Interested in a drive-thru franchise? They do have their limits. Learn the advantages of a fast-casual franchise and why it may be a better option for you. FAST-CASUAL RESTAURANT INDUSTRY There’s never been a better time to join the fast-casual industry. By 2027, the fast-casual restaurant industry will be worth a whopping $209 billion — [...]
Continue reading DRIVE-THRU FRANCHISE V. FAST-CASUAL: WHICH IS BETTER?Choosing a franchise and wondering, “How much does a franchise owner make?” Learn how franchisee income varies and what to expect across industries. THE RIGHT INVESTMENT When you buy a franchise, first and foremost, you are investing in a brand and an established business model. Franchises have spent a lot of time, money and energy [...]
Continue reading How Much Does a Franchise Owner Make? What to ExpectShake Shack isn’t a franchise, but there are many other burger franchises you can own. Learn which similar restaurants are potentially the most lucrative investments.SHAKING IT UP Outfitted as a modern roadside burger stand, Shake Shack got its start in New York City’s Madison Square Park in 2001, helmed by celebrity chef Danny Meyer as [...]
Continue reading YOU CAN’T OWN A SHAKE SHACK FRANCHISE, BUT THIS IS BETTERRestaurant expenses can add up quickly. Offering a small, focused menu can keep costs down while keeping customer satisfaction up. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants everywhere began streamlining menu size to increase efficiency, decrease restaurant expenses, and boost profits. Small restaurant business ideas have been popping up across the world over the [...]
Continue reading RESTAURANT EXPENSES: HOW A SMALLER MENU CAN CUT COSTSInterested in owning a fast casual restaurant? Learn which fast casual concepts are currently thriving so you can be sure to choose one that’s most likely to be successful. A NEW DAY FOR FAST CASUAL In the world of restaurants, fast casual concepts provide the perfect vehicle for delivering trend-setting flavors with convenience, high quality [...]
Continue reading THE BEST FAST CASUAL CONCEPTS: WHAT’S HOT RIGHT NOWInterested in owning a QSR franchise? It can be a great investment if you avoid several common pitfalls. Learn what to watch out for as a new franchisee. COSTS The sticker shock of buying a quick-service restaurant may deter some prospective owners, but initial investments must be measured against the less predictable alternative: an independently [...]
Continue reading OWNING A QSR FRANCHISE: 5 COMMON CONCERNS & HOW TO AVOID THEMIf you’ve been looking to open your own Cook Out franchise, we have bad news: Cook Out is privately owned and does not currently franchise. If you’re still interested in owning a burger restaurant, however, we have some great burger franchise alternatives. ALL ABOUT COOK OUT Cook Out is a quick-serve burger concept that was [...]
Continue reading COOK OUT FRANCHISE ALTERNATIVESWhen thinking about franchising, restaurants often come to mind first, but are they best? See how a restaurant franchise compares to other types of businesses. SIZING UP YOUR OPTIONS Every industry has its pros and cons. Other than restaurants, there are several lucrative and promising business categories that present promising opportunities. But regardless of whether [...]
Continue reading Restaurant Franchise v. Other Businesses: Which Is Best?Learn about the best kind of entrepreneur’s franchise and how being a franchisee can be a highly rewarding challenge for those with entrepreneurial spirit. THE APPEAL OF A FRANCHISE The best franchises appeal to entrepreneurial-minded individuals because they inspire you to grow your investment portfolio with like-minded individuals attuned to growth. Diversifying through various business [...]
Continue reading THE ENTREPRENEUR’S FRANCHISE: WIN BIG WITH A WELL-KNOWN BRANDWhen looking to buy a food franchise, it’s important to understand all the fees and costs involved. Learn how Wingstop compares to its competitors. THE WINGSTOP STORY The first Wingstop was founded in 1994, and then, due to the growing popularity of chicken wings, the privately-owned company began franchising in 1998. As of 2020, there [...]
