Does Buona provide advertising materials to franchisees at no cost?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor will be entitled to direct all advertising, marketing and promotional programs financed by the Marketing Fund, with sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials, and endorsements used in them, and the geographic, market, and media placement and allocation of the programs. Franchisee agrees that the Marketing Fund may be used to pay the costs of preparing and producing video, audio, digital and written advertising materials; administering national, regional or local advertising programs including, without limitation, direct mail and other media advertising, and employing advertising agencies to assist in those activities; establishing and maintaining the Buona Website; internet-based advertising and marketing programs, developing and maintaining other presence on the Internet, including reputation management and system-wide online programs for customer ordering and loyalty rewards program; intranet development supporting public relations; market research and marketing activities; providing advertising, marketing and promotional materials to Buona Businesses; and any and all other activities for the purpose of promoting the Marks and Buona Businesses. The Marketing Fund will furnish Franchisee with approved advertising, marketing and promotional materials at its direct cost of producing those materials.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 78–356)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees do not receive advertising materials at no cost. Buona administers a national marketing fund, and franchisees are required to contribute a percentage of their gross sales to this fund. Specifically, franchisees contribute up to 2.5% of their gross sales to the Marketing Fund.
The Marketing Fund is used to cover various advertising, marketing, and promotional activities, including the preparation and production of video, audio, digital, and written advertising materials. It also covers the costs of administering national, regional, or local advertising programs, maintaining the Buona website, and other internet-based marketing programs.
While the Marketing Fund pays for the creation of advertising materials, Buona franchisees receive approved advertising, marketing, and promotional materials at the direct cost of producing those materials. This means that franchisees are responsible for covering the production costs of the advertising materials they use, even though the materials are developed and approved by Buona.