Does Fly Fitness require franchisees to attend mandatory additional training programs?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
During the operation of your franchise, we will:
- a. offer from time to time, in our discretion, mandatory or optional additional training programs. If we require it, you must attend mandatory additional training offered by us for up to three (3) days each year at a location we designate and attend an annual business meeting or franchisee conference for up to three (3) days each year at a location we designate. Failure to attend mandatory additional training or an annual business meeting or conference is a default of the Franchise Agreement. We reserve the right to impose a reasonable fee for tuition and/or attendance for all additional training programs, including the annual business meeting or conference. You must also pay your transportation, lodging, meals, and other expenses to attend any mandatory training program. If you fail to attend any mandatory training program, you are required to obtain the training at a location we designate, at your sole cost, which includes tuition at the then-current rate, plus all of your travel costs and our trainer's travel costs. (Franchise Agreement, Section 7.4).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may be required to attend additional training programs. Fly Fitness may offer mandatory or optional additional training programs at their discretion. If Fly Fitness requires it, franchisees must attend mandatory additional training offered by them for up to three days each year at a location they designate. Franchisees must also attend an annual business meeting or franchisee conference for up to three days each year at a location Fly Fitness designates. Failure to attend mandatory additional training or an annual business meeting or conference is a default of the Franchise Agreement.
Fly Fitness reserves the right to impose a reasonable fee for tuition and/or attendance for all additional training programs, including the annual business meeting or conference. Franchisees must also pay their transportation, lodging, meals, and other expenses to attend any mandatory training program. If a franchisee fails to attend any mandatory training program, they are required to obtain the training at a location Fly Fitness designates, at their sole cost, which includes tuition at the then-current rate, plus all of their travel costs and Fly Fitness's trainer's travel costs.
This means that as a Fly Fitness franchisee, you need to budget for both the direct costs of training (tuition, attendance fees) and the indirect costs (travel, lodging, meals). Mandatory attendance means these costs are not optional if you want to remain in compliance with the Franchise Agreement. The potential for additional fees and travel costs associated with mandatory training should be carefully considered when evaluating the overall financial investment in a Fly Fitness franchise.