Continue reading Wingstop Franchise Cost v. CompetitionThe pandemic has taken its toll on the foodservice industry, but independent restaurants undoubtedly took the bigger hit. Franchise restaurants can exemplify the adage that there’s safety in numbers. The fastest-growing franchises were able to keep going not only because of deeper pockets but also because everyone worked together as a team to come up [...]
Continue reading Fastest Growing Franchises: Why These Foodservice Categories Are ExcellingMany people think of franchises and chains as synonymous, but they’re not. Learn the major differences between franchise vs. chain and which one allows you to be the owner of your shop. WHAT MAKES A CHAIN A chain business is comprised of a group of stores (two or more) that possess the same brand name, [...]
Continue reading FRANCHISE vs. CHAIN: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?All burger franchises are NOT created equally. Learn about the benefits and types of support the top hamburger franchises serve up for their franchisees. A WINNING CONCEPT Burger restaurants make up one of the largest segments of franchise restaurants in North America. The global restaurant market is flooded with hundreds, if not thousands, of different [...]
Continue reading The Top Hamburger Franchises All Do These 6 ThingsWhen considering a franchise purchase, make sure to do your homework. With so many quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know what to look for in a promising investment. Find out these must-do things to be successful in owning a sandwich franchise. A WINNING PRODUCT The ubiquity of the [...]
Continue reading OWNING A SANDWICH FRANCHISE: 6 TIPS TO STACK UP SUCCESSBrand awareness is key to promoting your business and being successful. Learn why it’s so important and what to look for as a potential business owner. THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG FRANCHISE BRAND There are numerous advantages to franchising, not least of which is the benefit of representing a nationally recognized brand name. A powerful [...]
Continue reading BRAND AWARENESS & FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWWhen buying a fast-food franchise, make sure you’ve done your due diligence. Learn how a Jimmy John’s franchise compares to other sandwich shop options so you can make the best decision for your future. JIMMY JOHN’S STORY Jimmy John Liautaud opened his first sandwich shop in 1983 and has been building his business ever since. [...]
Continue reading Jimmy Johns Franchise vs. Wayback Burgers: What’s the Better Buy?Fast-food franchise startup costs can vary greatly, but don’t be fooled. Some big names are offered at a low cost, but with hidden fees and unmentioned obligations, they may not be the best option for you. BREAKING IT DOWN Folks are drawn to the world of franchising for a number of reasons. If you want [...]
Continue reading FAST FOOD FRANCHISE STARTUP COSTS: IS CHEAPER REALLY BETTER?Interested in buying a hamburger franchise? Be informed before you buy. Learn what you should look for when considering burger franchises that are for sale. FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY All franchisors are required to provide a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to potential franchisees at least 14 days prior to signing contracts or collecting any payments. The FDD [...]
Continue reading HAMBURGER FRANCHISES FOR SALE: WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYINGOwning a restaurant franchise can be an exciting and lucrative business, but the investment costs vary based on a number of factors. Learn more about different types of franchises and their costs now — so you can make the best decision for your future.A MEASURED APPROACH Franchising is perfect for individuals who want to enjoy the freedom of being their [...]
Continue reading WHAT DO FRANCHISES COST? PRICE TIERS AND WHERE YOU FIT INThere’s no denying that customers who dine in spend more. Learn why a ghost kitchen franchise might sound easier to own but is less profitable for most. THE RISE OF THE GHOST KITCHEN The concept of a ghost kitchen or “virtual restaurant” is fairly new to the dining lexicon. Essentially, they are fully functional restaurants [...]
Continue reading BUYING A GHOST KITCHEN FRANCHISE? THE PROFIT IS HARD TO SEEBurgers are one of Americans’ most beloved foods. Enjoyed by folks on almost any occasion, the burger industry makes $100 billion in revenue annually. Even within such a broad and varied marketplace, some franchises manage to stand out from the pack both in terms of guest appeal and franchisee success. Trying to find out what [...]
