Hungry for More
With four food franchises on his plate, this owner reveals his recipe for success.
Stan Given's fate must have been determined at birth. He was
born into a family of quick-service restaurant owners, and the
doors seemed to open before Given as he quickly moved from
franchise consultant at
Taco Bell to general manager for
KFC. Looking for a job requiring less travel, he decided to
purchase a
Buffalo's Cafe franchise in 1992. Only 12 years later, multiple franchises stand as a testimony to
Given's success. He owns a
Planet Smoothie, two
Moe's Southwest Grills and a
Heavenly Ham franchise, which, as of June, became a Heavenly
Ham Market Cafe-one of the company's first prototype stores to
test its new concept. In addition, he has plans to open a third
Moe's and his first
Mama Fu's Noodle House. His performance has been recognized
by Heavenly Ham and Moe's, which have both honored him as
franchisee of the year. So what is Given's recipe for franchising success? Start
with the location-he has found it to be just as important, if not
more so, as the concept itself. Visibility, accessibility and
signage are all critical factors. When choosing between different
types of restaurants, such as fast-casual and quick-service,
potential franchisees should make sure the franchise offers the
type of environment they enjoy working in, says Given, 49. A dash
of two final ingredients adds the perfect touch: Make a commitment,
and do a lot of homework before purchasing. "Go to a franchise
and work for free or whatever you need to do to work in the store
as long as possible, not only to learn the business," he
advises, "but [also] to make sure you like the day-to-day
activities." Content Continues Below
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