Yes, I agree with the others, I worked in the franchise system with Dominos Pizza, and Papa Johns for about 18 years, I have taken what I have learned from them and applied in my own strategy.
A franchise is good, in that it provides a well planned map on how to operate, menus, prices, product distribution, image, uniforms, etc. its just a cookie cutter approach. the best thing about franchises is the low failure rate. Domino’s Pizza has a failure rate of about 0.03%, meaning that 99.97% succeed. So its almost a for sure bet. You would have to be a complete idiot to fail at a franchise like Domino’s or Papa John’s. I mean I have several friends who are complete idiots who own single, and multiple units with both of those companies. And I mean Idiots, Drinking, Drugging, DUI’s, Divorces, Infidelity, you name it these boys are idiots, and there stores work better when they are not in them, than when they are, and yet year in and year out they make 10 to 12% profit.
If you know the business, and you know how to mass produce dough, and raw prep your ingredients, and you have a menu, and understand marketing, and pricing strategies, and you have no problem working 80 hours a week for the first 2 or 3 year then I would suggest you forego the franchise route and create your own little chain, you will save about 4 to 7% royalties, and another 4% on advertising Co-op, and another 4% on the Cost of Goods, and you will probably profit somewhere between 20 and 28% depending on volume.
Most of my stores average about $6,000 a week, which is I believe about half the U.S. average. But they profit around 23 to 25%
Of course, they are located in impoverished communities, with low rents, non-existent water, sewer, and garbage expense, and the 2nd cheapest electricity rates in the U.S.
But, I gotta believe that most of the independent stores in New York City which is the most expensive place I think to operate a restaurant, are profiting at least 15%…