Cicis®
What Is Cicis?
Cicis is a pizza-focused restaurant franchise operating both Cicis Buffet Restaurants with unlimited buffets and an à la carte dine‑in menu (pizza, pastas, salads, desserts and other items) and Cicis To Go Restaurants offering similar menu items without the unlimited buffet. Primary service channels include dine‑in buffet (for Buffet locations), take‑out/carry‑out, catering, and online delivery through designated ordering and delivery platforms. Catering, carry‑out, and online delivery are identified as significant revenue streams.
Cicis Franchise: Pros and Cons
The franchisor's biggest strength is a perfect 100 training and support score and 300 hours of initial training, showing strong operator onboarding; the biggest risk is active legal friction: six disclosed lawsuits (three alleging fraud), three franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and four outlet terminations, all well above Food and Beverage norms.
Pros
Cons
Lawsuits & Legal Risk
Cicis faces 2024 disputes over Smiley Slice governance-claims of unpaid CEO compensation, excessive management fees, and investment restrictions-consolidated for jury trial July 7, 2025. CiCi Enterprises also sued multiple franchisees in 2024 to recover payments and enforce post‑termination obligations, indicating active enforcement. Advice: review fees, post‑termination covenants, transfer restrictions, Item 12 territory protections, and request litigation records.
Territory Protection
Cicis grants a protected, site-specific (non-exclusive) territory for an approved restaurant or development area as defined in the Franchise/Area Development Agreement. Territory is contingent on compliance and performance quotas; Cicis retains rights to develop nearby units, sell via alternative channels, operate other formats/trademarks, and use special venues.
Training & Support
The brand provides a Comprehensive 300-hour training curriculum and does not include any trainees in the initial franchise fee, so franchisees must identify and assign staff to participate in the program. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness, with travel and lodging expenses the responsibility of the franchisee and certain on-site services subject to additional fees.
Franchisee Stability
Cicis earns a Good Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 4.55% sits below the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%). Out of 36 total exits, ceased operations dominated with 19, alongside 9 franchisor buybacks, 5 terminations, and 3 non-renewals.
The dominance of ceased operations suggests location-level economics, meaning operators chose to close or specific sites underperformed rather than widespread franchisor-franchisee conflict. The presence of nine franchisor buybacks also indicates the franchisor sometimes reclaims and relaunches units to address underperformance and reposition sites. This pattern broadly plays out across a system of about 255 franchised outlets in the most recent year, so the closures appear concentrated at the local level rather than signaling a systemwide failure. For prospective franchisees, examine unit-level economics in the geographies where closures have concentrated.
Unit Growth Analysis
This franchise rose from 273 units in 2023 to 279 in 2024 (+6 units, +2.2%) then fell to 270 in 2025 (−9 units, −3.2%), yielding a net decline of 3 units (−1.1%) across the period. The reversal from +2.2% growth to −3.2% (a 5.4 percentage-point swing) indicates a weakening growth trajectory and potential attrition; investors should treat this as a cautionary signal-worth probing management for causes and remediation-even though the absolute change is modest.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Cicis Franchise?
Opening a Cicis franchise requires a total initial investment of $694,965 to $1,038,753, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.
Minimum Investment
Maximum Investment
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Maximum Investment Breakdown
Investment Analysis
This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.
The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
How Much Do Cicis Franchise Owners Make?
Cicis franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,404,304 and median gross sales of $1,362,750 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cicis a good franchise to own?
Whether Cicis is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: Cicis operates 270 locations, received a legal risk score of 64/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.
Is a Cicis franchise worth the investment?
The value of a Cicis franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $694,965 to $1,038,753. Cicis disclosed average gross sales of $1,404,304 in 2025. The system reported 4 terminated units in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.
What is the failure rate of Cicis franchises?
In the 2025 FDD, Cicis reported 4 terminated franchises and 1 non-renewals out of 270 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.
How long does it take to break even with a Cicis franchise?
Break-even timelines for Cicis franchises are not disclosed in the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.
Is Cicis a franchise or a corporate-owned business?
As of the 2025 FDD, Cicis operates 251 franchised locations and 19 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.
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