What happens if a Cinnabon franchisee does not hire a general contractor accepted by Cinnabon?

According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must hire a licensed and insured general contractor that Cinnabon accepts to complete the build-out of their bakery. Cinnabon also requires franchisees to hire an architect that they accept in writing to prepare the plans for the bakery and make any necessary changes to Cinnabon's standard layout and specifications.

While Cinnabon must approve the general contractor, the FDD states that this acceptance does not constitute an endorsement of the contractor, nor does it render Cinnabon liable for the contractor's performance. This means that Cinnabon's approval is primarily to ensure compliance with their standards and specifications, but franchisees bear the ultimate responsibility for the contractor's work.

Although the FDD states that Cinnabon requires franchisees to use a general contractor that they accept, the document does not explicitly state the consequences of failing to do so. It is reasonable to assume that failure to use a Cinnabon-accepted general contractor would be a violation of the franchise agreement. This could potentially lead to penalties, delays in opening, or even termination of the franchise agreement if the franchisee does not comply with Cinnabon's requirements.