What agreement must a franchisee sign to operate a Buona Business?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must sign our franchise agreement (the "Franchise Agreement"), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit B to this Franchise Disclosure Document. We will grant a franchise to qualified candidates for the operation of a Buona Business. We are not presently engaged in business activities other than the development of the System and the offer, sale and support of the franchisees of the System.
In some instances, we along with our affiliate Five Flavors will offer you the right to develop and operate a combined Buona and The Original Rainbow Cone restaurant ("Dual Brand Business"). The decision to offer you a Dual Brand Business is within the sole discretion of Chicago's Original Italian Beef Franchising LLC and our affiliate Five Flavors. If you are offered this opportunity, you will receive a separate Franchise Disclosure Document from our affiliate Five Flavor Franchising LLC and you will sign the Dual Brand Franchise Agreement that is attached to this Franchise Disclosure Document as Exhibit B-1. The term "Buona Business" as used herein shall include reference to both the single brand and dual brand restaurants unless otherwise specified.
We also allow certain franchisees who meet our criteria to become a Developer. A Developer agrees to establish and operate themselves a minimum of 3 Buona Businesses in a specified Development Area over an agreed upon period of time. The Area Development Agreement is attached to this Franchise Disclosure Document as Exhibit C. The Developer will sign a Franchise Agreement for the first Buona Business at the time the Area Development Agreement is signed. For each future franchise to be developed, the Developer will sign the then current form of Franchise Agreement that may have different terms than the Franchise Agreement contained in this Franchise Disclosure Document.
If a Developer intends to develop all or some Dual Brand Businesses, the Developer will sign the Dual Brand Area Development Agreement that is attached to this Franchise Disclosure Document as Exhibit C-1 with us and our affiliate Five Flavors. For each franchise to be developed under the Dual Brand Area Development Agreement, the Developer will sign either a single restaurant Franchise Agreement with us or a Dual Brand Franchise Agreement with us and Five Flavors.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 9–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a prospective franchisee must sign the Franchise Agreement to operate a Buona Business. The Franchise Agreement is included as Exhibit B in the FDD.
Buona also offers the opportunity to operate a Dual Brand Business, combining a Buona restaurant with The Original Rainbow Cone. This is offered at the sole discretion of Buona and its affiliate, Five Flavors. If offered this opportunity, the franchisee will receive a separate Franchise Disclosure Document from Five Flavors Franchising LLC and will sign a Dual Brand Franchise Agreement, which is included as Exhibit B-1 in the FDD.
Furthermore, Buona offers Area Development Agreements to certain franchisees who meet their criteria. A Developer agrees to open and operate a minimum of 3 Buona Businesses in a specific Development Area within a specific time frame. The Area Development Agreement is included as Exhibit C in the FDD. The Developer will sign a Franchise Agreement for the first Buona Business when signing the Area Development Agreement. For each subsequent franchise to be developed, the Developer will sign the then-current form of the Franchise Agreement, which may have different terms than the original Franchise Agreement included in the FDD. If a Developer intends to develop Dual Brand Businesses, they will sign the Dual Brand Area Development Agreement, included as Exhibit C-1 in the FDD, with Buona and Five Flavors. For each franchise developed under the Dual Brand Area Development Agreement, the Developer will sign either a single restaurant Franchise Agreement with Buona or a Dual Brand Franchise Agreement with Buona and Five Flavors.