What fees are Buona franchisees responsible for paying, as described in the 'PAYING OTHER FEES' section?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| SECTION A: INTRODUCTION | Interest ◄16 |
|---|---|
| WELCOME LETTER FROM THE BUONAVOLANTO | Liquidated Damages ◄16 |
| FAMILY1 | Management Fee◄16 |
| HISTORY OF BUONA3 | Mystery Shopper Fee ◄16 |
| MISSION4 | National Account Services Fee ◄16 |
| VISION5 | Non-Compliance Fee ◄17 |
| VALUE STATEMENT6 | On-Site Training Fee ◄17 |
| SERVICES PROVIDED TO BUONA FRANCHISEES7 | Quality Assurance Audit Fee ◄17 |
| Advertising Materials and Sales Aids ◄7 | Relocation Fee ◄17 |
| Approved Suppliers ◄7 | Renewal Fee ◄17 |
| Construction Assistance ◄8 | Right to Operate Upon Default ◄17 |
| Corporate Website ◄8 | Royalty ◄18 |
| Design Assistance ◄8 | Service Charges and Insufficient Funds ◄18 |
| Franchisee Advisory Councils ◄8 | Supplemental Training ◄18 |
| Initial On-Site Assistance ◄9 | Supplier/Product Testing ◄18 |
| Initial Training ◄9 | Taxes ◄18 |
| Management and Operations Advice ◄9 | Technology Fee ◄18 |
| Ongoing Research and Development ◄9 | Technology Maintenance and Upgrades ◄19 |
| Ongoing Training and Support ◄10 | Transfer Fee ◄19 |
| Protected Territory ◄10 | |
| Site Selection ◄10 | SECTION B: PRE-OPENING PROCEDURES |
| Use of Trademarks ◄10 | PRE-OPENING CHECKLIST1 |
| RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUONA FRANCHISEE AND | Development Cost Summary Sheet ◄8 |
| STAFF11 | ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSINESS FORM9 |
| Responsibilities to Guests ◄11 | SITE SELECTION PROCESS10 |
| Responsibilities to Your Employees ◄11 | Site Selection Criteria ◄10 |
| Responsibilities to the Franchisor ◄12 | Market Analysis ◄11 |
| Responsibilities to Other Franchisees ◄12 | Gaining Site Selection Acceptance ◄13 |
| VISITS FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE13 | Lease Considerations ◄13 |
| PAYING OTHER FEES14 | Negotiating a Lease ◄13 |
| Additional Initial Training ◄14 | Gaining Lease Acceptance ◄15 |
| Additional On-Site / Remedial Training ◄14 | Working with an Architect ◄16 |
| Additional Training Assistance ◄14 | Selecting a Contractor ◄16 |
| Audit ◄14 | Building Out the Restaurant Facility ◄17 |
| Brand Marketing Fund Contribution ◄15 | Pre-Opening Inspection ◄20 |
| Conference Registration Fee ◄15 | INITIAL INVENTORY22 |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees ◄15 | TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS23 |
| Guest Satisfaction Reimbursement ◄15 | LOGO AND SIGNAGE SPECIFICATIONS24 |
| Indemnification ◄15 | Business Cards and Letterhead ◄24 |
| Insurance Fees ◄15 | Signage Requirements ◄25 |
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for several fees beyond the initial franchise fee, royalties, and marketing contributions. These 'other fees' cover a range of services, situations, and potential non-compliance issues.
Some of these fees include costs for additional training, whether it's initial, on-site, or remedial, along with fees for audit, brand marketing fund contributions, conference registration, and legal costs. Franchisees may also face guest satisfaction reimbursement, indemnification, and insurance fees.
Further, the document lists fees such as interest, liquidated damages, management, mystery shopper, national account services, non-compliance, on-site training, quality assurance audit, relocation, renewal, and right to operate upon default. Franchisees may also encounter royalty, service charges and insufficient funds, supplemental training, supplier/product testing, taxes, technology, technology maintenance and upgrades, and transfer fees. These fees underscore the various operational and compliance-related financial responsibilities that Buona franchisees must manage throughout the term of their franchise agreement.