Who is responsible for the costs of transportation, lodging, and meals during training for a Del Taco franchise?
Del_Taco Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The cost of all initial training instruction and required materials shall be borne by Del Taco.
All other expenses incurred in connection with training and, if required, attendance at Del Taco's annual convention, including the costs of transportation, lodging, meals, wages, workers' compensation insurance and trainees' meals during training sessions, for Franchisee, its investors, and all of its employees, shall be borne by Franchisee.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 58–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Del Taco's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for the costs of transportation, lodging, and meals during training. While Del Taco covers the cost of initial training instruction and required materials, the franchisee must bear all other expenses related to training.
Specifically, the franchisee is responsible for the costs of transportation, lodging, meals, wages, workers' compensation insurance, and trainees' meals during training sessions for the franchisee, their investors, and all of their employees. This applies to initial training, ongoing training, refresher courses, and attendance at Del Taco's annual convention, if required.
This is a fairly standard arrangement in the franchise industry, where the franchisor provides the core training program, but the franchisee covers the logistical costs of getting themselves and their staff to the training location. Prospective Del Taco franchisees should factor these expenses into their initial investment and ongoing operating costs.