Is a Cinnabon franchisee allowed to sell or transfer Customer Information?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
15.3 Customer Information.
- A. Protection of Customer Information. You must comply with our Standards, other directions from us, and all applicable Laws regarding the organizational, physical, administrative and technical measures and security procedures to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and security of Customer Information on your Computer System or otherwise in your possession or control and, in any event, employ reasonable means to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and security of Customer Information. "Customer Information" means names, contact information, financial information, purchasing history, market research data, and other personal information of or relating to the customers and prospective customers of the Franchised Business.
- B. Access to Customer Information. All Customer Information that you or your thirdparty vendors collect from customers and potential customers in connection with your Franchised Business must be furnished to us at any time that we request it. In addition, we and our affiliates, through the Computer System or otherwise, have the right to independently access the Customer Information.
- C. Use of Customer Information. You must only use Customer Information to market Approved Products to customers in accordance with the policies that we may establish periodically and applicable Laws. You may not sell, transfer, or use Customer Information for any purpose other than marketing Approved Products and the Franchised Business. We and our affiliates may use Customer Information in any manner or for any purpose. You must secure from your customers, prospective customers, vendors, and others all consents and authorizations, and provide them all disclosures, that applicable Law requires to transmit Customer Information to us and our affiliates, and for us and our affiliates to use that Customer Information, in the manner that this Agreement contemplates.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are restricted in how they handle customer information. Specifically, Cinnabon franchisees are expressly prohibited from selling or transferring customer information for any purpose other than marketing approved products and the franchised business itself. This restriction is in place to protect the privacy of customers and to ensure that Cinnabon maintains control over how customer data is used. Customer Information includes names, contact information, financial information, purchasing history, market research data, and other personal information of or relating to the customers and prospective customers of the Franchised Business.
Cinnabon retains the right to access all customer information collected by franchisees or their third-party vendors. Moreover, Cinnabon and its affiliates can use this information in any manner and for any purpose. This includes the ability to independently access customer information through the computer system or other means.
As a Cinnabon franchisee, you must obtain all necessary consents and authorizations from customers, prospective customers, vendors, and others to transmit customer information to Cinnabon and its affiliates. You must also provide all legally required disclosures to these parties. This ensures that Cinnabon and its affiliates can legally use the customer information as intended under the franchise agreement. This requirement places the onus on the franchisee to ensure compliance with privacy laws and to secure the necessary permissions for data usage.