Under what conditions may Noodles & Company provide guidance for establishing certified training programs for Noodles & Company personnel?

According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Noodles & Company may provide franchisees with guidance for establishing their own certified training programs for certain personnel at the franchisee's request or at Noodles & Company's discretion. However, franchisees are not allowed to train general managers or assistant managers until Noodles & Company has certified that the franchisee's training program meets their standards. This certification can be revoked if the training program fails to continue meeting Noodles & Company's standards.

Noodles & Company may charge a fee for this guidance and for certifying the franchisee's training program. This means that while Noodles & Company offers support in setting up training programs, franchisees should be prepared for potential costs associated with both the guidance and the certification process.

This approach allows Noodles & Company to maintain quality control over the training of personnel while giving franchisees some flexibility in how they train their staff. However, the franchisee bears the responsibility of ensuring their training program meets Noodles & Company's standards and should factor in the potential costs and the risk of certification revocation when deciding whether to establish their own training program.