Who is responsible for signing agreements and paying for the services provided by the Architectural Firm for a Cinnaholic bakery?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have designated Tom Tedrow Architects as a required supplier of design services and/or architecture services (an "Architectural Firm") to supply these services to CINNAHOLIC® franchise system. At our option, we may authorize the General Contractor to select a different architectural firm to assist in developing the Bakery. You must hire the Architectural Firm to furnish to us, for our written approval, a proposed preliminary site and construction plans and specifications (which plans and specifications must be adopted from the prototype plans provided by us) for CINNAHOLIC® Bakery which, if accepted, must not be modified, altered or changed without our prior written consent. You must sign any agreements required to obtain the services of the Architectural Firm and pay for all services provided by the Architectural Firm.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 21–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnaholic's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for both signing agreements with and paying for the services provided by the Architectural Firm. Cinnaholic designates Tom Tedrow Architects as a required supplier of design and architecture services for the franchise system. However, Cinnaholic retains the option to authorize the General Contractor to select a different architectural firm to assist in developing the Bakery.
The franchisee must hire the Architectural Firm to furnish preliminary site and construction plans and specifications for the Cinnaholic Bakery. These plans must be adopted from prototype plans provided by Cinnaholic and are subject to Cinnaholic's written approval. Once accepted, these plans cannot be modified without Cinnaholic's prior written consent.
This means that as a Cinnaholic franchisee, you will need to budget for and manage the costs associated with architectural services, ensuring that all agreements are signed by you and all payments are made by you. You must also ensure that the architectural plans adhere to Cinnaholic's standards and are approved by them before implementation.