What is the minimum number of pre-opening training hours per employee for a Gold Star restaurant?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Minimum of 35 hours of pre-opening training per employee
Average opening Crew size is 23-27 employees
Additional Training.
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, each employee must complete a minimum of 35 hours of pre-opening training. This initial training is crucial to ensure that all staff members are adequately prepared to handle their responsibilities from day one. The FDD also notes that the average opening crew size ranges from 23 to 27 employees, meaning a franchisee should plan for a significant investment of time in training each new hire.
In addition to the minimum pre-opening training, Gold Star may require franchisees or key employees to attend refresher or additional training programs. The location, duration, and content of these programs are determined by Gold Star at its discretion. While Gold Star does not charge a fee for mandatory additional training programs, franchisees are responsible for covering all travel, lodging, meal, and other related expenses incurred by themselves or their employees during these programs.
Gold Star has offered additional "refresher" training programs each year, typically repeated four times in various regions, lasting 2-4 hours (up to 8 hours). These sessions, held at hotels or similar sites, have covered topics like customer service, shift management, recruitment, goal setting, and team building. Instructional materials have included video, group activities, handouts, and manuals, conducted by the Field Training Manager or Training Coordinator. While attendance at past programs has not been mandatory, there is no guarantee that future programs will follow the same pattern. Franchisees should budget for both the initial 35-hour training and potential ongoing training requirements to maintain operational standards and employee skills.