After a Cinnabon franchisee delivers all requested materials for a Proposed Location, how long does Cinnabon have to provide its acceptance or non-acceptance?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you and we have not agreed on an Accepted Location at the time we sign this Agreement, you will select a Proposed Location that complies with our site selection criteria within the Site Selection Area. You will provide us with all material we request to evaluate the suitability of the Proposed Location for your Franchised Business along with a site plan for the Proposed Location. We will provide you with our acceptance or non-acceptance of the Proposed Location within 15 days after you deliver the last item of materials we request, and our determination will be final.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cinnabon will provide its acceptance or non-acceptance of a proposed location within 15 days. This 15-day period starts after the franchisee has delivered the last item of materials that Cinnabon requests to evaluate the location's suitability. Cinnabon's determination regarding the proposed location is considered final.
This means that a prospective Cinnabon franchisee needs to gather and submit all required documentation promptly to start the 15-day review period. The franchisee should ensure that all submitted materials are complete and accurate to avoid delays in the approval process. The FDD specifies that Cinnabon's acceptance confirms that the location meets their minimum site selection criteria, but it does not guarantee the success of the franchise at that location.
For franchisees of Concession Bakeries (food trucks or concession trailers), the same 15-day approval period applies for proposed locations. However, Cinnabon retains the right to withhold approval for additional locations at its sole discretion. Furthermore, Cinnabon typically will not approve a Concession Bakery operating within a two-mile radius of an existing permanent Cinnabon location. Cinnabon can also withdraw approval for previously-approved locations at its discretion.
It is important for prospective franchisees to understand that site approval does not constitute a guarantee of success. Franchisees must also ensure that any Site Agreements comply with the terms outlined in Cinnabon's manuals and are consistent with the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are prohibited from executing any Site Agreements until they receive written approval from Cinnabon for the proposed location.