What management representation requirements must a Noodles & Company franchisee meet at each restaurant?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 4.04 Certified Management Representation. You must have at least one member of management in each of your Noodles & Company Restaurants who has successfully completed the Noodles & Company certified management training program or certified by Franchise Operations.
8.05 Restaurant Organization. Your Noodles & Company Restaurant must be staffed by at least one general manager who has completed the then current management training program approved by us and appropriate numbers of assistant managers, shift supervisors, and other employees so that all shifts are staffed by at least one assistant manager or shift supervisor. You may not operate your Noodles & Company Restaurant without covering every shift with a suitably trained member of management or shift supervisor.
You (or your Operating Partner) at all times must remain active in overseeing the operations of your Noodles & Company Restaurant. If the relationship with your Operating Partner terminates, you must promptly hire a successor Operating Partner. Any successor Operating Partner must meet our approval and must successfully complete our training program at your sole cost and expense. You are solely responsible for all employment decisions with respect to your Personnel, including hiring, firing, compensation, training, supervision and discipline, regardless of whether you receive advice from us on any of these subjects.
8.04 General Manager. The high-quality food and operation of the Noodles & Company Restaurant is the core element of our concept success. An essential element of operation is the selection, training and overall performance of our in-restaurant general managers. All general managers must complete, to our satisfaction, Noodles & Company's then-current Certified Training Program. Optimum restaurant performance requires specialized leadership in the form of a duly trained general manager. The general manager must dedicate 100% of his or her working time to the management of your Noodles & Company Restaurant. To ensure the integrity of our Restaurants, the general manager position must be a full-time position and may not be combined with an area or district manager or any other position.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, each restaurant must have at least one certified manager who has completed the Noodles & Company certified management training program or has been certified by Franchise Operations. This ensures that each location has qualified leadership.
In addition to a certified manager, each Noodles & Company restaurant must be staffed with appropriate numbers of assistant managers, shift supervisors, and other employees. All shifts must be covered by at least one assistant manager or shift supervisor. The franchisee, or their Operating Partner, must remain active in overseeing the restaurant's operations. If the Operating Partner's relationship terminates, a successor must be hired promptly and approved by Noodles & Company, including successful completion of the training program at the franchisee's expense.
The general manager is a critical role, requiring someone who dedicates 100% of their working time to managing the Noodles & Company Restaurant. This position cannot be combined with other roles like area or district manager. The franchisee is responsible for all employment decisions, including hiring, firing, compensation, training, supervision, and discipline of personnel, even if they receive advice from Noodles & Company on these matters.