What is the Cicis franchisee's responsibility regarding the implementation and maintenance of System Standards at their Restaurant?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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, while Cicis retains the right to establish and modify System Standards, the franchisee has the right and sole responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of their restaurant, including the implementation and maintenance of these System Standards.
The System Standards, according to the FDD, may regulate any aspect of the restaurant's operation and maintenance. This includes sales, marketing, advertising, promotional programs, staffing levels, employee qualifications, dress, appearance, use and display of the Marks, days and hours of operation, methods of payment, online presences, participation in market research, gift card programs, menus, bookkeeping, accounting, data processing, record keeping systems, reports of sales, revenue, financial performance, participation in quality assurance and customer satisfaction programs, use of third-party food delivery services, online ordering services, types of insurance coverage, and any other aspects of operating and maintaining the Restaurant.
This means a Cicis franchisee must ensure their restaurant adheres to all standards set by Cicis, which can cover a broad range of operational areas. While Cicis can modify these standards, the franchisee is responsible for putting them into practice and keeping them up to date in their daily operations. This includes everything from marketing campaigns to employee appearance and bookkeeping practices.
The franchisee should be prepared to adapt to changes in System Standards, as Cicis may periodically modify them. These modifications may also obligate the franchisee to invest additional capital in their Restaurant and incur higher operating costs. The franchisee must stay informed about these changes through the manuals and other communications from Cicis and ensure their restaurant complies with the latest requirements.