What is the Cinnaholic franchisee's obligation regarding the condition of the Cinnaholic Bakery's furniture?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(v) Franchisee shall complete, at its own expense and to Franchisor's satisfaction, all maintenance, refurnishing, renovation, modernizing and remodeling of the Bakery as Franchisor shall reasonably require so as to reflect the current image and standards of CINNAHOLIC® Bakeries;
(xvii) Without limiting any of Franchisee's other obligations under this Agreement, at the request of Franchisor, but not more often than once every 5 years, unless sooner required by Franchisee's lease, Franchisee shall refurbish the premises of the Bakery at its expense, to conform to the Bakery, trade dress, color schemes and presentation of the Marks in a manner consistent with the thencurrent image for new Bakeries ("Refurbishments").
Refurbishments may include structural changes, installation of new equipment and signs, remodeling, redecoration and modifications to existing improvements.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 61–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnaholic's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally obligated to maintain and update the condition of their bakery, including furniture, to align with Cinnaholic's brand standards. Specifically, when renewing their franchise agreement, franchisees must complete maintenance, refurnishing, renovation, modernizing, and remodeling of the bakery at their own expense. This work must satisfy Cinnaholic's requirements to reflect the current image and standards of Cinnaholic bakeries. These obligations ensure that all Cinnaholic locations maintain a consistent and appealing appearance.
Beyond the franchise renewal context, Cinnaholic franchisees also have ongoing responsibilities to keep their premises in good condition. The franchise agreement stipulates that, at Cinnaholic's request, but not more often than once every 5 years (unless required sooner by the franchisee's lease), franchisees must refurbish their bakery at their own expense. This refurbishment should conform to the bakery's trade dress, color schemes, and presentation of the Cinnaholic marks, aligning with the current image for new bakeries. These refurbishments can be extensive, potentially including structural changes, new equipment and signs, remodeling, and redecoration.
These requirements mean that a Cinnaholic franchisee should budget not only for initial setup costs but also for periodic updates and refurbishments. The frequency of these updates depends on the terms of the franchise agreement and any lease requirements, but franchisees should anticipate significant expenses every few years to keep their bakery aligned with Cinnaholic's evolving brand standards. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as it helps maintain brand consistency and customer appeal across all locations. Prospective franchisees should clarify the expected frequency and scope of required refurbishments with Cinnaholic before signing the franchise agreement.