Who is responsible for overseeing the operations of a Cicis 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.
- (2) In addition to exercising general supervisory responsibility for your activities under this Agreement, the Managing Owner shall directly oversee your Restaurant's operations, unless you designate another natural person whom we approve to serve as your "Operator".
An Operator may, but need not, be an owner and will be responsible for overseeing your Restaurant's operations.
- (3) Your Managing Owner and/or Operator must be approved by us, as we determine in our sole discretion.
Once approved, your Managing Owner and Operator must, during the entire period they serve in such capacities, continue to meet our qualifications and such other standards as may be set forth in the Manuals or otherwise conveyed to you in writing.
Your Managing Owner and the initial Operator must successfully complete our initial training program (the duration and scope of which may vary, depending upon such person's prior restaurant operating experience) within a reasonable period of time after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Opening Date.
If your Managing Owner or Operator fails, in our sole judgment, to satisfactorily complete such program, then we will give you an opportunity to designate a new Managing Owner and/or Operator, who must be approved by us.
If such newly designated Managing Owner or Operator fails to complete the initial training program to our satisfaction prior to the scheduled Opening Date, we may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 15.A.(2)(e).
- (4) You must vest the Managing Owner and any Operator with sufficient decision-making authority to expedite the determinations and decisions that are essential to effective and efficient operation of your Restaurant.
Your Operator (and your Managing Owner if your Managing Owner is your Operator) must devote his or her full-time best efforts to the supervision of your Restaurant's operation and, with our consent, to the supervision of other Cicis Restaurants owned by you or your affiliate(s) and operated pursuant to franchise agreement(s) with us.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee retains sole responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of their restaurant, including implementing and maintaining Cicis's System Standards. However, Cicis retains the right to establish and periodically modify these System Standards, which regulate various aspects of the restaurant's operation and maintenance. These standards cover areas such as marketing, staffing, use of trademarks, hours of operation, payment methods, online presence, market research, gift card programs, menus, accounting, quality assurance, third-party delivery services, insurance coverage, and any other aspects that Cicis deems necessary to maintain the brand's image and efficient operation.
In addition to the franchisee's responsibilities, a Managing Owner is required to exercise general supervisory responsibility for the franchisee's activities. The Managing Owner directly oversees the restaurant's operations unless the franchisee designates another person, approved by Cicis, to serve as the Operator. The Operator may or may not be an owner but is responsible for overseeing the restaurant's operations. Both the Managing Owner and the Operator must be approved by Cicis and meet ongoing qualifications and standards set forth in the manuals or conveyed in writing.
Both the Managing Owner and the initial Operator must successfully complete Cicis's initial training program, the duration and scope of which may vary based on prior restaurant operating experience, within a reasonable time after the franchise agreement is executed and before the restaurant opens. Failure to complete the training program satisfactorily may result in the franchisee being given the opportunity to designate a new Managing Owner or Operator. If the newly designated personnel fail to complete the training, Cicis may terminate the franchise agreement.
The franchisee must vest the Managing Owner and any Operator with sufficient decision-making authority to expedite essential determinations for the effective and efficient operation of the restaurant. The Operator (or the Managing Owner, if serving as the Operator) must devote their full-time best efforts to supervising the restaurant's operation and, with Cicis's consent, to supervising other Cicis restaurants owned by the franchisee or their affiliates under franchise agreements with Cicis.