What are the minimum requirements for a Cinnabon franchisee's business regarding the employment and training of Managers?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
must comply with Sections 6.1 (Leasehold Improvements), 6.2 (Architectural Plans), and 6.3 (Construction, Inspection, and Government Approvals) of this Agreement. You acknowledge that each Refresh or Remodel may require you to make a significant capital investment into your Franchised Business. You agree to incur, without limitation, any capital expenditures required in order to comply with this obligation and our requirements (even if those expenditures cannot be amortized over the remaining Term).
- D. Requirements Are Not Exclusive. The requirements set forth in this Section are in addition to, and do not limit, your obligation to add, update, and/or replace components of the Franchised Business from time to time as specified in other Sections of this Agreement, including Section 8.3 (Changes to the Standards and the Manuals) and Section 12.5 (Continuing Maintenance).
12.7 Your Participation; Manager.
- A. Participation and Managers. You must devote your best efforts to the proper and effective operation of the Franchised Business. Your Franchised Business must employ at least two Managers who have successfully completed the Management Training Program and are dedicated to the Franchised Business. Your Managers must have day-to-day management responsibility for your Franchised Business, exercise on-premises supervision, and personally participate in the direct operation of the Franchised Business. We may, in our sole discretion, permit your Primary Contact to serve as a Manager for the Franchised Business, provided that it is their full-time job, they otherwise qualify for the position, and they successfully complete the Management Training Program.
- B. Director of Operations. If you and your affiliates operate four or more Franchised Businesses, in addition to the Managers for each Franchised Business that you operate, we may require you to appoint one or more Managers with the responsibility of supervising and supporting multiple Franchised Businesses (each, a "Director of Operations").
- C. Qualifications. Each Manager and Director of Operations must successfully complete the Management Training Program, satisfy any other minimum standards we may require for their position, and complete additional training and On-Site Training as we may specify.
- D. Changes to Managers and Directors of Operations. You must inform us in writing of the identity of any Managers and Directors of Operations. You must notify us immediately of the death, disability, termination of employment, or replacement of any of your Managers (including any Director of Operations) and must designate a successor or acting Manager or Director of Operations within 30 days after the death, disability, or termination of the predecessor.
12.8 Computer System.
- A. Acquisition and Operation.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must employ at least two managers who have successfully completed the Management Training Program and are dedicated to the Franchised Business. These managers are required to have day-to-day management responsibility, exercise on-premises supervision, and personally participate in the direct operation of the Cinnabon franchise. The Primary Contact can serve as a manager if it is their full-time job, they qualify for the position, and they successfully complete the Management Training Program.
If a Cinnabon franchisee operates four or more Franchised Businesses, Cinnabon may require the franchisee to appoint one or more Managers with the responsibility of supervising and supporting multiple Franchised Businesses, called a "Director of Operations". Each Manager and Director of Operations must successfully complete the Management Training Program, satisfy any other minimum standards Cinnabon may require for their position, and complete additional training and On-Site Training as Cinnabon may specify.
Cinnabon requires franchisees to inform them in writing of the identity of any Managers and Directors of Operations. Franchisees must also notify Cinnabon immediately of the death, disability, termination of employment, or replacement of any of their Managers (including any Director of Operations) and must designate a successor or acting Manager or Director of Operations within 30 days after the death, disability, or termination of the predecessor. All required trainees must successfully complete the Management Training Program at least one week prior to the scheduled opening date of the Franchised Business.
Any Managers, Primary Contacts, Directors of Operations that a Cinnabon franchisee hires or appoints after the opening of the Franchised Business and any other persons Cinnabon designates must attend and successfully complete the Management Training Program (or a modified version that Cinnabon prescribes) before becoming involved in the operation of the franchise. Cinnabon may also require employees that transfer to a franchisee's Franchised Business from another Business to successfully complete the Management Training Program again.