What must a Buona franchisee do in dealings with its employees?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
s, members, partners and guarantors expressly acknowledge that they possess skills and abilities of a general nature and have other opportunities for exploiting those skills. As a result, adherence to this restriction will not deprive them of their personal goodwill or ability to earn a living.
- 14.4 Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement*.* Franchisee must have its shareholders, officers, directors, members, managers, partners, guarantors, supervisory and principal employees, including managers and assistant managers (as a condition to their employment), anyone Franchisee may choose to send to training, and anyone who has access to the Manuals or any of Franchisor's proprietary information or Confidential Information, execute Franchisor's standard Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement (which is an exhibit to the Franchise Disclosure Document and as may be updated in the Manuals) before performing any work at the Franchised Business or otherwise having access to Franchisor's proprietary information. A copy of all the signed agreements shall be delivered to Franchisor within one (1) week of their execution.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 78–356)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must ensure that certain employees sign a Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement. Specifically, this agreement must be executed by shareholders, officers, directors, members, managers, partners, guarantors, supervisory and principal employees (including managers and assistant managers) as a condition of their employment. This also applies to anyone the franchisee sends to training and anyone who has access to the Buona manual or the franchisor's proprietary or confidential information.
The Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement is the franchisor's standard form, which may be updated in the manual. These employees must sign it before they start working at the franchised business or gain access to any of Buona's proprietary information. The franchisee must then provide a copy of all signed agreements to Buona within one week of their execution.
Additionally, Buona franchisees are prohibited from allowing employees to wear or display items that could be offensive to customers or other employees. This requirement underscores Buona's emphasis on brand protection and maintaining a positive image. The franchisee is also responsible for obtaining any required consents from its owners and management employees as necessary to comply with the provisions outlined in the Franchise Agreement.