Which sections in the Cinnaholic Franchise Agreement address the franchisee's obligation for fees?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
t. These additional disclosures appear in Exhibit E attached to this Disclosure Document.
Exhibit F
State Specific Addenda
(See Attached)
CINNAHOLIC FRANCHISING, LLC ADDENDUM TO MARKET DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (California)
The following Addendum modifies and supersedes the Cinnaholic Franchising, LLC Market Development Agreement (the "Agreement") with respect to CINNAHOLIC franchises offered or sold to either a resident of the State of California or a non-resident who will be operating a CINNAHOLIC franchise in the State of California pursuant to the California Franchise Investment Law §§ 31000 through 31516, and the California Franchise Relations Act, California Business and Professions Code §§ 20000 through 20043, as follows:
- The first sentence of Section 4 of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
The Department has determined that we, the franchisor, have not demonstrated that we are adequately capitalized and/or that we must rely on franchise fees to fund out operations. The Commissioner has imposed a fee deferral condition, which requires that we defer the collection of all initial fees from California franchisees until we have completed all of our pre-opening obligations and you are open for business. Initial fees attributable to a specific unit should be deferred until that specific unit is open; that is, the entire payment of the entire initial fee for multiple units will not be due 5 days after signing the Market Development Agreement.
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- If any of the provisions of the Agreement concerning termination are inconsistent with either the California Franchise Relations Act or with the federal bankruptcy law (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq.) (concerning termination of the Agreement on certain bankruptcy-related events), then such laws will apply.
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- The Agreement requires that it be governed by Georgia law. This requirement may be unenforceable under California law.
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- Developer must sign a general release if Developer transfers its franchise. California Corporations Code 31512 voids a waiver of Developer's rights under the Franchise Investment Law (California Corporations Code 31000 through 31516). Business and Professions Code 20010 voids a waiver of Developer's rights under the Franchise Relations Act (Business and Professions Code 20000 through 20043).
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- The Agreement contains a covenant not to compete, as well as a no-poach/non-solicitation covenant, which extend beyond the termination of the Agreement. These provisions may not be enforceable under California law.
6. Section 31512.1- Franchise Agreement Provisions Void as Contrary to Public Policy:
Any provision of a franchise agreement, franchise disclosure document, acknowledgement, questionnaire, or other writing, including any exhibit thereto, disclaiming or denying any of the following shall be deemed contrary to public policy and shall be void and unenforceable:
- (a) Representations made by the franchisor or its personnel or agents to a prospective franchisee.
- (b) Reliance by a franchisee on any representations made by the franchisor or its personnel or agents.
- (c) Reliance by a franchisee on the franchise disclosure document, including any exhibit thereto.
- (d) Violations of any provision of this division. | 7. No statement, questionnaire, or acknowledgment any applicable state franchise law, including fraud statement made by any franchisor, NASAA STATEMENT OF POLICY REGARDING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. questionnaires.pdf | signed or agreed to by a franchisee in connection with the commencement of the franchise relationship shall have the effect of (i) waiving any claims under in the inducement, or (ii) disclaiming reliance on any franchise seller, or other person acting on behalf of the franchisor. This provision supersedes any other term of any document executed in connection with the franchise.
Source: Item 9 — FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS (FDD pages 26–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Cinnaholic Franchise Disclosure Document includes addenda that modify the franchise agreement regarding franchisee fee obligations, particularly concerning the timing of initial franchise fee payments. These addenda address specific state requirements related to financial assurances and franchisee protections. For example, franchisees operating in California, Maryland, Illinois, and Virginia may have deferred initial fee payment obligations.
In California, the addendum states that the collection of all initial fees is deferred until Cinnaholic has completed all pre-opening obligations and the franchisee is open for business. This deferral is due to a determination by the Department that Cinnaholic has not demonstrated adequate capitalization or relies on franchise fees to fund operations. Similarly, in Maryland, initial fees and payments are deferred until Cinnaholic completes its pre-opening obligations due to a financial assurance required by the Maryland Securities Commissioner. Illinois also mandates deferral of initial franchise/development fees until Cinnaholic has met its initial obligations and the franchisee has commenced business, a requirement imposed by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General because of Cinnaholic's financial condition. Virginia also requires the deferral of initial franchise fees until Cinnaholic has completed its pre-opening obligations.
These state-specific addenda highlight the importance of franchisees understanding the specific regulations in their state. The deferral of initial fees provides a level of financial protection for franchisees, ensuring that Cinnaholic fulfills its pre-opening obligations before receiving these payments. However, it is crucial for prospective franchisees to carefully review the addenda applicable to their state and consult with legal counsel to fully understand their rights and obligations regarding fee payments. These addenda supersede any conflicting terms in the standard franchise agreement, emphasizing the need for franchisees to be aware of these modifications.