Does Cicis reserve the right to change the System used in Cicis Restaurants?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You understand the importance of maintaining uniformity among all of the Cicis Restaurants and the importance of complying with all of our standards, specifications, policies, and procedures relating to the operation of your Restaurant and, therefore, agree to comply with all System Standards as they exist from time to time.
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, Cicis retains the right to modify the System Standards for its restaurants. As a Cicis franchisee, you must comply with all System Standards, which Cicis can modify periodically. These standards cover various aspects of the restaurant's operation and maintenance.
System Standards may regulate sales, marketing, advertising, promotional programs, staffing levels, employee appearance, use of Marks, hours of operation, payment methods, online presence policies, participation in market research, gift card programs, menus, bookkeeping, data processing, reporting, quality assurance, customer satisfaction programs, third-party food delivery services, insurance coverage, and any other operational aspects that Cicis deems useful for enhancing the brand's image and goodwill.
Cicis may also require franchisees to make improvements to the restaurant premises, equipment, decor, and other items to meet the current System Standards. The System Standards applicable to Cicis Buffet Restaurants may differ from those applicable to Cicis To Go Restaurants. These modifications may require additional capital investment and higher operating costs for the franchisee. Cicis may also require franchisees to modify their restaurant's operations on a regional or local basis to address public health concerns, which could include temporary closures.