Who has the right to establish and periodically modify Cicis System Standards?
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.
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' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cicis retains the right to establish and periodically modify the System Standards. However, the franchisee retains the right and sole responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of their restaurant, including the implementation and maintenance of these System Standards at their specific location.
The System Standards set by Cicis can regulate various aspects of the restaurant's operation and maintenance. These aspects include sales, marketing, advertising programs, staffing levels (excluding employee selection, pay, and working conditions, which remain the franchisee's responsibility), 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 efficiency.
Cicis may also periodically modify the manuals provided to franchisees, including updates in the form of memoranda and newsletters, to reflect changes in System Standards. These modifications may require franchisees to invest additional capital in their restaurants and incur higher operating costs. Additionally, Cicis has the discretion to require franchisees to make specific operational changes, such as modifying hours, changing service delivery methods, or limiting product offerings, on a regional or local basis to address public health concerns, potentially even requiring temporary closure of a restaurant.
Prospective franchisees should understand that while they maintain control over daily operations, Cicis has broad authority to set and change System Standards. These changes can impact various aspects of the business, potentially requiring additional investment and operational adjustments. Franchisees must stay informed of these changes through the provided manuals and updates and be prepared to implement them to maintain compliance with the franchise agreement.