Is a Buona franchisee required to comply with all specifications, standards, and procedures set forth in the Confidential Operations Standards Manual?

According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must comply with the mandatory specifications, standards, and procedures outlined in the Confidential Operations Standards Manual. This manual contains the standards, specifications, procedures, and techniques of the Buona system. The manual may be in multiple parts, in various locations and formats, and may include a combination of audio, video, written materials, electronic media, website content, and/or software components. The manual may include a Restaurant Operations Manual, a Policies and Procedures Manual, and a Recipe Manual.

Buona retains the right to modify, change, add to, delete, or supplement the Manual and to specify other systems, procedures, or forms as it deems necessary. Buona will notify franchisees of these changes in writing via mail, electronic mail, or postings on its intranet system or website. Upon receiving notice of changes to the Manual, franchisees must comply with any mandatory changes.

This requirement ensures that all Buona franchises maintain uniform standards of operation, which protects the brand's reputation and goodwill. For a prospective franchisee, this means adhering to the established methods and guidelines provided by Buona, which can streamline operations but also limit autonomy in how the business is run. Franchisees should be prepared to adapt to changes in the Manual and integrate them into their business practices.