Does Mr. Sandless charge tuition for the initial training provided to the franchisee, Designated Manager, and Technical Manager?
Mr_Sandless Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The initial training program consists of approximately 2-5 days of training at our headquarters in Aston, Pennsylvania or with a franchisee of our choosing. The training will be conducted in the field, virutally or any other place as we may designate, and includes instruction in our policies and procedures. We hold training sessions whenever we have a new franchisee ready to be trained; we do not have a set training schedule (i.e., monthly or bi-monthly). You must satisfactorily complete the training program, including a brief phone sales class and short color test, before opening the Business, and your Designated Manager and Technical Manager must successfully complete the training program before assuming managerial responsibility. We do not charge tuition for you, your Designated Manager and Technical Manager to attend the initial training program (a maximum of three trainees). You must pay for all expenses you, your Designated Manager and Technical Manager incur during training, including lodging expenses for additional trainees, travel expenses, transportation and meals.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 19–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Mr. Sandless's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Mr. Sandless does not charge tuition for the initial training program for the franchisee, their Designated Manager, and their Technical Manager. This tuition-free training is available for a maximum of three trainees. The initial training program lasts approximately 2 to 5 days and takes place at Mr. Sandless's headquarters in Aston, Pennsylvania, or with a franchisee chosen by Mr. Sandless. The training can be conducted in the field or virtually.
However, while the tuition is free, the franchisee is responsible for covering all expenses incurred by themselves, their Designated Manager, and their Technical Manager during the training period. These expenses include lodging, travel, transportation, and meals. This means that while franchisees won't pay directly for the training itself, they should budget for these additional costs.
This arrangement is fairly common in the franchise industry. Franchisors often provide the core training without tuition fees but require franchisees to cover their own travel and living expenses. This helps to reduce the upfront costs of starting the franchise while still ensuring that franchisees are adequately trained in the Mr. Sandless system.