Americans love to eat out. Research performed by Principal Financial Group showed that in 2014 U.S. consumers spent more on dining out than any other source of entertainment or leisure. That's why it's no surprise that many restaurant lovers fantasize about owning their favorite restaurants. While being a restaurant owner entitles you to a lot less free food in real life than you might like, the ubiquity of the food franchise model means that many of your favorite tastes are available for ownership. Several celebrities, notably Rick Ross and Troy Aikman, have invested in becoming owners at their favorite take out destinations. You can follow in their footsteps and make a pretty penny while selling customers on your favorite foods.
A passion for your product
Getting a food franchise business off the ground requires energy and enthusiasm. Thankfully, summoning the extra strength of will to make your new food franchise a success is a lot easier when you adore the food that your restaurant is making. Work is hardly work when you are doing something you love, and franchise owners have a chance to delight customers by meeting their need for great food. Often, this high level of personal investment is what separates a good franchise owner from a great one.
Opportunities to expand your appreciation
Becoming a franchisee for your favorite restaurant offers you more than a low-risk business opportunity. Becoming a franchisee also means going through extensive training to learn more about the company and its history and brand-wide operations. In addition to helping improve your leadership skills, this insight also provides a closer look at your favorite foods and what makes them so special. A greater appreciation for your franchise's model will also help you to trust the system when your restaurant faces challenges.
Access to the latest menu items
Franchise locations often receive samples of new products before they are available to customers. These samplings allow the store to become more familiar with a new menu item, how it is made and how the franchise expects the new food item to be sold to customers. As a franchise owner, you'll have a chance to try out your favorite restaurant's latest offerings long before the general public. This is a relatively small perk for franchisees, but many food lovers will very much enjoy the chance to try out exclusive new flavors.
Perks of the franchise model
Beyond serving and selling your favorite foods, there are numerous benefits to starting a business through a franchise. You'll receive helpful suggestions when it comes to choosing the right location both when opening your first establishment and when it comes time to expand. Many companies assist their franchisees in finding a source of financing as well. After all, your franchisors are invested in your success and will do their best to support you each step of the way. Being able to rely on the expertise of a franchisor will help your new store to sidestep several of the common mistakes that hold back rookie franchisees.
Chances to meet fellow fans
Here's one example. Wild Wings Cafe super-fan Chad Ragland finally purchased a store of his own in the mid-2000s, according to Entrepreneur. The franchisee pointed out that the business venture has given him the opportunity to meet hundreds of fellow fans of his favorite restaurant. This could happen for you, too. As a food franchise owner, you'll have countless opportunities to meet with customers who appreciate the food as much as you do. Reaching out to these customers is easy thanks to your shared passion, and these types of connections are key to repeat customer sales.