What is a prospective Cicis franchisee acknowledging when they initial the statement regarding statements made by the franchisor?

According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, by initialing the statement regarding statements made by the franchisor, a prospective franchisee is acknowledging that neither Cicis nor any of its officers, employees, or agents have made any statements, promises, or assurances concerning any matter related to the franchise that contradicts or differs from the information contained in the FDD. This includes statements about advertising, marketing, training, support service, or assistance provided by Cicis.

This acknowledgment is significant because it aims to protect Cicis from potential claims that the franchisee was misled by verbal promises or representations not documented in the FDD. It reinforces the importance of the FDD as the primary source of information for the franchise opportunity. A prospective franchisee should carefully review the FDD and seek clarification on any discrepancies or concerns before initialing this statement.

This type of clause is standard practice in franchising. It ensures that both parties are aligned on the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement and reduces the risk of future disputes based on misunderstandings or undocumented claims. Franchisees should be aware that their rights and responsibilities are primarily defined by the FDD and the franchise agreement itself, not by any verbal assurances they may have received during the sales process.

Furthermore, a separate section in the FDD states that the franchisee's decision to purchase the franchise has not been influenced by any oral representations, assurances, warranties, guarantees, or promises made by Cicis or its representatives, including those regarding the likelihood of success. This reinforces the importance of conducting independent due diligence and relying on the written information provided in the FDD when making the decision to invest in a Cicis franchise.