What is a Buona franchisee prohibited from doing with the Confidential Operations Standards Manual?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee agrees not to disclose the contents of the Manual to unauthorized persons and to use Franchisee's best efforts to prevent unauthorized disclosure to any person, as this disclosure would cause irreparable harm to Franchisor and the System.
Franchisee understands that the Manual is loaned to Franchisee, and that at all times, the Manual remains the sole property of Franchisor.
The Manual may be provided in printed or electronic form and Franchisee agrees to return any printed copies of the Manual to Franchisor or destroy any files containing the Manual upon the termination of this Agreement or at times as may otherwise be directed by Franchisor.
Franchisee shall not copy or otherwise duplicate the Manual or any other proprietary materials without Franchisor's consent.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 78–356)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is prohibited from disclosing the contents of the Confidential Operations Standards Manual to unauthorized persons. The franchisee must also use their best efforts to prevent unauthorized disclosure to any person, as this disclosure would cause irreparable harm to Buona and its System.
Furthermore, the franchisee cannot copy or otherwise duplicate the Manual or any other proprietary materials without Buona's consent. The manual is loaned to the franchisee and remains the sole property of Buona. Upon termination of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee must return any printed copies of the Manual to Buona or destroy any files containing the Manual, as directed by Buona.
These restrictions are typical in franchising, as the operations manual contains the franchisor's trade secrets and confidential information. Unauthorized disclosure or duplication could undermine Buona's competitive advantage and harm the franchise system. Franchisees should ensure they understand these restrictions and take appropriate measures to protect the confidentiality of the Manual.