Is a Stretch Zone franchisee responsible for travel, living, and other expenses for their personnel attending training courses, conventions, or working at any Unit?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You also will be responsible for your personnel's travel, living and other expenses (including local transportation expenses) and compensation incurred in connection with attendance at any and all training courses and programs, conventions or work at any Unit that is part of their development. You also will be responsible for our personnel's travel, living, and other expenses (including local transportation expenses) incurred in connection with our personnel's providing training at any location other than at our training facility at our corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, provided that you will not be required to pay for such expenses of our personnel in conducting the Initial On-Site Training Program.
Source: Item 8 — Receipts. Any sale made must be in compliance with § 683(8) of the Franchise Sale Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. L. § 680 et seq.), which describes the time period a Franchise Disclosure Document (offering prospectus) must be provided to a prospective franchisee before a sale may be made. New York law requires a franchisor to provide the Franchise Disclosure Document at the earliest of the first personal meeting or ten (10) business days before the execution of the franchise or other agreement or the payment of any consideration that relates to the franchise relationship. (FDD pages 99–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Stretch Zone's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally responsible for covering the travel, living, and other expenses, including local transportation and compensation, incurred by their personnel when attending any training courses, programs, conventions, or while working at any Stretch Zone unit as part of their development. This includes both mandatory and optional training programs that Stretch Zone may require or offer periodically. Franchisees are also responsible for paying the training fees specified by Stretch Zone for these courses.
However, there is an exception regarding the Initial On-Site Training Program. Franchisees are not required to pay for Stretch Zone personnel's travel, living, and other expenses when they provide training at the franchisee's location as part of this initial program. This exception applies only when the training is conducted at the franchisee's location and is part of the Initial On-Site Training Program. If training is conducted at Stretch Zone's corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the franchisee is responsible for their personnel's expenses.
This policy has significant financial implications for prospective Stretch Zone franchisees. Franchisees should budget for these ongoing training costs, including travel, accommodation, and compensation for their employees, as these expenses can accumulate over time. Understanding these costs is crucial for accurate financial planning and ensuring the profitability of the franchise. Franchisees should also inquire about the frequency and location of required training programs to better estimate these expenses.