What ethical requirements are the auditors of Crave Cookies Franchising, LLC required to meet?

According to Crave Cookies's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditors must adhere to specific ethical requirements related to their audits. The auditors are required to be independent of Crave Cookies and fulfill other ethical responsibilities that align with the relevant ethical standards for their audits. This requirement ensures that the auditors maintain objectivity and impartiality when examining Crave Cookies's financial statements.

The auditors' responsibilities include ensuring that they conduct their audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS). These standards provide a framework for how audits should be performed and include requirements for ethical conduct, independence, and professional skepticism. By adhering to GAAS, the auditors aim to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

Furthermore, the auditors are tasked with exercising professional judgment and maintaining professional skepticism throughout the audit. This involves critically assessing the information provided by Crave Cookies and challenging assumptions or representations made by management. The auditors must also identify and assess the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design audit procedures to address those risks. This comprehensive approach helps to ensure the integrity and reliability of the audit process and the resulting financial statements.