What are the requirements for a Multi-Unit Manager for a Hardees franchise?
Hardees Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
idence within a reasonable driving distance of the Franchised Restaurant, unless waived in writing by us. The Operating Principal will be required to successfully complete the FMTP and any additional training required by us. If you operate restaurants in multiple markets that are franchised by us or our affiliates, an individual meeting the above qualifications will serve as the Operating Principal in at least one market.
If you operate restaurants that are franchised by us or our affiliates in multiple geographic markets, for all markets in which the Operating Principal fails to satisfy our requirements, you must designate and retain an individual to serve as Multi-Unit Manager. The Multi-Unit Manager will be under the supervision of the Operating Principal. The Multi-Unit Manager must devote full time and best efforts to supervising the operation of the Franchised Restaurant and those other restaurants (that are franchised by us or our affiliates) operated by you in the same geographic market, successfully complete the FMTP and any additional training required by us, and be approved by us. In addition, the Multi-Unit Manager must maintain his/her primary residence within a reasonable driving distance of the Franchised Restaurant, unless waived in writing by us.
The Development Principal must own at least a 10% equity ownership interest in you, or in your general partner if you are a limited partnership, unless modified by us in our sole discretion.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 62–63)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hardees's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Multi-Unit Manager is required if the Operating Principal does not meet Hardees's requirements when a franchisee operates restaurants in multiple geographic markets. The Multi-Unit Manager operates under the supervision of the Operating Principal.
The Multi-Unit Manager must devote their full time and best efforts to supervising the operation of the franchised Hardees restaurant and other Hardees restaurants operated by the franchisee in the same geographic market. They must also successfully complete the FMTP (Franchise Management Training Program) and any additional training that Hardees requires. Hardees must also approve the Multi-Unit Manager.
Furthermore, the Multi-Unit Manager must maintain their primary residence within a reasonable driving distance of the franchised Hardees restaurant, unless Hardees waives this requirement in writing. This ensures the manager is readily available to oversee operations. The FDD states that unless a Multi-Unit Manager has been named and approved, the Operating Principal must devote full time and best efforts to the supervision and conduct of the Franchised Restaurant and those other restaurants operated by the franchisee in the same geographic market as the Franchised Restaurant and maintain his/her primary residence within a reasonable driving distance of the Franchised Restaurant, unless waived in writing by Hardees.