Under what conditions might Hardees require a franchisee operating three or more restaurants to obtain and maintain certification for a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant?
Hardees Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must conduct those initial and continuing training programs for your employees as we periodically require. You must ensure that all of your employees have been trained in the proper operation of the Franchised Restaurant. In addition, if you operate three or more Franchised Restaurants, we may require, in our sole discretion, that (A) you obtain and maintain a certification from us for one or more of your Franchised Restaurants to be an authorized training restaurant (a "Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant") and (B) one or more of your General Managers obtain and maintain a certification from us as a trainer authorized to provide our FMTP to your new trainees (a "Certified Franchisee Training Manager"). Your Certified Franchisee Training Manager may provide our FMTP at a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant in accordance with our System standards for such training. To become a Certified Franchisee Training Manager, a General Manager must (i) complete our FMTP, (ii) maintain specific food safety programs, (iii) attend any required additional training program as specified by us from time to time, and (iv) meet other qualifications that we may specify from time to time. To be designated as a Certified Training Restaurant, your Franchised Restaurant must (a) meet compliance scores that we specify, (b) fully comply with our then-current System standards, (c) maintain established personnel requirements, in addition to a Certified Franchisee Training Manager, (d) remain compliant with all health department or other regulatory requirements; and I meet any other requirements that we may specify from time to time. We may, in our sole discretion, revoke certification for a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant or a Certified Franchisee Training Manager. If we revoke certification, we may require your trainees to attend the FMTP at another location that we designate.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 44–57)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hardees' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee operates three or more Hardees restaurants, Hardees may require them to obtain and maintain certification for one or more of their restaurants as a "Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant." Hardees also may require one or more of the franchisee's General Managers to obtain and maintain certification as a trainer authorized to provide Hardees' Franchise Management Training Program (FMTP) to new trainees; these managers are called "Certified Franchisee Training Managers." The Certified Franchisee Training Manager may then provide the FMTP at a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant, following Hardees' system standards for such training.
To become a Certified Franchisee Training Manager, a General Manager must complete the FMTP, maintain specific food safety programs, attend any required additional training programs specified by Hardees, and meet other qualifications Hardees may specify. To be designated as a Certified Training Restaurant, the restaurant must meet compliance scores specified by Hardees, fully comply with Hardees' then-current system standards, maintain established personnel requirements in addition to a Certified Franchisee Training Manager, remain compliant with all health department or other regulatory requirements, and meet any other requirements Hardees may specify.
Hardees retains the discretion to revoke certification for either a Certified Franchisee Training Restaurant or a Certified Franchisee Training Manager. If certification is revoked, Hardees may require the franchisee's trainees to attend the FMTP at another location designated by Hardees. This ensures that training standards are maintained across the Hardees system, even if a franchisee's training capabilities are compromised.