Can Cicis establish specific liquidity thresholds for franchisees during the term of the agreement, and what factors will Cicis consider when setting these thresholds?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ty and Assumption of Obligations
AREA DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
CICIS® RESTAURANTS
THIS AREA DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the Effective Date (as defined below) by and between On Smile LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having its principal business address at 13355 Noel Road, Suite 1645, Dallas, TX 75240 ("we" or "us"), and the party signing this Agreement as the "Developer" on the signature page hereto ("you"). The "Effective Date" is the date we execute this Agreement, as shown beneath our signature on the signature page hereto.
1. PREAMBLES.
A. BACKGROUND.
Pursuant to separate written agreements (each a "Franchise Agreement"), we grant franchises (each a "Franchise") for the right to develop and operate restaurants that are identified by and use "Cicis" and other designated trademarks and service marks (the "Marks"), and that offer pizza and other designated food and related items from a designated facility and using designated service methods (each a "Cicis Restaurant"). There are two types of Cicis Restaurants: (1) dine-in buffet restaurants ("Cicis Buffet Restaurants"), and (2) take-out/delivery only restaurants ("Cicis To Go Restaurants"). We also grant to persons or entities that we believe meet our qualifications, and are willing to commit, the right to acquire multiple Franchises ("Development Rights"). Based on your own investigation and diligence, you have applied to acquire Development Rights and, to support your application, you and, if applicable, your owners have provided us with certain information about your and their backgrounds, experience, skills, financial condition and resources (collectively, the "Application Materials"). In reliance on the Application Materials, among other things, we are willing to grant you the Development Rights on the terms and conditions, and subject to the limitations, described in this Agreement. Cicis Restaurants that you or your Affiliates shall develop pursuant to this Agreement are referred to as the "Restaurants."
B. BUSINESS ENTITY.
If, instead of being a natural person, you are a business organization such as a corporation, limited liability company or partnership (a "Business Entity"), you agree, represent and warrant to us that: (1) you were validly formed and will maintain, throughout the Term (defined below), your existence and good standing in any state in which you are required, by law, to do so; (2) Attachment A to this Agreement describes all of your owners and their interests in you as of the Effective Date; (3) each of your owners that we designate from time to time (and, on our request, their spouse) will sign and deliver to us our then-standard form of Guaranty and Assumption of Obligations (the "Guaranty"), the current form of which is attached hereto as Attachment B; (4) you will conduct no activities other than those described in this Agreement or in any other written agreement between us and you; and (5) at our request, you will furnish us with true and correct copies of all documents regarding your formation, existence, standing, and governance.
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C. MINIMUM LIQUIDITY.
We have entered into this Agreement based, in part, on your representations to us about, and our assessment of, your levels of liquidity as of the Effective Date.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 65–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor assesses a prospective franchisee's financial capacity as part of the application process. Cicis grants Development Rights to individuals or entities that meet their qualifications and are willing to commit to acquiring multiple franchises. As part of the application, franchisees provide information about their financial condition and resources, which Cicis relies upon when granting these rights.
Furthermore, if a franchisee is a business entity, Cicis requires them to maintain their existence and good standing throughout the term of the agreement. Cicis also requires designated owners to sign a Guaranty and Assumption of Obligations. The franchise agreement specifies that the franchisee's rights and duties are personal, based on Cicis's perception of their character, skills, and financial capacity.
While the FDD excerpts highlight the importance of financial capacity and the franchisee's obligation to maintain their business's good standing, they do not explicitly state whether Cicis can establish specific, ongoing liquidity thresholds during the franchise term. Nor does it detail the specific factors Cicis considers when initially assessing or potentially reassessing a franchisee's financial capacity beyond the initial application materials. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Cicis regarding any specific liquidity requirements or financial monitoring that may occur during the term of the agreement.