A popular start to a weekend day, the term “brunch” has been growing in search volume since 2004. Chicken and waffles, avocado toast, eggs benedict, and more menu staples have become an integral part of the whole brunch dining experience. So, you want to open a brunch franchise? Learn more about everything that’s needed to make it happen.
Wait, are they profitable?
To put it simply, yes! According to Small Business Trends, diner-type restaurants are actually ranked among the most profitable restaurant concepts, in part because breakfast foods have bigger margins. With lower food costs and fewer hours than a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, your profit margin has potential to be wider.
At Scramblers, our locations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., effectively catching the breakfast, lunch, and brunch crowds – letting franchise owners make it home in time for dinner.
It’s popular. It’s profitable. But how to start? Let’s crack on!
DO YOUR RESEARCH
A critical step in starting any franchise is researching your options. Do you align with the company’s mission and vales? Is there investment range within you budget? How many locations are near you? Too many and the market could be over-saturated, too few and there may not be enough brand awareness in your area. Lastly, and this may seem obvious, but have you tried their food? If you’re going to own a restaurant, you need to like the food you serve. When researching these franchise opportunities, take note of which have the breakfast menu ideas for your restaurant.
REVIEW THE FDD
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is the most important thing you’ll receive from the franchisor during the franchise discovery process. This document outlines the investment costs, responsibilities of the franchisor, and requirements of the franchisee, as well as an overview of the brand. Take note if the company provides an Item 19. This optional section is often referred to as the Financial Representations segment. While a franchisor cannot make any kind of earnings claims, they can provide the revenue information their franchisees reported over the last full calendar year of business. There is no guarantee that your location will perform as well as the franchisees who reported, but it is helpful information to have when making a final investment decision.
SIGN THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
Once you’ve met with franchisor and had your questions answered regarding the opportunity, you’ll be presented with the franchise agreement. You need to hold onto the agreement for a full seven days after receiving it before signing. During this additional time, you should review the document to make sure all of your personal information (name, etc.) and the area you agreed to develop are correct. This is your last opportunity to ask any additional questions you may have before you become a franchisee – don’t hesitate to use that full seven days to your advantage!
PICK YOUR LOCATION
You should have an idea as to the area or territory where you’ll be developing your franchise. However, in this stage you’ll be finding the exact location to open your restaurant. Your franchisor should have a way of comparing demographic information to help you find a spot. The franchisor should also be able to guide you in regard to the size of your location. Your real estate broker should not be showing you locations that are beyond the franchisor’s recommendation.
TRAIN YOUR TEAM
A representative from corporate should come in to properly train your server and kitchen staff on how to do their jobs. After you open, you should still receive ongoing support and training from your franchisor to ensure everyone stays sharp and follows process.
The Scramblers franchise has a system called The University. This online training platform allows for every person on your team to learn their role before they even start working in your restaurant. Perfect for additional hires as your business grows and in case any team members need a refresher.
ADVERTISE YOUR RESTAURANT
Your franchisor should be able to supply you with marketing support. However, it is important as a business owner to get out into the community and promote your business yourself. You’ll also want to have social media pages for your business so you can post regularly about the happenings in your restaurant.
Scramblers: Dicsover what makes us egg-cellent
Ready to start a brunch franchise? Starting a franchise with Scramblers allows you eggs-clusive access to our trade secrets from the past 30 years of mastering the brunch concept.
We’ve got the know-how when it comes to launching and running a brunch focused restaurant. Franchisees receive ongoing training and support from our team of industry professionals. Scramblers also has systems like The Coop, which provides our owners with guidance on anything they might need from business operations to handling paperwork to hiring.
Our franchisees find they’re able to enjoy a proper work/life balance. With our model, the first person comes in at 6 a.m. (only 30 minutes of prep is needed before opening) and our locations close at 3 p.m. – making more time to spend with friends and family at the end of the day.
We primarily have locations in the Midwest but are looking to expand across the U.S. To get started with Scramblers, fill out this form, and one of our representatives will be in touch.