Congratulations, you’ve made it: You’ve transitioned from owning one restaurant to several as a newly minted food franchisor. It’s taken a lot of hard work and perseverance to get to this point, but your journey isn’t over yet. In fact, in many ways, the hard work has only just begun…
Operating a chain of restaurants is much different in scope than operating a single location. Although you’re doing many of the same things, you need to prioritize and make plans at a higher level in order to achieve success.
So, how do you grow your food franchise? Here’s a list of tips to follow:
Develop a Solid Strategy
As a franchisor, you need to harness the skills you developed as a restaurateur to help you create a winning strategy. You need to apply your expertise across a broad spectrum that can be applied to each of your franchise locations. This will require you to act practically and think abstractly, all while keeping one eye on the future.
You need to develop a solid strategy that explains every step of the franchise process. This blueprint will provide a step-by-step, surefire method to achieving success for your business model with topics like:
- How to choose a franchise location
- How to construct and design your restaurant
- What equipment your food franchises require
- What does its decor and signage look like
And that’s not all. A successful franchise strategy will also require training and branding manuals, pricing guidelines, and operational procedures for front and back of house. You need to document everything from local marketing strategy to the way your recipes are to be replicated in your kitchens.
Once this task is completed, one obvious course of action remains…
Follow Through On Your Plans
As much as this might seem like a no-brainer, this is one step that is actually overlooked by many franchisors. In truth, the concept of a restaurant franchise is to make plans and let someone else implement them; but, in practice, success may require a little more hands-on involvement.
To see your food franchise grow, be a proactive franchisor. Follow through on your plans by spending time with your franchisees. See for yourself how your strategy is being implemented and, when necessary, provide guidance on big decisions like selecting the proper real estate venue.
This may seem like hand-holding to some, but if you stay with a new franchisee until his or her operations are running smoothly, you’ll have guaranteed your food franchise’s continued growth.
And if there is one secret to success for a restaurant franchise, it’s to…
Always Exceed the Expectations of Your Customers
A food franchise depends on the loyalty of its customers for its strength. Once they trust your brand, your devoted followers will seek out your franchise brand wherever it opens a new location.
To gain their trust, a successful franchisor must do their part. You need to ensure your franchise lives up to the high standards expected by your customers for your products and services.
The golden rule of food franchising is: always aim to exceed the expectations of your customers. Set your standards high, and continue to raise it however you can. Make sure your customers are satisfied, and do whatever you can to accommodate them. Be sure to find out what your customers think; connect with them on social media to listen to their feedback.
As important as money is, customer satisfaction is the real currency of a food franchise. And to get it, you need to remember one important thing…
Surround Yourself With People Who Share Your Dream
A food franchise is not a solitary business; you need the right people with the right talent to help you realize your franchising dreams.
When it comes to selecting people, be sure to:
- Choose franchisee candidates that have practical experience with running a restaurant and know how to solve problems whenever they arise
- Choose suppliers, distributors and service vendors that align with your strategy, and are able to scale with your franchise as it continues to expand
- Choose talented in-house franchising employees who share your dream to better fulfill your original goals
Above all else, be sure to populate your food franchise with people that are passionate about food service. Whatever your menu and unique selling proposition may be, all franchise restaurants depend on friendly staff with people skills to create an engaging restaurant experience that keeps them coming back.
Conclusion
Before we go, keep in mind other important factors that include:
- Financing
- A unique business model
- Logo trademark
Always prepare as best as you can, stay positive in the face of adversity and, most definitely, don’t try to rush the process.
Canada has the second-largest franchise industry in the world; a new franchise opens in this country every two hours throughout each day of the year. Canada’s franchise opportunities are huge, and they are available to those who want it!
Keep all this in mind and with a lot of hard work, you’ll be able to grow your food franchise in no time at all!
Bonus Tip: Experiment With a Food Truck
We’re going to end this short guide with a bonus tip for aspiring franchisors that want to open their own chain of restaurants, but can’t quite implement their plans yet.
If you’re looking to get your feet wet with restaurant franchising, try experimenting with a food truck. A food truck offers the benefits of opening in new markets and meeting new diners, but without the cost and hassle of having to open a new location. It’s a great way to get instant feedback on your menu and customer experience, letting you know if food franchising is right for you!
Are you interested in becoming a franchisee? St. Louis Bar & Grill has expanded to 71 locations across Canada, and we’re looking to open in your neighbourhood! Check out our website for available franchise opportunities!