Continue reading Best Burger Franchises: How They’re Cooking Up SuccessIf you’re looking for the best investment when starting your burger restaurant, take a look at how BurgerFi stacks up next to its competitors in terms of cost and profitability. Affordable franchises in fast-casual burger businesses are an attractive choice, enabling entrepreneurs to open rising brands with growth potential while enjoying the satisfaction of knowing [...]
Continue reading BurgerFi Franchise Cost vs. CompetitionHow much does it cost to open a franchise restaurant? Here’s what some of the most popular restaurants cost, what is included in the price tag, and how they stack up against the competition. JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS The Jersey Mike’s franchise is a leader in the fast-casual sandwich sector. The franchise fee to open a [...]
Continue reading Average Cost of a Franchise: How the Top Restaurants CompareThe COVID-19 crisis brought about a mountain of unforeseen challenges to the restaurant industry, across all sectors. While closures and restrictions at the start of the pandemic were devastating in many ways, it also presented us with an opportunity to reflect and learn how we could adapt and improve our practices as we moved forward [...]
Continue reading What We Learned During the PandemicOpening a fast-casual restaurant can be costly, but don’t overlook the value of investing in smart design for aesthetics and functionality. Here’s how the right design can boost your profits.WHY DESIGN MATTERS The fast-casual category has evolved into one of the restaurant industry’s dominant forces. Bridging the gap between traditional fast food and fine dining, [...]
Continue reading Fast Casual Restaurant Design: How Smart Design Turns ProfitsThe size of a brick-and-mortar location, often referred to simply as “square footage,” is a key factor in the success of a business. This line item makes up a considerable percentage of your fixed costs, ultimately impacting your bottom line.WHAT IS SALES PER SQUARE FOOT? The dollar value of sales per square foot is often [...]
Continue reading Restaurant Revenue Per Square Foot: How to Estimate ProfitsIt takes a lot of work to open a restaurant. Use our helpful guide to ensure that you get everything accomplished and set yourself up for success. MAKE A PLAN Whether you intend to open an independent business or buy a franchise, a clear and informed business plan will lay out your mission and objectives [...]
Continue reading STARTING A FAST-CASUAL RESTAURANT: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDEIt’s easy for restaurant owners to become discouraged right now, but this has never been an industry for the faint of heart. The restaurant industry often has endured tough times, and from my perspective, the pandemic has changed our way of doing business. The coronavirus has forced business owners to innovate on the fly, and [...]
Continue reading The Evolution of Curbside PickupIt’s no secret that the restaurant world has faced some unprecedented challenges this year. With the emergence of Covid-19, the restaurant has felt all of the repercussions of the various stages of lockdown and quarantine and the financial recession that has resulted from all of it.Still, for many folks who were well-imbedded in the restaurant [...]
Continue reading BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF A FRANCHISE DURING A CRISIS/RECESSIONEffectively promoting a new restaurant requires a lot of creativity and a comprehensive marketing plan. We’ve lined up some strategies to help you make the most of your time and budget. MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE You’ve put in all of the due diligence to get your business up and running, so Opening Day should be [...]
Continue reading HOW TO PROMOTE A NEW RESTAURANT: COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT WORKWith frequent and sometimes lengthy stay-at-home orders put in place during 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, dine-in restaurant experiences were largely limited across the board, and meal delivery became a major staple in how Americans put dinner on the table. Since food delivery services have become an essential part of running a successful restaurant business, [...]
Continue reading What We Learned from Third-Party DeliveryMarch is International Women’s Month. To honor our hardworking women, we are sharing the inspiring stories of our Team Members, Managers, and Franchisees. Franchisee Spotlight Last year was challenging for many of us, but we pulled through because together as a team, community, and a brand, we can do anything. During the few first month [...]
Continue reading International Women’s MonthFOOD TRUCK FAILURE RATE vs. RESTAURANTS: RELIABLE LOW-COST OPTIONS If you are considering opening a restaurant at a low cost that will make the most long-term financial sense for you, be sure to look beyond the trendy food truck and consider investing in a franchise. FOOD TRUCK FREEWAY If you’re thinking of opening a restaurant, [...]
