Is a Stretch Zone franchisee responsible for the travel, living, and other expenses of Stretch Zone personnel when providing training at a location other than the corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 the 2025 Stretch Zone Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally responsible for covering the travel, living, and other related expenses (including local transportation) incurred by Stretch Zone personnel when they provide training at any location that is not the corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This means that if Stretch Zone sends trainers to a franchisee's location for training purposes, the franchisee will need to budget for these costs.
However, there is a notable exception to this rule. Stretch Zone franchisees are not required to pay for the expenses of Stretch Zone personnel when they conduct the Initial On-Site Training Program. This program is typically held at the franchisee's business location, ideally within the first week of operation, and is included as part of the initial franchise fee.
In summary, while franchisees must generally cover the costs for Stretch Zone trainers at locations other than the Fort Lauderdale headquarters, the Initial On-Site Training Program is an exception where Stretch Zone bears the expenses for its personnel. This distinction is important for franchisees to understand for budgeting and planning purposes.