below.
During Weeks 1 and 2 of remote training, the Operating Principal must attend the franchise
owner administration training module; Weeks 3-7 simultaneous remote Sales Training and Technician Training; Weeks 8-9 simultaneous on-site Sales Training and Technician Training; and Weeks 10-12 simultaneous remote Sales Training and Technician Training.
We reserve the right to charge a training fee of $15,000 per module for (i) each additional person, (ii) each person who is repeating the course or replacing a person who did not pass, and (iii) each subsequent Operating Principal, general manager, technician or salesperson who is required to attend one or more modules of the Cinch University Training Program.
Everyone who must attend training will be identified in the Notice of Key Employees, attached as Addendum B to the Franchise Agreement. Anyone who attends the Training Program must complete the Training Program to our satisfaction. We may extend the Training Program for anyone who fails to successfully complete it. If you do not successfully complete all required parts of the Training Program to our reasonable satisfaction within 6 months after signing the Franchise Agreement we may terminate the Franchise Agreement without refund of any initial fees.
We reserve the right to modify the length, location, and timing of the Training Program. The Training Program may be changed without notice to reflect updates in the curriculum, methods, personnel and System Standards. We may waive a portion of the Training Program or alter the training schedule if we determine that your required trainees have sufficient prior experience or training.
"Cinch University" Training Program will last for two weeks and is conducted at our headquarters in Worcester, Massachusetts. "Cinch University" Training Programs are scheduled and run as needed. Your training will be scheduled so that you complete it just prior to opening your Franchised Business. The instructional material used in the "Cinch University" Training Program is our confidential Operations Manual and our Intranet. The primary instructors conducting the Training Programs are our corporate staff members identified in Item 2. Richard Porter has 5 years of experience with us and 20 years of experience in operations and finance. Mike Mosher has 5 years of experience with us and has 15 years of I.T. Support experience. Morgan Hill has 5 years of experience with us and 13 years of I.T. Support experience. Steve Lettery has 5 years of experience with us and 7 years of IT Support experience. Anthony Archambault has 5 years of experience with us and 9 years of IT Support experience. Alexander Silkman 5 years of experience with us and 5 years of IT Support experience.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 28–39)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Cinch I.T.'s 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Initial Training Program is mandatory for the franchisee or their Operating Principal, along with one technician and one salesperson, before commencing operations. The Operating Principal can attend either the technical or sales training modules if they function in that capacity. The franchise agreement stipulates that Cinch I.T. franchisees must employ at least one trained salesperson and one trained technician who have both satisfactorily completed the Initial Training Program. Vacancies in these positions must be filled within 90 days, with the training for the replacement commencing within 30 days of hiring.
The Initial Training Program consists of a Pre-Training Program followed by the "Cinch University" Training Program. The Pre-Training Program is conducted via telephone, Webinar, and the Intranet, and is expected to take 4-6 weeks to complete before attending "Cinch University". During remote training, the Operating Principal attends the franchise owner administration training module during Weeks 1 and 2. Weeks 3-7 involve simultaneous remote Sales Training and Technician Training, followed by Weeks 8-9 of simultaneous on-site Sales Training and Technician Training, and Weeks 10-12 of simultaneous remote Sales Training and Technician Training.
The "Cinch University" Training Program lasts for two weeks and is held at Cinch I.T.'s headquarters in Worcester, Massachusetts. The training is scheduled to occur just before the franchisee opens their business. Instructional materials include the confidential Operations Manual and the Intranet. The training is primarily conducted by corporate staff members, including Richard Porter, Mike Mosher, Morgan Hill, Steve Lettery, Anthony Archambault, and Alexander Silkman, each with at least 5 years of experience with Cinch I.T. and varying years of relevant experience. Cinch I.T. reserves the right to modify the length, location, and timing of the Training Program, and may waive portions or alter the schedule based on the trainees' prior experience.
Cinch I.T. provides the Initial Training Program for two people. However, Cinch I.T. reserves the right to charge a training fee of $15,000 per module for each additional person, each person repeating the course or replacing someone who did not pass, and each subsequent Operating Principal, general manager, technician, or salesperson who is required to attend one or more modules of the Cinch University Training Program. If a franchisee does not successfully complete all required parts of the Training Program within 6 months after signing the Franchise Agreement, Cinch I.T. may terminate the Franchise Agreement without refunding any initial fees.