Does Cicis retain the right to establish and periodically modify System Standards?
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 establish and periodically modify System Standards. These standards are designed to maintain uniformity across all Cicis restaurants. While Cicis can modify these standards, the franchisee is responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of their restaurant, including implementing and maintaining these System Standards.
The System Standards can regulate various aspects of the restaurant's operation. These include marketing and advertising programs, staffing levels (excluding employee selection, pay, and working conditions), use of trademarks, hours of operation, payment methods, online presence management, participation in market research, gift card programs, menu offerings, bookkeeping systems, quality assurance programs, use of third-party delivery services, insurance coverage, and any other operational aspects that Cicis deems necessary to maintain the brand's image and goodwill.
The FDD also states that Cicis may periodically modify the manuals, including through memoranda and newsletters, to reflect changes in System Standards. These modifications may require franchisees to invest additional capital and incur higher operating costs. Cicis also has the discretion to require franchisees to make certain operational modifications, such as changing hours, delivery methods, or product offerings, on a regional or local basis to address public health concerns. These changes may even include temporary closures and could affect only a single restaurant.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that while you have control over the daily operations, Cicis has broad authority to set and change the rules. These changes can impact various aspects of your business, potentially requiring additional investment. It is important to understand the scope of these potential changes and how they might affect your restaurant's profitability and operations.