If you were to buy a Franchise, Which would it be?

If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Take me with you.

You'll be the first couple to log 200,000 miles on a motorhome driving from Columbus to Pittsburg and back !!
  I think i might like a Baskin Robbins/Graeters/ Homemade Pie & ice cream store close to home...but that might indeed be "overkill" on my part!

Al, now you're talkin'.  Don't forget, icecreamchick and buffetbuster will be your first customers! 

lleechef


If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Double AMEN on buying a restaurant.  I am not sure about the motor home.  That is a little too much like double work although at first glance, it sounds like fun.
Although I sure do enjoy eating out, the last thing I would enjoy owning is a restaurant.
 
Lleechef, I hope you get your wish.
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Thanks Sundancer.  After all my years of camping in a pop-up in Alaska I always thought I could be very happy in a motor home.  But NO restaurants!!!! 

I don't think I would want to own any franchise, or any kind of business, unless I could be an absentee owner.  But there are a few chains from other parts of the country I wish were here, like:
Daphne's Greek Café
Boudin (SF sourdough)
Pizza King

lleechef


Thanks Sundancer.  After all my years of camping in a pop-up in Alaska I always thought I could be very happy in a motor home.  But NO restaurants!!!! 

 
Lleechef:  My idea of roughing it was a black and white TV at the Holiday Inn
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Burgerville.In Olympia Washington
 
.
 

lleechef

If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Maybe roughing it like this?
http://www.marathoncoach.com/gallery/index.cfm

Here's one for you Mayor!
Kolaches!!!
http://www.kolachefactory.com/about/
They have a Company owned one in Indy.
21 company owned and 8 franchises to date

Foodie,
We have one of the Kolache Factory stores in Louisville. Their product ranks right behind the McDonalds Apple Pies in quality...Dry, paper taste, EXPENSIVE, and cheap fillings make them a waste.  Like many of our RF friends, after you have had some really good examples of a food, be it Pie, Pork Tenderloin, or Kolache, getting (several times) a cheap imitation 'Not Good' version sets a low standard.  Their store is busy, but full of folks who apparently don't know what good Kolache is.

Foodbme

lleechef

If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Maybe roughing it like this?
http://www.marathoncoach.com/gallery/index.cfm

Now you're talkin'!!!

Part of the 18 year business career I had in order to afford returning to teaching involved two franchises:  printing and fast food.  The print franchisors were crooks; I had to sue them, went independent, and only then enjoyed success.  The fast food franchise opened huge ($35,000/week back in the early '90's) but my partner wanted to open more stores before we were able to manage the first one efficiently.  We eventually found some Koreans with cash and they took it independent.
 
The ONE THING new franchisees fail to realize is that "royalties" - even though they sound "reasonable" (usually being a single digit % of sales) - turn out to be half or more of the net profit of even a successful franchise.
 
My solution to this is that, after the location is selected, the franchisor and franchisee sit down and determine two matters: 

• the gross sales necessary to break even;
• the length of time reasonablycompetent management would take to get there.

Royalties would be zero until the nut is broken, but several points higher than the standard royalty on sales in excess of the nut.  Should the franchisee fail to make the nut in the specified length of time, the franchisor takes over the location.
 
Of course there is a lot more to this concept, but I don't want to write a book here.  This grew out of my printintg franchise; nothing pi$$ed me off more than paying royalties for the "privilege" of losing money during the start-up.   

I think maybe I'd like to open a Runza franchise in Los Angeles.  We have nothing like it.
 
There's a need to be different.

mar52


I think maybe I'd like to open a Runza franchise in Los Angeles.  We have nothing like it.

There's a need to be different.

Don't forget to include some "purple" pictures!!!

mayor al

Foodie,
We have one of the Kolache Factory stores in Louisville. Their product ranks right behind the McDonalds Apple Pies in quality...Dry, paper taste, EXPENSIVE, and cheap fillings make them a waste.  Like many of our RF friends, after you have had some really good examples of a food, be it Pie, Pork Tenderloin, or Kolache, getting (several times) a cheap imitation 'Not Good' version sets a low standard.  Their store is busy, but full of folks who apparently don't know what good Kolache is.

I've never had a kolache so I wouldn't have a point of reference to judge from although I'd probably recognize poor or good quality.

Oh, God! Purple runzas. Tara, where are you?

