What standards must the general contractor meet when building out a Cinnabon Bakery?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e paid to us ($30,500) and the initial franchise fee paid, as applicable, to Auntie Anne's under the Auntie Anne's® Franchise Agreement for the right to operate an Auntie Anne's® franchise ($35,500) or to Carvel under the Carvel® Franchise Agreement for the right to operate a Carvel® franchise ($30,500).
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- Construction and Build Out Costs. This estimate includes fees paid to a general contractor you engage to build out the Bakery to meet our Standards (and for a Co-Branded Bakery, the standards of the Co-Branded Franchisor too). Leasehold improvements include but are not limited to HVAC, electrical, carpentry, floor covering, and painting. The cost of a general contractor will vary widely depending on the size and condition of the premises, whether or not there are any existing and comparable leasehold improvements in the premises, the extent and quality of improvements you desire over and above our minimum requirements, your landlord's cash contribution to the cost of the improvements, and the local costs of material and labor. In certain major metropolitan markets such as Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., costs could be significantly higher than the estimates provided here due to local market rates for materials and labor. This estimate does not include leasehold improvements for new free-standing buildings or new free-standing buildings with a drive-thru, as the costs for this format may vary significantly. For Co-Branded Bakeries (other than a Swirl Bakery), the estimate is based on mall and streetside locations. The Swirl Bakery estimate is based on streetside locations.
You may be able to negotiate tenant improvement allowances from your landlord. The estimate is presented net of estimated tenant improvement allowances. For the low estimate, we estimated a tenant improvement allowance of $30,000, which is approximately the average tenant improvement allowance that our franchisees have reported to us. For the high estimate, we assumed that a tenant improvement allowance was not available.
Source: Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment (FDD pages 45–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the general contractor you hire to build out your Cinnabon bakery must meet Cinnabon's standards. If you are opening a Co-Branded Bakery, the contractor must also meet the standards of the Co-Branded Franchisor. The FDD specifies that the construction and build out costs includes fees paid to the general contractor to meet these standards.
These standards relate to various aspects of the build-out, including leasehold improvements like HVAC, electrical work, carpentry, floor covering, and painting. The cost of the general contractor can fluctuate significantly based on factors such as the size and condition of the premises, the presence of existing leasehold improvements, the desired extent and quality of improvements beyond Cinnabon's minimum requirements, any cash contributions from the landlord towards improvement costs, and the local costs of materials and labor. The FDD notes that construction costs may be significantly higher in major metropolitan areas due to local market rates for materials and labor.
Additionally, franchisees must engage a licensed architect that Cinnabon accepts in writing, as well as licensed engineers (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or structural) as necessary to draft standard construction plans for the bakery. Franchisees must also purchase or lease equipment and machinery from Approved Suppliers that comply with Cinnabon's standards. For Concession Bakeries, the interior and exterior of any food truck or trailer must comply with Cinnabon's standards.