When is a 'Refresh' required for a Cinnabon franchise, according to the franchise agreement?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- A.
Refresh.
Within six months after the fifth and the fifteenth anniversaries of the Opening Date, you must, at your sole expense and in accordance with our then-current Standards and directives, refresh, refurbish, and renovate the Franchised Business to meet our then-current operational and branding Standards (a "Refresh").
Generally, a Refresh will require you to add, update, and/or replace components of the Franchised Business (including merchandising elements, graphics, paint or wall coverings, menu boards, interior and exterior signage, kitchen equipment, drive-thru equipment, Computer System components, and other furniture, fixtures, equipment, and décor that we may specify in our sole discretion) to meet our then-current Standards without significantly altering your Franchised Business' layout or structure.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a 'Refresh' is required within six months after both the fifth and fifteenth anniversaries of the store's opening date. This Refresh is at the franchisee's sole expense and must align with Cinnabon's then-current operational and branding standards.
The purpose of the Refresh is to keep the franchise location up-to-date with Cinnabon's current image and operational requirements. The FDD specifies that a Refresh generally involves adding, updating, or replacing components of the Franchised Business. These components include merchandising elements, graphics, paint or wall coverings, menu boards, interior and exterior signage, kitchen equipment, drive-thru equipment, Computer System components, and other furniture, fixtures, equipment, and décor. The franchisor has the sole discretion to specify these items.
Unlike a more extensive 'Remodel,' a 'Refresh' is not intended to significantly alter the layout or structure of the Cinnabon franchise. However, franchisees should anticipate a significant capital investment to meet these Refresh requirements. Franchisees are responsible for covering all capital expenditures necessary to comply with Cinnabon's requirements, even if these expenditures cannot be fully amortized over the remaining term of the franchise agreement. This ensures that all Cinnabon locations maintain a consistent brand image and operational standard, but it also places a financial burden on the franchisee to reinvest in the business periodically.