Continue reading Food Truck Failure Rate vs. Restaurants: Reliable Low-Cost OptionsThe restaurant industry has long been at the forefront of new, cutting-edge technologies to boost sales while delivering convenience and ease of service. This past year brought on some unforeseen challenges, and the industry had to adapt quickly and effectively. With dine-in service still unavailable in many states, restaurant owners have changed how they operate [...]
Continue reading RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGY: BREAKTHROUGH ADVANCES IN 2021The restaurant industry is constantly evolving. This past year has seen us face many unforeseeable challenges and adapt accordingly. Many of the lessons we’ve learned will continue to serve us well moving forward. Here’s how restaurant technology, delivery, and food service will continue to shift and grow in 2021 to meet customer demands.ONLINE ORDERING While [...]
Continue reading Food Service Trends: Top Restaurant Changes Coming in 2021The Fast-Casual Burger Market Entrepreneurs find it easy to understand the logic of entering the burger restaurant industry. The market size of the segment is $130 billion and is expected to grow by 0.6 percent in the United States in 2020. Looking beyond the end of the year, the fast casual restaurant market is estimated [...]
Continue reading Smashburger Franchise Cost vs. CompetitionThe Burger Business is Hot Entrepreneurs considering opening a burger restaurant are onto something. Foodservice industry research firm Datassential found that 85% of consumers love or like burgers, QSR Magazine reports. Furthermore, burgers outrank 99% of the thousands of other foods in Datassential’s FLAVOR database. It’s why the restaurant industry has produced so many brands [...]
Continue reading In-N-Out Burger Franchise AlternativesA juicy, succulent burger that guests crave isn’t enough to make a fast-casual burger business thrive. It all begins, not just with the concept and the dream, but with the fast-casual restaurant business plan. This document will be your high-level roadmap for how you plan to succeed—not just to guide your business, but to demonstrate [...]
Continue reading Fast Casual Restaurant Business Plan: A Step-by-Step GuideInnovation and adaptability are two of the most important aspects of survival and growth in business. Franchisors, with teams dedicated to these very critical aspects, have been able to provide reliability and stability for franchisees during the COVID-19 crisis. For many brands and their network of franchisees, franchisor support has been a key factor in [...]
Continue reading Wayback Burgers’ Innovation and Adaptability Keeps Franchisees Strong During COVID-19 CrisisBurger Franchises and the Fast-Casual Sector The decision to start a business is not one that is made lightly. While owning a business provides entrepreneurs an excellent opportunity for personal, brand, and financial growth, there are many factors to consider before deciding which avenue works best for you. Particularly in the ever-changing landscape of 2020, [...]
Continue reading Five Guys Franchise: Fees and Costs vs. CompetitionFast-casual restaurants fall between “fast food” and a full-service experience. The hallmarks of fast-casual dining typically include food of a higher quality than fast food places offer, as well as a better grade of dine-in experience. Fast-casual concepts are leading growth in the restaurant industry, per a 2018 study by foodservice research firm Technomic. Additionally, [...]
Continue reading Whataburger Franchise Cost vs. CompetitionGoing green benefits not only the environment but also the bottom line of restaurant businesses, since usually, it means improving efficiency. Restaurants can see savings in energy, water, and food costs among other savings while doing their part for the environment. Many consumers even consider a company’s environmental impact when making purchase decisions. Running a [...]
Continue reading Environmentally Friendly Restaurant: 10 Ways to Go GreenHaving a great idea or concept for a menu or a restaurant is only the very first piece of the restaurant success puzzle. It is merely the beginning of the journey. Planning is essential for any serious undertaking, and the best plans are broken down into steps to opening a restaurant. Consider this to-do list [...]
Continue reading Steps to Opening a Restaurant: Your Complete To-Do ListThe No. 1 reason restaurants fail or perform poorly is a bad location, according to Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield, co-authors of Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals for Dummies. For franchise operators, franchisors often assist with market analysis and strategic site selection. For independents, some advice is helpful because new challenges await. As Restaurant Development [...]
