What is the minimum number of Buona restaurants the developer is obligated to open?

According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a developer is obligated to open and operate a minimum of three Buona restaurants under the Area Development Agreement. The developer must adhere to a development schedule, which outlines the dates for signing franchise agreements, leases, or purchase agreements, and commencing operations at franchisor-approved sites.

This obligation is a critical aspect of the agreement, as the developer's compliance with the development schedule directly impacts the terms and conditions of the agreement. Maintaining continuous operation of at least the number of Buona restaurants specified in the development schedule is also required. The owners of the development entity must maintain majority control over the entity that owns each Buona franchise developed under the agreement.

While the developer is obligated to open a minimum of three Buona restaurants, they have the option to develop and open additional locations earlier than the scheduled dates, provided they comply with the Area Development Agreement and the applicable Franchise Agreement. This flexibility allows developers to expand their operations more rapidly if they have the resources and opportunities to do so.

Prospective developers should carefully review the development schedule and ensure they have the financial and operational capacity to meet the minimum development obligations. Failure to comply with the development schedule can result in penalties, such as paying the then-current initial franchise fee if it is greater than $32,000 when signing additional franchise agreements.