Is it mandatory for a Crisp & Green Approved Operator to attend Crisp Academy?
Crisp_Green Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
who has completed our required training programs.
If you will operate multiple Franchised Restaurants pursuant to an Area Development Agreement, you must designate an operator who will be responsible for the day-to-day development and operations of multiple Franchised Restaurants (an "Approved Operator"). Unless we otherwise approve, your Operating Partner will be your Approved Operator. All approvals are given in our sole discretion, and we do not guarantee that you will be allowed to have an Approved Operator other than your Operating Partner. Your Approved Operator must meet qualification standards that we establish from time to time, must exert his or her full-time best efforts to the development and operations of your multiple locations, and must attend and complete Crisp Academy and all other training programs that we require from time to time. Your Approved Operator will be responsible for, among other things, supervising the General Managers of each of your Franchised Restaurants, meeting all development opening deadlines, and ensuring your Franchised Restaurants are operating in a uniform and efficient manner and complying with our Standards. If your Approved Operator is other than your Operating Partner, your Approved Operator must be your employee
subject to your supervision and direction. The Approved Operator must have the authority to make operational decisions affecting your Franchised Restaurants, and may not engage in any other business activity, directly or indirectly, that requires substantial management responsibility or time commitments or that otherwise interferes with his or her role as your Approved Operator.
If your General Manager or Approved Operator ceases to be employed by you for any reason, you must replace such General Manager or Approved Operator within 30 days, commence training such replacement General Manager or Approved Operator on the System, have such replacement General Manager or Approved Operator come to such location as we designate for Crisp Academy, and otherwise meet our then-current standards. You are responsible for all related travel and living expenses and wages incurred in connection with your replacement General Manager or Approved Operator attending these training sessions, as well as our per diem training fee.
Your Operating Partner, Approved Operator, and General Manager, along with all of your other officers, directors, governors, owners, managers, instructors, and employees who have access to our confidential and proprietary information must execute a written agreement in a form we prescribe to maintain the confidentiality of the confidential and proprietary information described in Item 14.
In addition, if you are an entity, each of your Principal Owners and their spouses will be required to guaranty your obligations under the Franchise Agreement by executing an Owners' Personal Guaranty of Franchisee's Obligations, in the form attached to the Franchise Agreement. A Principal Owner, as defined in the Franchise Agreement, is generally any person that holds 10% or more of the legal or beneficial ownership interest or voting interest in you or in any entity that, directly or indirectly, has the power to influence your management decisions.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 50–51)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Crisp & Green's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee operates multiple franchised restaurants under an Area Development Agreement, they must designate an Approved Operator responsible for the development and operations of these locations. The FDD specifies that the Approved Operator must meet certain qualification standards and exert full-time effort in managing the multiple locations. A key requirement is that the Approved Operator must attend and complete Crisp Academy, as well as any other training programs that Crisp & Green requires. This ensures that the Approved Operator is well-versed in the brand's standards and operational procedures.
If the Approved Operator leaves their position, the franchisee has 30 days to replace them. The replacement Approved Operator must also commence training on the Crisp & Green system and attend Crisp Academy. The franchisee is responsible for all travel, living expenses, and wages associated with the replacement's training, as well as any per diem training fees charged by Crisp & Green. This highlights the importance Crisp & Green places on having properly trained personnel in key management roles and the costs associated with maintaining those standards.
Furthermore, the Operating Partner is required to participate in and complete Crisp Academy. The General Manager of each franchised restaurant must also attend and complete Crisp Academy and all other training programs that Crisp & Green requires from time to time. Crisp & Green may charge a fee of up to $1,500 per day if a franchised restaurant operates without an approved General Manager who has completed the required training programs. This underscores the brand's commitment to ensuring that all key personnel are adequately trained and compliant with their operational standards.