Continue reading Restaurant Site Selection Criteria: What You Should Look ForAs you look to obtain financing for a prospective franchise purchase, one crucial component a lender will require is a business plan. In your plan, you will set forth your projections and expectations for the franchise business and outline potential challenges and how you’ll meet them. As the U.S. Small Business Administration notes, creating a [...]
Continue reading Franchise Business Plan Template: Get Your Plan in ShapeCOVID-19 has changed, for now, the fast food and fast-casual industry and, moreover, the entire guest experience. Leaders in the fast-casual segment have jumped into action to ensure that their franchisees are able to maximize sales to guests and customers who still want to enjoy their favorite restaurant meals. As if technology and artificial intelligence [...]
Continue reading How Wayback Burgers Has Executed a Strong Operational Pivot in Response to COVID-19If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’ve already narrowed the massive field of franchise options to the specific QSR (quick-service restaurant) segment, which, even by itself, includes an overwhelming number of brands. If you have dug even deeper into the QSR world, you might know that fast-casual concepts are leading growth in the industry. [...]
Continue reading Finding the Right QSR Franchise Opportunity for YouBecoming a first-time franchise owner is in an incredibly exciting time. It also can be very daunting — but that’s part of what fuels the excitement, so embrace it. By being prepared and confident, an entrepreneur new to the world of franchising can take their latest venture by the horns.Here are a few tips to [...]
Continue reading First Time Franchise Owners: 7 Tips to Succeed in a FranchiseMuch as is the case in launching any other type of small business, one person acting alone may not possess a dynamic enough skillset — or may simply not have the time to devote to the daily operation of the business—to drive the success of a franchise. For myriad reasons, entrepreneurs who invest in opening [...]
Continue reading Franchise Partnerships: Building a Partnership that WorksSmall restaurants give operators the opportunity to trim away excess and overhead while focusing on serving a great product. Chefs can flex their culinary creativity with fewer distractions and more freedom. But the motivation doesn’t just come from the operator side; small restaurant business concepts answer consumer demand. How customers interact with restaurants has progressed. [...]
Continue reading 9 Small Restaurant Business IdeasFor many, the difference between the dream of opening your own business and making it a reality is small — but significant. The very nature of taking on a challenge outside of your comfort level, while nerve-wracking, is exciting, but having a map to help guide you is a must. An opening-a-restaurant checklist can help [...]
Continue reading Opening a Restaurant Checklist: The Essential StepsLong ago, fast-food was on the far end of the spectrum from fine dining, and it still is. There is a vast difference between, say, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and McDonald’s. But in more recent years, a new trend among restaurant chains has emerged to answer consumer demand for something in the middle. Think of [...]
Continue reading Fast-Casual vs. Fast-Food: The Real DifferencesThough what’s on the plate in a fast food or fast-casual business may not seem like it requires rocket science to execute, a multitude of considerations go into getting it in front of the customer — and even more go into making sure the restaurant not only survives but thrives. A smart fast food business [...]
Continue reading Fast-Food Business Plan: Essential Ingredients for SuccessWhen formulating a plan for success in opening a new fast-casual restaurant, priorities tend to lean toward recipes, kitchen, processes, ordering strategies, branding, social media promotion, and more. Creating a script, strategy and training component for how to greet customers when they enter your restaurant often ends up somewhere at the bottom of the list [...]
Continue reading How to Greet Customers in a Restaurant: 5 Essential TipsRegardless of how unique a restaurant’s value proposition is, how great its menu may be, and how standardized its execution is, everyone makes mistakes. In some cases, a restaurant (or its employees) might not even make a mistake, and yet a customer with an ax to grind, for whatever reason, may decide to take out [...]
Continue reading How to Handle Restaurant Customer ComplaintsBusiness is booming between the buns. Eighty-five percent of customers love or like burgers, according to foodservice industry research firm Datassential, QSR Magazine reports. And, get this: this recent research also found that burgers outrank 99 percent of the thousands of other foods in the firm’s FLAVOR database. It is no wonder, then, that over [...]
