What is the franchisee's responsibility regarding finding a location for their Cicis restaurant?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
reto, during the Term (defined below), at the Location (defined below), and strictly and solely in accordance with this Agreement. Your right and obligation to develop, own and operate a Cicis Restaurant is referred to herein as the "Franchise," and the Cicis Restaurant you develop and own under this Agreement is referred to herein as your "Restaurant."
B. Location; Protected Area and Reserved Rights.
(1) Your Restaurant may be developed and operated only at a location upon which you and we agree, in writing (the "Location"). If you and we have agreed upon the Location when this Agreement is executed, it is identified on Attachment A hereto. If you and we have not yet agreed upon the Location, it is your responsibility to secure our agreement as to your Location within 120 days following the Effective Date. You must, at your expense, find and propose to us a location within the geographic area described on Attachment A ("Designated Area") that you believe meets our then-current site criteria and to submit any information about the location that we request in order to assess your proposal. We may, but will not be required to, conduct an on-site inspection of your proposed location. Should we elect to do so, we will not charge you a fee for conducting the inspection, but you must reimburse all costs and expenses we incur in connection with the
inspection. If you choose to continue to pursue a proposed location and we determine that it is appropriate to conduct another on-site inspection, we reserve the right to charge a fee for, and you will reimburse us the costs and expenses associated with, each such inspection.
- (2) If you and we agree after the Effective Date that your proposed location will be the Location, you and we will identify it on Attachment A-1 hereto and will indicate on that attachment (a) whether your Restaurant will be operated as a Cicis Buffet Restaurant or as a Cicis To Go Restaurant, and (b) your Restaurant's Protected Area (defined below). You must sign and deliver to us Attachment A-1 within five (5) days of its delivery to you, failing which, we may revoke our acceptance of the proposed location.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, securing a location is primarily the franchisee's responsibility. The franchisee must find and propose a location within the Designated Area, as specified in Attachment A of the franchise agreement, that meets Cicis's site criteria. This must be done within 120 days following the Effective Date of the agreement. The franchisee is also responsible for submitting any information about the location that Cicis requests to assess the proposal.
Cicis may conduct an on-site inspection of the proposed location, but is not required to do so. The franchisee must reimburse Cicis for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the inspection. If the franchisee continues to pursue a location that requires additional on-site inspections, Cicis reserves the right to charge a fee for each subsequent inspection, and the franchisee will be responsible for reimbursing these costs as well.
If Cicis and the franchisee agree on a location, they will identify it on Attachment A-1, specifying whether the restaurant will be a Cicis Buffet Restaurant or a Cicis To Go Restaurant, and defining the Restaurant's Protected Area. The franchisee must sign and return Attachment A-1 within five days of receiving it; otherwise, Cicis may revoke its acceptance of the proposed location. If the franchisee and Cicis cannot agree on the proposed location, restaurant type, and Protected Area, the franchisee must find and propose a different location within the Designated Area. Cicis's agreement to a proposed location does not constitute a guarantee of profitability or success for the franchisee's restaurant.