What training programs must the Operator of a Cicis franchise complete?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must identify 1 natural person with at least a 25% ownership interest and 25% voting power in you and who will have the authority of a chief executive officer (the "Managing Owner"). In addition to exercising general supervisory responsibility for your activities under this Agreement, the Managing Owner shall directly oversee your Cicis Restaurant's operations, unless you designate another natural person whom we approve to serve as your "Operator". Your Operator must successfully complete our initial training program and all other mandatory trainings that we offer.
Each of your direct and indirect owners and your and their spouses will execute a guaranty in the form we prescribe undertaking personally to be bound, jointly and severally, by all provisions of the Franchise Agreement, the Area Development Agreement and any ancillary agreements
between you and us. A spouse who signs the guaranty solely in his or her capacity as a spouse (and not as an owner) is signing merely to acknowledge and consent to the execution of the guaranty by his or her spouse and to bind the assets of the marital estate as described and for no other purpose. You may disclose the Confidential Information to your employees who need to know its contents provided they are themselves bound by written obligations of confidentiality.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISED BUSINESS (FDD pages 43–44)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Operator, whether it is the Managing Owner or another designated and approved individual, must successfully complete Cicis's initial training program and all other mandatory trainings that Cicis offers. This initial training program must be completed within a reasonable time after the Franchise Agreement is executed, but no later than 15 days before the restaurant's opening. The duration and scope of the training may vary depending on the person's prior restaurant operating experience. If the Managing Owner or Operator fails to complete the program satisfactorily, Cicis will allow the franchisee to designate a new Managing Owner or Operator, who must also be approved by Cicis and complete the training. Failure of the newly designated person to complete the training to Cicis's satisfaction before the scheduled opening date may result in the termination of the Franchise Agreement.
The training program is subject to change without notice to reflect updates in materials, methods, manuals, and personnel changes. The subjects taught and the time allocated for each subject may vary based on the experience of the people being trained. The training materials include a Learning Management System, manuals, workbooks, Certification Forms, presentation materials, eLearning courses, and required reading handouts. The training programs are administered by the Vice President of Learning and Development, supported by certified restaurant managers and a learning manager.
Cicis also requires that the General Manager and Assistant Managers complete the initial training program for managers to Cicis's satisfaction no later than 15 days before the Opening Date (or within a reasonable time after their appointment for any successor or replacement). Cicis will determine, in its sole discretion, whether the General Manager and Assistant Manager candidates have satisfactorily completed initial training. If the initial training program is not satisfactorily completed by any such person, Cicis will notify the franchisee, and the franchisee must take appropriate corrective measures within 30 days. Franchisees are responsible for all expenses incurred for any training program, including travel, lodging, meals, and wages, unless otherwise agreed. Cicis has the right to charge a fee for additional training, not to exceed $250 per day for each day of training that Cicis determines is necessary.