Are Focus Cfo franchisees responsible for travel and lodging expenses to attend training?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
andatory and must be completed to Focus CFO's satisfaction.
Franchisees are required to attend the Focus CFO Mastery Program. This program reinforces mandatory specifications, standards and procedures, and best practices introduced in the initial training in Playbook. The program consists of six 90-minute sessions held the second and fourth Monday of each month. Sessions are held virtually.
Franchisees are required to attend one Climb the Mountain® Workshop. This workshop reinforces best practices introduced in the initial training in Playbook. This workshop is offered at least twice a year and is held in-person at a location within the United States. You are also responsible for your own travel, lodging, food and other out-of-pocket expenses for this training program, if applicable.
Franchisees are required to attend Tuesday Night Training and Best Practices Sessions during the first year. These sessions are held virtually on the second Tuesday of each month.
Franchisees are required to complete online cybersecurity training that we provide to you during your initial training program. This training should be completed within one (1) week of receiving a link to the training. In addition, all franchisees are subject to phishing testing campaigns conducted by Focus CFO's IT provider. If you fail the testing, you will be required to complete additional online cybersecurity training provided by us.
You are required to participate in an 11-month Sandler Sales Training program through our approved vendor, The Ruby Group, the cost of which is paid for by Focus CFO. The required program includes a Bootcamp and eleven (11) months of reinforcement training and coaching.
You are expected to begin this program within 120 days of signing the Franchise Agreement. The program starts with a Bootcamp that is offered either in-person (a two-day back-to-back session in Columbus, OH) or virtually (as 4 half-day sessions with two sessions held each of two consecutive weeks) by The Ruby Group.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 17–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focus Cfo's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses associated with certain training programs. Specifically, franchisees must cover these costs for the in-person Climb the Mountain® Workshop, which is offered twice a year at a location within the United States.
Additionally, Focus Cfo franchisees are responsible for travel, lodging, food, and other out-of-pocket expenses for the Sandler Sales Training program's Bootcamp, if they choose the in-person option held in Columbus, OH. They also bear these costs for optional training meetings like the in-person All Hands Meetings held in Columbus, Ohio, the in-person All AP training and planning sessions, and monthly local group meetings if they are in-person.
Focus Cfo also states that franchisees are responsible for any travel and lodging expenses required to attend ongoing training and updates, which may be held either virtually or at a location within the United States. This indicates that while some training is provided virtually, in-person training requiring travel may occur, and franchisees should budget accordingly. It is important to note that these expenses can vary depending on the location and frequency of the training sessions attended.