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Franchise 500 2023
Franchise 500 Rank
N/R Not ranked last year
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Initial investment
$105K - $597K
Units as of 2023
28 Decrease 6% over 3 years

Harold “Groucho” Miller grew up in a Philadelphia orphanage where he dreamed up various recipes for salads, coleslaw, and sandwich dressings. In 1941, he came to Columbia, South Carolina, where Miller began Groucho’s Deli after earning the nickname, ‘Groucho.’

Over the years, Groucho’s Deli has continued serving sandwiches made of quality meat cuts and cheeses, with sides of their signature salad dressings, potato salads, and coleslaw. The restaurant chain has carved a niche for itself and began franchising in 2001. 

Since beginning to franchise, Groucho’s Deli has opened over two dozen locations in the United States.

Why You May Want To Start a Groucho’s Deli Franchise

A good fit for Groucho's Deli would be a franchisee who's ready to carry the brand vision with the same passion as Miller himself. If you're all about quality and producing delicious menu items like ‘Groucho’ was, then you may want to stick around. Good business acumen and great people skills make great additions to applicant qualities, as well.

As you decide if opening a Groucho’s Deli franchise is the right move for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if this franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

What Might Make a Groucho’s Deli Franchise a Good Choice?

Groucho’s Deli lays its claim to fame to what the company has called its “80-Year proven performance” since its inception back in 1941. Groucho’s Deli may require minimal space out of which it operates, which could translate to lower initial setup costs. Coupled with its use of quality products, opening a Groucho’s Deli may be tempting. 

To be part of the Groucho’s Deli franchise team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How To Open a Groucho’s Deli Franchise

Are you ready to become part of the Groucho’s Deli team? After you apply, the franchising team will be in touch with you to move on to the next step of the process. Once you sign the franchise agreement, it typically takes several months to open your location.

As it is with any other business opportunity, you may have many questions about the process of owning a franchise, the daily operations, and so on. Be sure to note your questions and field them to the franchising team members. It would also be a good idea to seek out existing franchisees or mingle with them on the discovery day to find out as much as you can about owning a Groucho's Deli franchise.

If awarded a franchise, franchisees receive a great deal of support from the Groucho’s Deli brand throughout the franchising process. In addition to pre-opening training, franchisees receive support through brand awareness, marketing, research, and construction. They also receive hands-on training and continued support after their franchise location has opened.

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Company Overview

About Groucho's Deli

Industry Food
Related Categories Submarine Sandwiches, Sandwiches
Founded 1941
Parent Company Groucho's Franchise Systems LLC
Leadership Bruce Miller, Franchisor
Corporate Address 611 Harden St.
Columbia, SC 29205
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since 2001 (23 years)
# of employees at HQ 10
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

# of Units 28 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Groucho's Deli franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$18,000 - $28,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$105,068 - $597,128
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$350,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$150,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
6%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Groucho's Deli has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 229-309 hours
Classroom Training 49 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 12
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Groucho's Deli landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Groucho's Deli ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022