MetroplexJim


Part of the 18 year business career I had in order to afford returning to teaching involved two franchises:  printing and fast food.  The print franchisors were crooks; I had to sue them, went independent, and only then enjoyed success.  The fast food franchise opened huge ($35,000/week back in the early '90's) but my partner wanted to open more stores before we were able to manage the first one efficiently.  We eventually found some Koreans with cash and they took it independent.

The ONE THING new franchisees fail to realize is that "royalties" - even though they sound "reasonable" (usually being a single digit % of sales) - turn out to be half or more of the net profit of even a successful franchise.

My solution to this is that, after the location is selected, the franchisor and franchisee sit down and determine two matters: 

• the gross sales necessary to break even;
• the length of time reasonablycompetent management would take to get there.

Royalties would be zero until the nut is broken, but several points higher than the standard royalty on sales in excess of the nut.  Should the franchisee fail to make the nut in the specified length of time, the franchisor takes over the location.

Of course there is a lot more to this concept, but I don't want to write a book here.  This grew out of my printintg franchise; nothing pi$$ed me off more than paying royalties for the "privilege" of losing money during the start-up.   

You need to write a book, "How To Avoid The Pitfalls When  Buying A Franchise", then YOU could collect the Royalties!!!

Not knowing the difference between a franchise and chain, I'd open an Original Pancake House!  Second choice would be either Milwaukee or Kohl's Frozen Custard.  Third choice, Bojangles--I love their biscuit sandwiches.

love2bake


Not knowing the difference between a franchise and chain, I'd open an Original Pancake House!  Second choice would be either Milwaukee or Kohl's Frozen Custard.  Third choice, Bojangles--I love their biscuit sandwiches.

All franchises are part of a chain but not all chains franchise. Now I'm confused!!!

lleechef


If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Michael Hoffman


Take me with you.

The idea of Michael in an RV is giving me "Christmas Vacation" flashbacks...

ScreamingChicken

lleechef

If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Michael Hoffman

Take me with you.

The idea of Michael in an RV is giving me "Christmas Vacation" flashbacks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p1eAE3sNFc 

Love 2 Bake,  You're thinking along the lines of my original concept, that I worded poorly.  If I had the bucks, and wanted to own (not run) a food establishment... I would pick one that created an product that I really like.  THUS   Doe's Eat Place, for the wonderful Beef and Tamales without the pretenses of the stuffy arrogant Steak Emporium  and Sonics outstanding Beverages, served with 'just ok' foods.
 
OH Yeah... Thinking of this foursome doing a Hog Hunt together does give me visions of scenes from "Deliverance"   and  " Abbott and Costello Meet Hogzilla".

ScreamingChicken

lleechef


If I won the lottery the LAST thing I would consider is buying a franchise or any type of food establishment.  I would buy a huge RV and live life on the road!

Michael Hoffman


Take me with you.

The idea of Michael in an RV is giving me "Christmas Vacation" flashbacks...

Why is that? I had one for years and never had any problems with it traveling all over the country to hunt and fish.

Mayor,
Using your original concept, I'd open a QUALITY Breakfast, Lunch Comfort Food place incorporating all the best foods I've had at the various places I've eaten all over the country.
The name - "Grammy's Comfort Kitchen". (My bride's Grammy to the Grandkids.)
A signature item would be Biscuits! Served various ways.
All Pork products would come from The Pork Shop, Queen Creek, AZ.
I'd have them blend the sausage to my special recipe.
http://theporkshopaz.com
Eggs would be extra large - Hate small eggs served in restaurants.
All breads baked on the Premises! Good Seeded Rye a standout.
BIG Cinnamon rolls & Sticky Buns!
Pies would be a speciality.
Hash would be made in-house.
Made-from-scratch soups.
Veggies from local growers.
REAL mashed potatoes!
You get the picture!

What's stopping you? 
Sounds like a winner. 
 
You could also have a front room where you sold antiques.

mar52

What's stopping you? 
Sounds like a winner. 
Age, Health, Money, Restaurant Experience to name a few!
You could also have a front room where you sold antiques.
Not ready to get rid of the Old Gal just yet!

Well if I needed to be richer after winning the lottery, A McDonalds.......maybe I could open up Iceland or somewhere they have never heard of it  (although I'd prefer the Red-light district of Amsterdam or Bangkok).
 
Failing that, A Rita's Water Ice and Philly Boys Pretzels combo to bring outside of this area and treat all my fellow Roadies to a true treat

By the way, Mr. Hoffman, Tara is alive and well.....I speak to her all the time.