Name Recognition – one of the main reasons people will fail in this restaurant industry is because consumers are not always willing to take a risk on an unknown brand. If they have $5 in their pocket and want a burger, are they going to ABC Burgers? We all know the answer to this one.

Paid Advertising – part of each month’s franchise fees goes towards national advertising campaigns. While owners can still do their own thing locally, their brand is already benefiting from the national campaigns that the corporations are putting out. This goes a long way in keeping your label fresh in people’s heads.

Higher Success Rate – franchises are far more successful than the average Mom and Pop restaurant. While companies will occasionally lay an egg, they pour millions of dollars into market research every year that is a key factor in deciding where they are going to open up their new locations. This is more than the average restaurant owner has in their entire budget.

Education – why do most restaurants fail? Because the owners have no idea what they are doing. When opening up a franchise, it is usually mandatory that the new owner work for FREE in another store to learn the business. Companies actually have series of classes in place that culminate in a 2 week course at Burger University to make sure that the owner is as prepared as can be when they open their doors.

Financing – without a great business plan and a ton of research, the average person will not be able to get any significant financing from banks in the restaurant industry. Add a franchise to the equation and many options are now available. Banks are more familiar with the names and the overall company success will go a long way in influencing their final decision.

Quality Control – if a person is operating as an independent, it is up to them to monitor the quality of the products that they are getting and to land their own deals. A franchisee has the backing of their brand behind them and will more than likely already have suppliers lined up. Not only that, but the corporation will run inspections of the suppliers from time to time to ensure that they are keeping up expected standards.

While the restaurant industry is one that will generally make people’s eyes roll when the subject of investing is brought up, it is an unfair stereotype that is based on the lack of knowledge that many restaurant owners have. Running a restaurant is a lot of work and takes a true passion for the industry to be successful. Operating a franchise will give you the knowledge and support that can bring people one step closer to running a successful operation.

Important Factors in Choosing a Restaurant Location
There are probably many elements which can come into play when planning to establish a restaurant. One of the most important ones is the relevant zoning laws in a particular area. The size of the building should also be assessed to ensure that it can accommodate the restaurant. Planning should take into consideration the fact the restaurant could grow as it builds a name for itself. Bathroom facilities should also be looked at to ensure the comfort and convenience of customers. Other factors which will influence the choice of location are:

• Parking – nobody likes to go anywhere and have trouble parking their car. When choosing a restaurant location ample parking should be among the top priorities. Not all buildings have their own parking lots, but there should at least be public parking facilities close to the building. Another option is to rent parking spaces for the restaurant’s customers. Parking should be safe and secure also.
• Population – no business can survive without the customer base to support it. This is especially true of restaurants, some of which have been known to fold in the first few months of operation. It is best to choose a location in short driving or walking distance to homes or apartment buildings, or busy business districts.
• Site popularity – it is important that your restaurant be located in a well known area that is easily accessible. This is particularly helpful for the delivery companies you will be dealing with as well. When promoting your restaurant, the ability to mention an area that is well known can only be a plus for the business. The restaurant should be easy to find, especially for new customers who may not be familiar with the area.

While customer convenience is at the forefront when planning almost any type of business there are added elements with a restaurant. The location must be clean, both inside and out. The size of the building must easily facilitate the rigid routines that go into keeping a spotless restaurant.

Before the restaurant can be set up, the building must meet all applicable safety and health laws. Once the location is chosen, all the other aspects of setting up the restaurant will most likely fall into place. Rest assured that when you make the effort to make your customers happy, it will be evident. Diners will only be too happy to come to a restaurant that considers customer convenience such a top priority.

Opening a franchise is a fantastic way to stand on the shoulders of giants. Franchise owners tell a totally different story than regular business owners, and it’s often one of all but effortless success. When it comes to franchises, the products, services, business model and corporate culture are tried and true, which eliminates almost all of the risk normally associated with business ownership. The very tangible benefits of owning a franchise let you relax in the confidence afforded by a product that is proven to perform dependably.
Financial institutions that trust your operation

Opening a restaurant franchise isn’t only a great idea because of the risk that it saves you, it’s also a business venture that financial institutions smile upon, which makes your path to securing business loans an easy one. Banks trust the performance of franchise restaurants, and given you can demonstrate the ability to operate the business to the franchise’s standards, they’re certain to approve your loans. With a restaurant franchise, you won’t have to worry about selling a loan officer on your idea, they’ll be happy to invest in a practical business venture with a track record of success.
Customers that know your products

When you become a restaurant franchise owner, you don’t just get a business that performs out-of-the-box, you get a solid, pre-existing customer base, too. Customers of franchise restaurants don’t distinguish between different restaurant locations – to them, every location is a beacon for food they love and service they trust. You can rely on the rapport that the franchise itself has fostered with your customers, and reap the rewards of eager customers in the form of immediate and sustained revenue. As the owner of a franchise restaurant, you won’t have to worry about time and money consuming business building that’s normally required to establish a customer base; your customers will be lining up to patronize your restaurant as soon as you open it.

