Can Cicis contact a franchisee's banks and lenders to obtain information?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
, virtual, or digital medium (including, but not limited to Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, or any blog or other social media sites) without our prior written consent. We have established, or may establish, and maintain a website that provides information about the System and the products that Cicis Restaurants provide ("Cicis Website"). We have sole discretion and control over the Cicis Website (including timing, design, contents, and continuation). We may (but are not required to) include at the Cicis Website an interior page containing information about your Restaurant. You agree to provide us any current information we request in order to do so. We also have the sole right (but no obligation) to develop an internal communications network ("Intranet") through which we and our franchisees can communicate by e-mail or similar electronic means. If we develop an Intranet, you will use our Intranet in accordance with all applicable Laws and in strict compliance with the standards, protocols, and restrictions that we include in the Manuals (including standards, protocols, and restrictions relating to the encryption of Confidential Information and prohibitions against the transmission of libelous, derogatory, or defamatory statements).
J. Branded E-mail. We reserve the right to require you to obtain from us and use an e-mail address associated with our registered domain name. If we require you to obtain and use an e-mail address, you must do so according to our then-current System Standards.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, it is not explicitly stated whether Cicis can contact a franchisee's banks and lenders to obtain information. However, the agreement does state that the franchisee must provide Cicis with any current information requested for inclusion on the Cicis Website. Additionally, Cicis retains the right to access and control franchisee email accounts associated with Cicis' registered domain name, including all documents, data, materials, and messages shared through those accounts. This access could potentially extend to financial communications if a franchisee uses the branded email for such purposes.
Furthermore, the franchisee is obligated to protect Cicis' confidential information, which includes knowledge of the operating results and financial performance of Cicis Restaurants, including the franchisee's restaurant. While this clause focuses on the franchisee's duty to protect Cicis' information, it indirectly implies that Cicis has a vested interest in accessing and monitoring the financial performance of its franchisees.
Given the lack of explicit permission regarding direct contact with banks and lenders, prospective franchisees should seek clarification from Cicis regarding their policies on accessing franchisee financial information. Specifically, it would be prudent to inquire whether Cicis requires franchisees to authorize direct communication with their financial institutions as a condition of the franchise agreement.