Is Buona required to hold national, regional, or local conferences for franchisees?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 8.5 Conferences and Conventions. Franchisor reserves the right to hold and require all franchisees to attend national, regional or local conferences for franchisees of both or either Franchisor to discuss updates to products, services, methods, operational standards, policies and procedures, and marketing and advertising. If Franchisor holds such conferences, Franchisee's owner(s) may be required to attend any conference for which Franchisor determines attendance is mandatory. Franchisor may charge Franchisee a fee to attend the conference ("Conference Registration Fee"). If Franchisor's owner(s) fail to attend any conference held during the term of this Agreement for which attendance is mandatory, Franchisee remains obligated to pay the Conference Registration Fee. Any costs or expenses associated with Franchisee's owner(s)'s attendance of such conferences will be borne solely by Franchisee.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Buona reserves the right to hold national, regional, or local conferences for franchisees. These conferences may cover updates to products, services, methods, operational standards, policies, procedures, marketing, and advertising.
Buona franchisees may be required to attend these conferences if Buona deems attendance mandatory. Franchisees may be charged a Conference Registration Fee to attend. Even if a franchisee's owner fails to attend a mandatory conference, the franchisee remains obligated to pay the Conference Registration Fee. The franchisee is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with their owner's attendance at these conferences.
This policy means that Buona franchisees should budget for potential conference registration fees and travel expenses. While attendance may not always be mandatory, Buona has the discretion to require attendance, making it a condition of the franchise agreement. Franchisees should inquire about the frequency and location of these conferences to better estimate the potential costs.