Are salaries and benefits paid to owners or employees reimbursable under the Cicis grand opening promotion reimbursement program?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If, in connection with your purchase and, if applicable, re-opening of the Restaurant, you conducted a grand opening promotion approved by us, we will reimburse you the expenses you incurred and paid in executing the grand opening promotion (less salaries and benefits paid to your owners or employees), up to the amount of the Renewal Fee you paid, if any, when you signed the Franchise Agreement. If you seek reimbursement under this paragraph, you must submit documentary proof of the paid expense within 30 days following the completion of your grand opening promotion. We reserve the right to determine, in our sole discretion, whether any submitted expense qualifies for reimbursement under this paragraph.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 65–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, salaries and benefits paid to owners or employees are explicitly excluded from reimbursement under the grand opening promotion. If a franchisee conducts a grand opening promotion approved by Cicis, they can be reimbursed for expenses incurred and paid during the promotion, but this reimbursement specifically excludes salaries and benefits paid to the franchisee, their owners, or their employees. The reimbursement amount is capped at the Renewal Fee paid when signing the Franchise Agreement.
To receive reimbursement, the franchisee must submit documentary proof of the paid expenses within 30 days of completing the grand opening promotion. Cicis retains the right to determine, at its sole discretion, whether any submitted expense qualifies for reimbursement.
This policy means that franchisees need to carefully plan their grand opening budget, as labor costs for owners and employees will not be covered by the reimbursement program. Franchisees should factor in these non-reimbursable costs when assessing the overall financial viability of the grand opening promotion. This is a fairly common practice in franchising, as franchisors often want to incentivize spending on marketing and advertising rather than internal labor.