If Cicis imposes a minimum price, what is the lowest price a franchisee can charge?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may, at our discretion, set a maximum or minimum price that you may charge for products and services offered by your Cicis Restaurant. If we impose such a maximum or minimum price for any product or service, you may charge any price for the product or service up to and including our designated maximum price or down to and including our designated minimum price. The designated maximum and minimum prices for the same product or service may, at our option, be the same. For any product or service for which we do not impose a maximum or minimum price, we may require you to comply with an advertising policy adopted by us which will prohibit you from advertising any price for a product or service that is different than our suggested retail
price. Although you must comply with any advertising policy we adopt, you will not be prohibited from selling any product or service at a price above or below the suggested retail price unless we impose a maximum price or minimum price for such product or service.
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 44–45)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cicis has the discretion to set minimum prices for products and services offered at its restaurants. If Cicis establishes a minimum price, franchisees must charge at least that designated minimum price. The FDD also states that the designated maximum and minimum prices for the same product or service may be the same at Cicis's option.
For a prospective Cicis franchisee, this means that the pricing of menu items and services could be subject to franchisor control. If Cicis sets a minimum price, the franchisee cannot sell below that price. This could impact a franchisee's ability to offer discounts or compete on price.
However, if Cicis does not set a minimum or maximum price for a product or service, franchisees must comply with Cicis's advertising policy, which may prevent them from advertising prices different from the suggested retail price. Even with the advertising policy, franchisees are not prohibited from selling at prices above or below the suggested retail price unless a maximum or minimum price is imposed. Therefore, franchisees should inquire about Cicis's pricing policies and how they are applied in practice to understand the potential impact on their business.