Will owners or employees receive compensation from Buona for services performed during the initial training?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Prior to opening the Buona Business, an operating owner having at least 10% ownership in the franchisee entity must attend and complete, to our satisfaction, our initial training program for owners and managers. A general manager and at least two assistant managers must attend and satisfactorily complete initial training with your owner. All personal expenses, including without limitation travel, food and lodging costs, incurred by your owners and managers will be paid by you. Neither your owners nor your employees will receive any compensation from us for services performed during training.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, neither the owners nor the employees will receive compensation from Buona for services performed during the initial training program. However, the franchisee is responsible for covering all personal expenses, including travel, food, and lodging costs, incurred by the owners and managers during the training period.
This means that while Buona does not directly pay a salary or wage to the franchisee or their employees during training, the franchisee must still bear the costs associated with their attendance. This is a fairly standard practice in the franchise industry, as the initial training is considered an investment in the franchisee's future success.
Prospective Buona franchisees should factor these costs into their initial investment calculations. It's important to budget not only for the direct expenses of training but also for the lost productivity of the owner and managers who are attending the training rather than working in the business. This can represent a significant expense, especially for franchisees who are opening their first location.