Will Gold Star charge a fee for mandatory additional training programs?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Gold Star may at its option make available or require attendance of you and/or key employees at, refresher or other additional training programs as it deems appropriate. The location, duration and content of the programs will be as determined by Gold Star in its sole discretion. No fee will be charged by Gold Star for any of these additional training programs at which attendance of you or any of your employees or other representatives is designated by Gold Star as mandatory. You must pay Gold Star for attendance of any optional attendee at any mandatory program and for attendance of any attendee at any optional training program made available by Gold Star the standard fee then charged by Gold Star to other Franchisees for the programs. Gold Star did not charge a fee for these programs during the year ended December 31, 2024. You must pay all travel, lodging, meal and other related or incidental expenses you or your employees or other representatives incur in attending or otherwise regarding these programs.
Although Gold Star is not obligated to provide any additional training programs, Gold Star has offered additional "refresher" training programs each year, which usually are repeated for a total of 4 times per year in various regions and usually is of 2-4 (up to 8 hours) hours in duration. Past sessions usually have been conducted at a hotel or similar site located as centrally as practicable to other Franchisees in the region in which the program is offered. Past topics have included customer service, shift management, recruitment and selection, goal setting and team building, and past instructional materials and procedures have included video, group activities, handouts and manuals. Past programs have been conducted by the (Field Training Manager) Training Coordinator. Attendance at past programs has not been mandatory. There is no guarantee that future programs will be similar to past programs.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 26–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Gold Star may require franchisees and/or their key employees to attend refresher or other additional training programs. The location, duration, and content of these programs will be determined by Gold Star.
However, Gold Star will not charge a fee for these additional training programs if attendance is designated as mandatory for the franchisee, their employees, or other representatives. If attendance is optional, or if an optional attendee attends a mandatory program, Gold Star will charge the standard fee then charged to other franchisees for the programs. Gold Star did not charge a fee for these programs during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Regardless of whether a training fee is charged, franchisees are responsible for all travel, lodging, meal, and other related expenses incurred by themselves or their employees when attending these training programs. Gold Star has offered additional "refresher" training programs each year, which usually are repeated for a total of 4 times per year in various regions and usually is of 2-4 (up to 8 hours) hours in duration. Past sessions usually have been conducted at a hotel or similar site located as centrally as practicable to other Franchisees in the region in which the program is offered. Past topics have included customer service, shift management, recruitment and selection, goal setting and team building, and past instructional materials and procedures have included video, group activities, handouts and manuals. Past programs have been conducted by the (Field Training Manager) Training Coordinator. Attendance at past programs has not been mandatory. There is no guarantee that future programs will be similar to past programs.