Are the fees payable to Buona refundable?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 7: ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT]
Notes for both Single Brand and Dual Brand Free Standing Restaurants:
These estimated initial expenses are our best estimate of the costs you may incur in establishing and operating your Buona Business. We do not offer direct or indirect financing for these items. None of the fees payable to us are refundable. Fees paid to vendors or other suppliers may or may not be refundable depending on their policies or your arrangements with them.
- (1) Initial Franchise Fee Your Initial Franchise Fee is $40,000 and is payable in full when you sign the Franchise Agreement. The Initial Franchise Fee is non-refundable, except if we terminate your Franchise Agreement for your failure to successfully complete initial training in which case we will refund 10% of the Initial Franchise Fee paid upon delivery to us of an executed release.
- (12) On Site Training Fee This is an estimate of the on-site training fees that you must pay to us for the on-site training we provide to you. You pay us a $20,000 deposit on this fee when you sign the franchise agreement.
- (14) Totals We relied on our experience and our owners' experience of over 40 years in the restaurant business to compile these estimates. Except as otherwise noted, none of these payments are refundable. These payments are only estimates and your costs may be higher, depending on your particular circumstances. You should review these figures carefully with a business advisor, accountant or attorney before making any decision to purchase a Franchise. We do not offer any financing for your initial investment. The availability and terms of financing with third-party lenders will depend on factors such as the availability of financing generally, your credit-worthiness and policies of lending institutions concerning the type of business to be operated.
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 23–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, generally, the fees payable to Buona are non-refundable. Specifically, none of the fees payable to Buona are refundable, but fees paid to vendors or other suppliers may or may not be refundable, depending on their policies or your arrangements with them.
The initial franchise fee is $40,000 and is payable in full when you sign the Franchise Agreement. The initial franchise fee is non-refundable. However, there is an exception: if Buona terminates your Franchise Agreement for your failure to successfully complete initial training, Buona will refund 10% of the initial franchise fee paid upon delivery to them of an executed release.
In addition, a $20,000 deposit is required for the on-site training fee when signing the franchise agreement. The total on-site training fee is based on a daily rate for each training session on-site, plus the travel and living expenses incurred by Buona's representatives who travel to your site for the training.
Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these non-refundable fees and the conditions under which a partial refund of the initial franchise fee may be obtained. It is important to understand the policies of vendors and suppliers regarding refunds, as these are separate from Buona's own refund policy. Franchisees should also note that 'except as otherwise noted, none of these payments are refundable'.