Who bears the expense of attending the Additional Meetings required by Fat Shack?
Fat_Shack Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Additional Training. During the term of your Franchise Agreement, we may require you (or your General Manager) and your other managers to attend, at your expense, meetings, seminars, or conferences ("Additional Meetings"), which we present to discuss topics such as advertising programs, new operations methods, training, management, sales, or sales promotion. We may charge a tuition for attending additional training programs, which will not exceed $1,000 per Additional Meeting. Attendance is optional unless we give you 30 days' prior written notice that it is mandatory. We will not require you to attend training programs or seminars more than twice a year.
ITEM 12
TERRITORY
Franchise Agreement
You may operate your FAT SHACK Restaurant and use the Marks and the Licensed Methods only at the Restaurant Location that has been approved by us. You may not operate another FAT SHACK Restaurant at any site other than the Restaurant Location without first obtaining our written consent.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 28–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Fat Shack's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee bears the expense of attending Additional Meetings. Fat Shack may require the franchisee, or their General Manager, and other managers to attend meetings, seminars, or conferences, referred to as "Additional Meetings." These meetings cover topics such as advertising programs, new operations methods, training, management, sales, or sales promotion.
Fat Shack may charge a tuition for attending these additional training programs, but this tuition will not exceed $1,000 per Additional Meeting. Attendance at these meetings is optional unless Fat Shack provides 30 days' prior written notice that attendance is mandatory. Fat Shack will not require attendance at training programs or seminars more than twice a year.
Additionally, the franchisee or their General Manager and other designated managers may be required to attend a national convention, which may include mandatory training sessions, at their own expense. They may also be required to attend local or regional seminars or meetings up to two times per year, also at their expense. This means that in addition to potential tuition costs, the franchisee is responsible for covering travel, lodging, and any other related expenses for themselves and their staff when attending these required or optional meetings.