Support that you can rely on

When you open a restaurant franchise, it’s important to the image and profitability of the franchise itself that you succeed. This means that they’re willing and eager to provide you with strategies for success in the interest of both parties. Owning a franchise isn’t the same solo mission that normal business ownership is. With your new restaurant franchise you can count on the support of your trusting financial institutions, your loyal and pre-existing customers, and of course, the ever-interested

Visibility and Accessibility (Foot Traffic)
In order to go eat at a restaurant, people have to know the restaurant is there. Your marketing efforts will work toward this end, but location visibility is also crucial. This is why property prices in downtown districts and developed strips are higher than other areas. They offer a level of visibility that can bring in a great deal of walk-in business, also commonly referred to as ‘foot traffic.’

Accessibility is also very important. The reason major restaurant chains are often located near highways and freeway exits is that such locations allow for greater accessibility for customers. Motorists can get to the restaurant without fighting traffic or driving out of their way. Most successful restaurant locations (but not all) are easy to find and reach.
Another important accessibility factor is parking. In order for your restaurant location to be truly accessible, it must have adequate parking. If a location you are considering does not have its own parking lot, it must be near public parking.

Detailed Local Knowledge
Local knowledge is very important in identifying appropriate potential restaurant locations within your chosen trade area. At a minimum, the area must have a significant and financially viable residential base, include a daytime population source, such as a considerable office concentration, and also traffic generators such as a retail shopping centers, tourist attractions or entertainment venues such as multiplex movie theaters.
Detailed local knowledge of the surrounding area includes factors such as demographics, population density, and income. Daytime population numbers will indicate if an area can support lunch activity; likewise, nighttime population will support dinner activity. For these reasons it is important to include the type of retail and offices located near the site and the area’s overall employment figures.

Urban Trends
The faces of cities and towns as we know them are changing, offering new and useful information for restaurateurs looking for a new restaurant location. Downtown areas of second-tier cities such as Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Detroit and San Diego are shifting toward the big-city 24-hour model set by cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. The good news is that as business and residential populations head back downtown from the suburbs, office and other workers populate these once-barren central business districts during the day. Likewise, in the evening, residents and tourists descend, attracted by retail entertainment venues. Of course, everyone needs a good place to eat, helping you as you choose the best location for your restaurant.

Good Habits
Some of the guidelines for safe eating abroad are just commonsense habits that we take for granted. Take hand washing, for example. At home, we know that it is generally a good idea to wash our hands before a meal. However, if we fail to wash up before eating the results are typically not catastrophic. In other countries, however, strains of bacteria that our bodies are not accustomed to may be present. Exposure to these bacteria can cause problems.
At home, we know that we should wash any raw fruits or vegetables that we plan to consume. When travelling, make sure to avoid any such foods unless you are able to wash them (scrubbing vigorously) yourself.
The point is that when it comes to healthy and hygienic eating habits, it is important to be extra vigilant and fastidious when travelling than when at home.

Food
Part of the excitement and adventure of visiting a foreign country is sampling the local flavor. You should not be afraid to try foods that are new to you, so long as you keep some safety guidelines in mind. First, try to dine only in eating establishments that appear to be clean and orderly. This may be difficult in places where street vendors are the order of the day. In general, trust your instincts and use common sense.
Eat only food that appears to be fresh, just-cooked food that is very hot. Food that has been kept warm for any amount of time should be avoided at all costs. Avoid food that has been exposed to flies or other insects. Dairy products such as milk, cream, and cheese should be avoided unless they are pasteurized and refrigerated. Before consuming any seafood, shellfish, meat or poultry, make sure you can confirm that it is cooked thoroughly. If you cannot, – don’t touch it!

Water
When travelling abroad, it is generally a good idea to stick to bottled water. Water quality levels can vary greatly from area to area and it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you do not have access to bottled water, you can boil water to purify it. Unless you are sure it’s made from purified water, it is also a good idea to avoid ice in drinks.

People: The availability of clients is the biggest concern, of course. You’ll need to make sure that there are enough potential customers in the area to make it worthwhile to set up a restaurant. It’s a good idea to do a survey of the population in the area you wish to build your business. This will enable you to find out whether or not people will be interested in what you have to offer and whether or not they eat out often, among other factors. This can also help you decide which type of restaurant to start…a burger joint might not do well in a more affluent area, but it would be ideal for an area where people are looking for fast, cheap food.

Competition: Who is the competition? What are you offering that beats them? Whether you are offering lower prices, different cuisine or tastier food, you need to be better than the competition. There’s no point in starting a coffee shop if there are already five in the same neighborhood. Also important is to find out how the pricing works in the neighborhood. If all the restaurants are very low priced, you might be hard-pressed to compete with a fancier gourmet food place that needs to have higher prices. This is also where it pays to know your clients. If they don’t have money, don’t expect to make it with $100 plates of food.

Parking: Don’t underestimate the value of parking space. A new client isn’t going to spend a lot of time searching for a spot to park just to try your food. While it’s best to have your own parking lot, you should be good as long as there’s ample space near the restaurant location.

Visibility: Many restaurants find that a large amount of their traffic comes from those just passing by. These people decide at the last minute to eat at a particular place and this is why you want to make sure to have an easy to see locale. Another important factor is how easy it is to get to the place. Places that are just off the main road, but still visible, are ideal. You want people to be able to see your restaurant and pull in without battling traffic or having to find a map just to get there.

The location of your restaurant is very important. You need to take the time to check the area out, take a close look at the people who live and work in the area and know your competition before making a decision to place the restaurant. The research will pay off in the long run, since you can be sure to select the perfect spot.

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