Is the Additional Training Fee refundable for a Gold Star franchise?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Training Fee7 | Reasonable training fee at our current rates. Also, you must reimburse us for our reasonable out of pocket costs (travel, accommodations, etc.) | Before opening or after you open your franchised Restaurant for business. | Payable to Gold Star Non-refundable |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 12–18)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Additional Training Fee is non-refundable. The amount of this fee is a reasonable training fee at Gold Star's current rates, plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket costs such as travel and accommodations.
The Additional Training Fee is due before opening the franchised Restaurant or after opening for business. This fee covers training programs beyond the initial training for the franchisee and one other attendee, as Gold Star does not charge a training fee for the franchisee and one other attendee for the initial training program.
Gold Star reserves the right to charge for other attendees at any initial training program or other mandatory program and also reserves the right to charge a training fee for any training program at which attendance is optional. Therefore, franchisees should budget for these potential training costs and understand that these fees are non-refundable.