Who approves or rejects proposed locations for new Cicis Restaurants under the Area Development Agreement?

According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, under the Area Development Agreement, Cicis has the authority to either approve or reject proposed locations for new Cicis restaurants that the franchisee plans to develop. This approval process is conducted in accordance with Cicis's then-current System Standards.

This means that while a franchisee may identify potential locations within their Development Area, the final decision on whether a location is suitable rests with Cicis. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors want to ensure that new locations meet certain criteria to maintain brand consistency and maximize the chances of success. These criteria often involve factors like visibility, accessibility, local demographics, and proximity to other businesses.

For prospective Cicis franchisees, this highlights the importance of understanding Cicis's System Standards for site selection. It would be prudent to inquire about these standards during the due diligence process and to work closely with Cicis to identify and propose suitable locations. While the franchisee has input, Cicis ultimately controls the location approval, which can impact the franchisee's ability to expand within their Development Area.