Are Cicis franchisees required to comply with all System Standards?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You understand the importance of maintaining uniformity among all of the Cicis Restaurants and the importance of complying with all of our standards, specifications, policies, and procedures relating to the operation of your Restaurant and, therefore, agree to comply with all System Standards as they exist from time to time.
Though we retain the right to establish and periodically modify System Standards, you retain the right and sole responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of your Restaurant and the implementation and maintenance of System Standards at your Restaurant.
System Standards may regulate any aspect of the operation and maintenance of your Restaurant, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following:
(1) sales, marketing, advertising and promotional programs and materials and media used in these programs;
(2) staffing levels for your Restaurant and employee qualifications, dress, and appearance (although employee selection and promotion, hours worked, rates of pay and other benefits, work assigned and working conditions are your sole responsibility);
(3) use and display of the Marks;
(4) days and hours of operation;
(5) methods of payment that your Restaurant may accept from customers;
(6) policies for the registration, use, content, or management of online presences, or other technology systems, solutions, or products;
(7) participation in market research and product and service testing programs;
(8) participation in gift card programs;
(9) menus, including product offerings, appearance, and inclusion of nutrition information;
(10) bookkeeping, accounting, data processing and record keeping systems and forms; formats, content and frequency of reports to us of sales, revenue, and financial performance and condition;
(11) participation in quality assurance and customer satisfaction programs;
(12) use of any third-party food delivery services, online ordering services, or other food aggregation services;
(13) types, amounts, terms and conditions of insurance coverage required for your Restaurant, including criteria for your insurance carriers; and
(14) any other aspects of operating and maintaining your Restaurant that we determine to be useful to preserve or enhance the efficient operation, image or goodwill of the Marks and Cicis Restaurants.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must comply with all System Standards. Cicis emphasizes the importance of uniformity across all its restaurants and compliance with its standards, specifications, policies, and procedures. These System Standards are subject to periodic modifications by Cicis. These standards dictate various aspects of the restaurant's operation and maintenance.
The System Standards may regulate sales, marketing, advertising, staffing levels (excluding employee selection, pay rates, etc.), use of trademarks, hours of operation, payment methods, online presence management, market research participation, gift card programs, menus, bookkeeping, quality assurance, use of third-party delivery services, insurance coverage, and any other operational aspects Cicis deems necessary to maintain its brand image and efficiency.
Cicis may modify these standards to accommodate regional or local variations, which could require franchisees to invest additional capital and incur higher operating costs. Modifications to the restaurant's operation may include changes to hours, service delivery, product offerings, and temporary signage, potentially affecting only the franchisee's specific location and, in some cases, requiring temporary closure. The franchisee is responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the restaurant, including implementing and maintaining these System Standards.