Is the Operating Principal for a Lees Famous Recipe restaurant required to attend and complete training?
Lees_Famous_Recipe Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- B. Training. At least thirty (30) days before the opening of the Restaurant, you, or your Operating Principal and at least three (3) managers, including your general manager and assistant managers
(or their operating equivalent), and any other persons we designate, must complete our initial training program on the operation of a Restaurant at your sole expense. You, the Operating Principal and each of the key personnel that attends the initial training program must attend and successfully complete to our satisfaction the entire initial training program. To the extent we permit an individual other than the controlling Principal Owner to serve as the Operating Principal, the controlling Principal Owner separately must attend and successfully complete to our satisfaction the initial training program and all supplemental and refresher training programs referenced below.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 53–54)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Lees Famous Recipe FDD, if you designate an Operating Principal for your restaurant, that Operating Principal is required to attend and successfully complete the initial training program. If someone other than the controlling Principal Owner serves as the Operating Principal, then the controlling Principal Owner must also attend and successfully complete the initial training program. This training is at the franchisee's sole expense.
This requirement ensures that whoever is directly managing the Lees Famous Recipe restaurant is properly trained in the brand's operational standards and procedures. The initial training program covers aspects of running the restaurant and maintaining the quality and consistency of the Lees Famous Recipe brand.
Additionally, Lees Famous Recipe reserves the right to require the franchisee, the Operating Principal, and up to two additional key management personnel to attend any Annual or Regional Conference. While the first two attendees do not have to pay a conference fee, each additional attendee must pay the then-current conference fee, which will not exceed $150 per attendee. The franchisee is responsible for all travel and living expenses for themselves and their attendees. Failure to attend these conferences without prior written consent may result in a fee equivalent to the cost for two people to attend the conference.