What is the initial franchise fee for a single Buona Business franchise?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 5: INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE]
ITEM 5 INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE
Initial Franchise Fee
The Initial Franchise Fee for a franchise granting the right to open one Buona Business is $40,000.00. The Initial Franchise Fee is due in full upon your execution of the Franchise Agreement.
The Initial Franchise Fee is non-refundable with one exception. If we terminate your Franchise Agreement for your failure to successfully complete the initial training program, we will refund you 10% of the initial franchise fee paid once you have signed and delivered to us a termination agreement and general release of all claims in a form satisfactory to us.
If you are purchasing a Dual Brand franchise, you will pay us the initial franchise fee above and you will pay Five Flavors the non-refundable initial franchise fee due under its Franchise Disclosure Document. Currently that initial franchise fee is $20,000 for a Rainbow Express franchise.
On-Site Training Fee Deposit
You must pay us an on-site training fee for the on-site assistance that we will provide you at your restaurant location before and around the time of the opening of the Buona Business. When you sign the Franchise Agreement, you must pay a non-refundable on-site training fee deposit in the amount of $20,000. The nonrefundable balance of the on-site training fee will be paid after training is complete and you have opened for business.
Initial Purchases of Products and Services
Before you open your Buona Business, you must purchase from our affiliate Authentic Brands of Chicago, LLC an initial inventory of proprietary food products. The estimated cost of the initial purchase of inventory products ranges from $2,500 to $7,500. Before you open your Buona Business, you may
purchase an initial supply of marketing materials from our affiliate The Buona Companies, L.L.C. or another supplier. If you purchase the initial marketing materials from us, the estimated cost is $100 to $10,000. Payments made for these purchases are non-refundable.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE (FDD pages 14–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee for a single Buona Business is $40,000. This fee is payable in full when the Franchise Agreement is executed. This is a fairly standard initial franchise fee compared to other restaurant franchises.
The initial franchise fee is generally non-refundable. However, Buona offers a limited exception: if Buona terminates the Franchise Agreement because the franchisee fails to complete the initial training program successfully, Buona will refund 10% of the initial franchise fee. To receive the 10% refund, the franchisee must sign and deliver a termination agreement and a general release of all claims against Buona.
In addition to the initial franchise fee, new Buona franchisees should also be aware of other initial costs, such as the on-site training fee deposit of $20,000, the initial inventory of proprietary food products ranging from $2,500 to $7,500, and the initial supply of marketing materials ranging from $100 to $10,000.