Continue reading How to Start a Burger Business That Stands ApartYou’ve spent an unbelievable number of hours researching your options, and now you’re ready to become a franchisee of an established, growing restaurant brand. So, how do you do it? What Is the Process for Becoming a Franchisee? The first step is what you’re doing right this minute, as you read this article: research. Your [...]
Continue reading Franchise Application: The Process to Become a FranchiseeSome say there is a holiday now for just about everything. And that fact is a boon for restaurant brands, providing a myriad of opportunities to create special limited time offers and promotions to help franchise owners boost sales dramatically. This week, it’s time for America’s favorite culinary sidekick to slide out of the shadows [...]
Continue reading National French Fry Day: Where to Get Your FriesWhether an entrepreneur has amassed a substantial war chest of capital or has a smaller budget, the franchise world is their oyster, with a plethora of concepts to choose from. Understanding the initial investment level and financial requirements of different franchise brands is a great starting point and a way to narrow the vast choices [...]
Continue reading Fast Food Franchise Costs ComparedBudding entrepreneurs start their paths by looking for unique opportunities. Perhaps they scour the internet with a keen eye, discerning various sources of information on startup costs. Or they may pick the brains of friends, associates, and thought leaders for insight and ideas on what type of business they could open that would meet a [...]
Continue reading Cheap Burger Franchises and How Much They CostFast-casual dining thrives in the sweet spot of the restaurant landscape, blending the best aspects of quick-serve restaurants (QSR or “fast food”) and casual dining (think full-service concepts such as Chili’s or P. F. Chang’s). This segment marries the ease and convenience of fast food with a more enticing atmosphere for dining in and better, [...]
Continue reading Fast-Casual Franchise: Quick, High-Quality, Comfortable FoodFast-casual franchises are an attractive fit for millennial entrepreneurs for a simple reason: these dining concepts reflect what millennials as consumers themselves want, so, as operators, they get that. Millennials favor convenience and quality — the hallmarks of fast-casual dining — so offering that to like-minded consumers comes naturally. Inc.com reported that millennial spending power [...]
Continue reading Millennial Entrepreneurs See a Great Fit in Fast-Casual FranchisesEvery business owner wants to maximize profit, and it is natural for anyone contemplating opening a franchise concept to seek out a brand with a lower cost of entry and high revenues. A number of chain brands have proven that this paradigm is attainable, making success a more efficient proposition for franchisees. Here are a [...]
Continue reading Most Profitable Franchises: Five Franchises with a Great Bottom LineLet’s start by talking about entrepreneurs. There are those that see themselves as entrepreneurial; the often self-proclaimed entrepreneurs who take risks and either find success or find failure. And others who possess all the characteristics of an entrepreneur but have not quite taken the leap into entrepreneurship. Many may not even realize they are true [...]
Continue reading Franchise vs. Independent Business: Which is Right for You?In January, Entrepreneur released its 2019 Top 500 Franchise Ranking. At the top of the list, with over 37,000 locations worldwide, is arguably the most famous burger franchise in history: McDonald’s. But not everyone who has the desire to purchase or start their own McDonald’s franchise will have the financial ability or opportunity to own [...]
Continue reading Franchise Restaurant Costs: What You Can Expect to PayWhether you are an entrepreneur pondering your first, fifth or fifteenth small business venture, many of the considerations remain the same. Naturally, you will first need to decide what kind of business to open. Are you interested in a retail or a service-based business? Do you see yourself in a childcare setting or does running [...]
Continue reading Restaurant Labor Costs: What Percent Should Labor Costs Be?We have all heard the well-known adage that the three things that matter most when it comes to property are location, location, location. This rings particularly true for anyone thinking about starting a business. You may not have decided what kind of business to pursue, but whether you are leaning toward opening a small independent [...]
Continue reading Finding the best franchise location: 5 can’t miss tips
