Buona^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2025

All product and company names mentioned are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of these names does not imply any affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by them.

What Is Buona?

Buona is a restaurant franchise centered on Italian beef sandwiches and a broader menu of sandwiches, pasta, burgers, hot dogs, salads and desserts. Franchisees sell food at the restaurant premises and by delivery, may include one- or two-window drive-throughs, and are required to offer catering services. Buona Businesses typically operate from free-standing buildings or inline shopping centers.

Buona Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor provides exceptional hands-on preparation — a Training and Support score of 100 and 418 hours of initial training — but the franchise demands an estimated startup of $5,833,734–$10,513,350 and currently has zero franchised units, so you'll face very high capital needs with no peer locations to learn from.

Pros

Training & Support score of 100 and 418 hours of initial training (top quarter for support, top 5% for hours) — the franchisor invests heavily in preparing new operators, giving you thorough hands‑on training that reduces the learning curve at opening.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisee‑initiated judgments or settlements, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor enforcement (all well below typical) — the system has a clean legal and regulatory record, which lowers legal risk and suggests cooperative franchisor–franchisee relations.

Initial franchise fees are refundable (uncommon — only about 14% of peers) — this reduces your pre‑opening financial downside if you decide not to proceed before opening.

Cons

0 franchised units (bottom 5%) — the system is early‑stage, so you will be among the first franchisees and won’t have existing peers to interview for real‑world performance and operational color.

Item 7 total estimated startup range: $5,833,734 (min) to $10,513,350 (max) and Item 7 assets min $700,539 (all well above typical) — the projected upfront investment is far higher than industry peers, increasing your capital and financing requirements.

0 company‑owned units (bottom 5%) — the franchisor does not operate any locations itself, which limits their ability to field‑test concepts and maintain firsthand operating experience; you’ll rely entirely on franchisee feedback for operational improvements.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

48/100

NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units, acquire and convert locations, sell via e‑commerce and alternative distribution channels, and use alternate trademarks and venues; protection is contingent on performance contingencies and relocation rights are site-specific.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides an Extensive 418-hour training curriculum designed to prepare six individuals for launch through classroom instruction, hands-on operational training, and field-based support. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness, with travel, lodging, and living expenses borne by the franchisee and certain on-site services subject to additional franchisor fees.

Unit Growth Analysis

This franchise shows accelerating expansion—unit counts rose 26 → 28 → 31 from 2023–2025, with growth accelerating from +7.7% (2024) to +10.7% (2025), a 3.0 percentage‑point (≈39%) increase in the growth rate. For investors, the uptick (2 new units in 2024 vs. 3 in 2025) signals improving franchise traction and healthier expansion momentum, though the absolute scale is still small so sustainability and local market support should be validated.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Buona Franchise?

Opening a Buona franchise requires a total initial investment of $5,833,734 to $10,513,350, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$5,833,734

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$10,513,350

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000

Real Estate$1,467,798

Equipment & Assets$700,539

Reserves$40,000

Training$91,088

Other$3,494,309

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000

Real Estate$2,682,843

Equipment & Assets$849,682

Reserves$100,000

Training$131,607

Other$6,709,218

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Buona Franchise Owners Make?

Buona franchise locations reported average gross sales of $3,332,134 and median gross sales of $3,351,553 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$3,332,134

Median Gross Sales:

$3,351,553

High Gross Sales:

$3,832,781

Low Gross Sales:

$2,608,053

Sample Size:

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The Item 19 data reflect affiliate-owned (company-owned) restaurants only, so prospective franchisees should expect that franchised units may perform differently because affiliate units benefit from regional brand recognition, consolidated purchasing and do not actually pay ongoing royalties even though the tables impute them.

Performance Variability Analysis: Within the 10-unit drive-thru sample total gross sales ranged materially from 2,608,053 to 3,832,781 with an average of 3,332,134, indicating meaningful variability in unit performance across locations.

Data Scope and Limitations: The figures cover primarily calendar 2024 for units in the Chicago area, are internally prepared and unaudited, and exclude several owner expenses (rent, taxes, depreciation, etc.), so they do not represent complete net profit after all costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Buona franchise?

The total initial investment for a Buona franchise ranges from $5,833,734 to $10,513,350, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the Buona initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Buona is $40,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do Buona franchise owners make?

Buona franchise locations reported average gross sales of $3,332,134 and median gross sales of $3,351,553 in 2025, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does Buona have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Buona received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does Buona offer exclusive franchise territories?

Buona received a territory protection score of 48 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does Buona provide to new franchisees?

Buona received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides an Extensive 418-hour training curriculum designed to prepare six individuals for launch through classroom instruction, hands-on operational training, and field-based support.

How many Buona franchise locations are there?

Buona had 31 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is Buona?

Buona is a restaurant franchise centered on Italian beef sandwiches and a broader menu of sandwiches, pasta, burgers, hot dogs, salads and desserts.

Interested in Buona?

Get more information and connect with the franchise directly.