BBQ Restaurant Franchises - The Definitive Guide

Few things are better than the passion andbarbecue restaurant franchise as they often have
satisfaction that is brought by the wonderful aromaless stringent controls on the way you run your
of BBQ food.business.
There is no doubt in anyones mind that if barbecueIt should go without saying, but always read the
was a national food, in the United States it would winsmall print in any franchises terms and conditions, as
without losing a breath. One of the core reasonsthey will all vary, some to your liking, and some not.
behind this is the simple fact that barbecue isIf you think you are ready to take up the tongs on
enjoyed World over by almost every culture thatyour own barbecue franchise and open your own
you can imagine, and as such, enjoys a level ofrestaurant, take a look through these fiery franchise
popularity not seen in other types of cuisine.delight below and see what lights your fire.
On top of that, every person that is capable ofThe current list of active Barbecue Restaurant
holding a pair of barbecue tongs also has their ownFranchises in the United States.
personal favorites and knows how to best cook andBD's Mongolian BBQ
present their favorite BBQ dishes.Since 1992, BD's has been delivering a unique,
Within the United States, there are four well knowninteractive dining experience that sets them apart
styles of barbecue that exist; from Memphis, Texas,from the competition focusing on: Fun, Choice and
Kansas City and Carolina, and within each of theseControl. BD's are currently looking for franchise
states, barbecue restaurant franchises are availablepartners to help them build on the success they have
and offer an exciting opportunity to new restaurantexperienced with both owner-operated and franchise
owners seeking a successful business model within arestaurants.
well established market.Dickey's Barbecue Pit
To whet your appetite for business in the BarbecueWhen you open a Dickey's BBQ restaurant franchise,
Franchise Market, here is the "meat" of the facts!you're not just opening a restaurant. You're becoming
1) 7, 429 Barbecue Franchises operating since 1998;part of the family. That's why Dickey's is the biggest
this figure has risen dramatically from 1998 - 2008.fast-casual barbecue brand in the United States, and
(1998 Recount U.S., a service of NPD Foodservicealso the fastest growing.
Information Group, Rosemont, IL.)Dickey's are quite selective about who they choose
2) Burgers (82%), steak (79%), chicken (72%) andto join the Dickey's BBQ franchise family. Whether it's
hot dogs (71%) top the list of the most popular BBQan Owner/Operator or a team member, they select
foods prepared on a hot barbecue grill!only the the very best.
3) Charcoal grill owners are most often prompted toFamous Dave's Barbeque
cook on their charcoal grills by a desire to eat greatFamous Dave's is a "specialty" casual dining restaurant
tasting food (77%)franchise, creating environments that transcend
4) Four in ten consumers who eat from a charcoalcurrent restaurant offerings by serving the highest
grill (39%) normally use barbecue sauce to add flavorquality, flavor-intense foods in surroundings that are
to their dishes. Most popular flavors include hickorystimulating, interesting and fun! Famous Dave's is
(65%), mesquite (49%) and honey (49%). (Source:more than a restaurant - it's an escape from the
The Hearth, Barbecue and Patio Survey 2007)ordinary.
5) The first bottled barbecue sauce originated inAs of June 15, 2009, Famous Dave's had 176
Kansas City. (Dotty Griffith, Celebrating Barbecue...,restaurants open - 46 corporate and 130 franchised
2002)locations in 38 states. They have been ranked #1 in
Is investing in a BBQ Franchise a sensible thing to do?our restaurant category by 'Entrepreneur Magazine' in
Passion for food is paramount to run any successful2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
BBQ restaurant franchise, and if you have the energySonny's Bar-B-Q
and will to succeed, then you should seriouslySonny's reputation wasn't built overnight - it's been
consider taking up the reigns on a barbecue franchise.almost 40 years in the making. Sonny's Bar-B-Q
If you have a strong gut feeling that there is a greatcustomer acceptance is based on their unwavering
opportunity for a barbecue franchise in the area thatcommitment to making outstanding Bar-B-Q served
you are considering launching, then start looking for aby outstanding people.
franchise that fits your financial criteria whileToday, their success continues as a result of a
satisfying your diners.strong family of dedicated franchisees backed by a
It should be known that the first year is the hardestsolid system that delivers consistent products and
for any franchisee and it is rare for a new BBQprofits.
franchise to break even. This is the nature of startingAt Sonny's Franchise Company, community
a new restaurant franchise.involvement is a top priority. That's why they
How much does it cost to run a BBQ restaurantsupport various community initiatives throughout the
franchise?southeast. Sonny's has strong partnerships in
To start your own barbecue restaurant franchise,Education, Arts & Humanities, Charitable
you should be ready to invest in the regions ofInitiatives, Youth Development and Human Services.
$75,000 and $250,000 in total capital investment.Virginia Barbeque
Your BBQ franchise fee can be expected to averageTheir business model has been specifically designed to
out at around $35,000 and the franchisor maybe family friendly to the customers and the franchise
possibly take a cut of around five per cent of yourowner. Owners are drawn to the BBQ business
takings.because of the lifestyle freedoms that are unique to
Locations, meanwhile, are likely to be large andtheir chain that opens at 11 am and closes no later
spacious. You'll need to have a customer-facingthan 9pm.
approach that can fill that space, night after night.Virginia Barbecue are also quick to point out that,
Some franchisors construct from scratch to"Americans now spend 47.9 percent of their annual
guarantee standardized experiences. Bar-B-Cutie forfood budget in restaurants, making it nearly equal
example, takes between 90 days and six months towith grocery stores and other retailers as their main
build and prepare a site, so bear this in mind. If yousource of food, the NRA stated."
are in a hurry to get started, that may not be theWoody's Bar-B-Q
way to go as that could douse your grilling dreams inWoody's have a passion for Bar-B-Q, and a passion
a bucket of cold water.for great franchise partners. With a lower start-up
You could also find that barbecue restaurantentry cost and outstanding franchisee support,
franchisors want to be hands-on and take the leadWoody's is a great opportunity within the
on designing your BBQ restaurant so that it blends infast-growing casual dining segment. And, Bar-B-Q is
with the franchise's brand.hotter than ever.
This can include things like staff workwear, menus,Woody's are committed to training new franchisees
dinner plates and so forth; leading names like thein all aspects of operating a new BBQ franchise
well-known barbecue restaurant chain such as thebusiness and provide dynamic opening advertising
55-year-old Bar-B-Cutie, are adamant in ensuring thatassistance and customer generation techniques, and
their corporate identity is kept intact within theirthe toll-free support line means that as a new
outlets.franchisee, you will always have someone on hand to
If, on the other hand, you prefer running things yourhelp.
way, then it would be wise to seek a smaller