What staffing requirements does Buona impose on franchisees to ensure compliance with the franchise agreement and standards?
Buona Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 10.7 Staffing.
Franchisee agrees to staff the Franchised Business with the number of managers, assistant managers and employees sufficient to operate the Franchised Business in compliance with this Agreement and the standards and specifications in the Manuals and to provide proper customer service during all hours of operation.
Franchisee shall hire all employees of the Franchised Business, be exclusively responsible for complying with all employment laws and for all employment decisions and functions related to the operation of the Franchised Business, including hiring, firing, compensation, benefits, work hours, work rules, recordkeeping, supervision and discipline of employees.
Franchisee shall implement a training program for said employees in compliance with Franchisor's requirements.
Franchisee and Franchisor acknowledge that the employees of the Franchised Business are employees of Franchisee and not employees of Franchisor, that they should not be held out to third parties to be employees of Franchisor, and that Franchisee has the sole right to control employment and personnel policies and the day-to-day operations of the Franchised Business.
Franchisee shall notify and communicate clearly with its employees in all dealings, including without limitation, employment applications, written and electronic correspondence, paychecks, employee handbooks, employment policies and procedures, and other written materials that Franchisee (and only Franchisee) is their employer and that Franchisor is not their employer.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buona's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to staff their franchised business with an adequate number of managers, assistant managers, and employees. This staffing level must be sufficient to operate the business in compliance with the franchise agreement, the standards and specifications outlined in the manuals, and to provide proper customer service during all operating hours.
Buona franchisees are solely responsible for all employment-related decisions and functions, including hiring, firing, compensation, benefits, work hours, work rules, recordkeeping, supervision, and employee discipline. Franchisees must also implement a training program for their employees that complies with Buona's requirements.
The FDD clarifies that all employees of the franchised business are employees of the franchisee, not of Buona. Franchisees are obligated to communicate this clearly to their employees in all dealings, including employment applications, correspondence, paychecks, employee handbooks, and other written materials. This ensures that employees understand that the franchisee is their employer and that Buona is not.