Must a Designated Manager for a Mr. Sandless franchise complete the training program?
Mr_Sandless Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 prefer granting franchises to individuals who will operate the Business on a day-to-day basis. With our prior written consent, you may employ a full-time designated manager (the "Designated Manager") who will work at least 40 hours per week and who will supervise the day-to-day operations of the Business. The Designated Manager must satisfactorily complete our training program. However, the appointment of a Designated Manager shall not relieve you of any duties or obligations under the Franchise Agreement.
Each of your managers must be trained in a manner satisfactory to us before assuming managerial responsibilities, and we may require that any proposed manager complete our initial training program, at your expense, before the manager may assume managerial responsibilities.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 29–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Mr. Sandless Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee employs a Designated Manager, that manager must satisfactorily complete the Mr. Sandless training program. Mr. Sandless prefers to grant franchises to individuals who will operate the business on a day-to-day basis, but allows for a full-time Designated Manager to supervise daily operations if the franchisee obtains prior written consent from Mr. Sandless.
The initial training program for Mr. Sandless consists of approximately 2 to 5 days of training at the company headquarters in Aston, Pennsylvania, or with a franchisee of their choosing. The training can be conducted in the field, virtually, or any other place Mr. Sandless designates. The franchisee, Designated Manager, and Technical Manager must successfully complete the training program before assuming managerial responsibility. Mr. Sandless does not charge tuition for up to three trainees, but the franchisee is responsible for all expenses incurred during training, including lodging, travel, transportation, and meals.
Mr. Sandless also retains the right to require any proposed manager to complete the initial training program at the franchisee's expense before the manager assumes managerial responsibilities. This gives Mr. Sandless the ability to ensure that all managers are properly trained in the Mr. Sandless system, even if the franchisee has already employed them. The franchisee is responsible for making their own business arrangements with managers, and Mr. Sandless is not involved in setting conditions for employment.