Can Cicis require franchisees to make improvements to the Restaurant premises and equipment?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
, repair, and condition and otherwise comply with all requirements set forth in the Manuals with regard to such matters. Except as may be expressly provided in the Manuals, no alterations or improvements or changes of any kind in design, equipment, signs, interior or exterior decor items, fixtures, or furnishings will be made in or about your Restaurant or its premises without our prior written approval.
- B. Improvements and Modernization. You will, upon our request, make other improvements to your Restaurant premises, equipment (including computer hardware and software), game room equipment, signs, interior and exterior decor items, fixtures, furnishings, supplies, and other products and materials required for the operation of your Restaurant, to our then current System Standards.
- C. Manuals. During the Term, we will provide you with access to our manuals applicable to the development and operation of Cicis Restaurants (collectively, the "Manuals"). We will determine the content of the Manuals, the frequency in which it may be updated, and the manner and format in which it is delivered or made available to you. The Manuals may contain both mandatory specifications, standards, operating procedures and rules that we periodically prescribe for operating Cicis Restaurants and other specifications, standards and policies we may periodically suggest, and information on your other obligations under this Agreement (the "System Standards"), and other suggested specifications, standards and procedures. We may periodically modify the Manuals, including in the form of memoranda and newsletters, to reflect changes in System Standards. Our master copy of the Manuals is the controlling copy. The Manuals and any passwords and access credentials are part of our Confidential Information (defined below) and must be protected against improper use and disclosure.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cicis can require franchisees to make improvements to their Restaurant premises and equipment. Cicis may request franchisees to make improvements to the Restaurant premises, equipment (including computer hardware and software), game room equipment, signs, interior and exterior decor items, fixtures, furnishings, supplies, and other products and materials required for the operation of the Restaurant, to meet the then-current System Standards. This means that franchisees must be prepared to invest in upgrades and modifications to keep their Cicis location aligned with the brand's evolving image and operational standards.
Franchisees are responsible for maintaining their Restaurants in a high degree of sanitation, repair, and condition, complying with all requirements in the Manuals. No alterations or improvements or changes of any kind in design, equipment, signs, interior or exterior decor items, fixtures, or furnishings will be made in or about the Restaurant or its premises without Cicis's prior written approval. This ensures uniformity across all Cicis locations and protects the brand's image.
The modifications to System Standards may require franchisees to invest additional capital in their Restaurants and incur higher operating costs. These modifications can include changing hours of operation, how products or services are delivered, or limiting the products or services offered. These changes may be required on a regional or local basis to address public health concerns or other specific needs, and could even include temporary closure of the Restaurant. Franchisees need to be adaptable and financially prepared for these potential changes, as they can impact their investment and operational costs.