How should a Buona franchisee identify itself in advertising and promotional materials?

According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must clearly identify itself as an independent entity in all advertising and promotional materials. Specifically, the franchisee must display its business name in conjunction with the phrase "an independent Buona Licensee" or "an independent Buona Franchisee," or use other similar wording that clearly indicates independent ownership. This requirement extends to all forms of advertising and promotional materials.

This stipulation ensures that customers understand they are dealing with an independently owned and operated franchise, not directly with the Buona corporate entity. This distinction is important for managing customer expectations and maintaining the integrity of the Buona brand. The franchisor retains control over the use of the "Buona" trade name, and franchisees cannot use "Buona" in their legal business name or register a trade name using "Buona" without prior written consent from the franchisor.

Buona also requires franchisees to display a standard sign in their franchised business indicating that it is independently owned and operated as a franchisee or licensee of the Buona system. This reinforces the message of independent ownership at the point of sale. These measures protect Buona's trademarks and ensure consistent branding while allowing franchisees to benefit from the established brand recognition.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines could result in a breach of the franchise agreement and potential legal consequences, as unauthorized use of the Buona marks is considered an infringement of the franchisor's rights. Therefore, it is crucial for prospective Buona franchisees to understand and comply with these requirements to maintain a good standing with the franchisor and avoid any legal issues.