Approximately how many weeks before the opening of a Monicals Pizza franchised restaurant must the designated manager complete the initial training?
Monicals_Pizza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We provide you an initial training program that covers material aspects of the operation of the franchised restaurant. The topics covered are listed in the chart below. This training is conducted at our headquarters in Bradley, Illinois, or another location we designate. We offer our initial training program whenever a new franchise location is projected to be opening. You must designate a manager for the franchised restaurant and he or she must complete to our satisfaction the initial training approximately 12 weeks before the opening of the franchised restaurant. Your designated manager and at least one individual Franchisee if not the same person must complete the initial training program to our satisfaction before we will approve an opening date for the franchised restaurant. Two assistants of your choosing may also attend at your option. We expect that your attendees will advance through the training program at different rates depending on a variety of factors including background and experience. The time frames provided in the following chart are an estimate of the time it will take to complete training. We do not charge for initial training. You must pay for all travel costs and living expenses for yourself and any of your attendees. You are responsible for training your own employees and other management personnel. This initial training is in addition to the on-site opening assistance we provide to you. Your franchised restaurant must at all times be under the day-to-day supervision of a designated manager who has completed our training program to our satisfaction. If you replace your designated manager, your new designated manager must attend our training and complete the program to our satisfaction. A replacement for the designated manager has 60 days to complete approved training. You are not charged any fee to have a new designated manager attend our training program, unless your manager changes are excessive or caused by poor hiring practices. You must pay all travel costs and living expenses for a new designated manager's attendance. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8)
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 20–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Monicals Pizza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the designated manager for a franchised restaurant must complete the initial training program approximately 12 weeks before the restaurant's opening. This training is a prerequisite for Monicals Pizza to approve an opening date for the franchise.
In addition to the designated manager, at least one individual franchisee (if not the same person) must also complete the initial training program to Monicals Pizza's satisfaction. The FDD also states that two assistants of the franchisee's choosing may attend the training at their option. Monicals Pizza does not charge for the initial training program itself; however, franchisees are responsible for covering all travel costs and living expenses for themselves and any attendees.
If a franchisee replaces their designated manager, the new manager must also attend and complete the training program. A replacement manager has 60 days to complete the approved training. Monicals Pizza does not charge a fee for training a new designated manager unless manager changes are excessive or due to poor hiring practices. The franchisee remains responsible for all travel and living expenses associated with the new manager's training.
This initial training is in addition to the on-site opening assistance that Monicals Pizza provides. The franchised restaurant must always be under the day-to-day supervision of a designated manager who has successfully completed the training program.