There is no shortage of options in the varieties of barbeque that you can prepare or offer to guests. As Luxury Lifestyle Magazine says, “Gone are the days when the burger and sausage reigned supreme. From global twists and funky formats to plant-based feasts – there are loads of new barbecue trends out there.”
As for the “global twists,” at the beginning of 2022 barbeque and grilled food expert Steven Raichlen laid out a number of trends he expects to take hold. Included in those predictions were: “In the coming year, I predict you’ll be reading about and tasting a lot of African grilling” as well as “I bet we’ll be seeing a lot of two South American rolled, stuffed, grilled dishes this year” and more.
And also, as alluded to above, barbeque is no longer just meat-based fare.
“In addition to vegetarian and vegan burger and sausage alternatives, there's also been a rise in whole vegetables being cooked on the barbecue, from cauliflower steaks, broccoli, asparagus and courgettes to sweet potatoes and peppers,” Zoe Simons, senior innovation chef at Waitrose, told ThisIsMoney.co.uk.
Types of Barbeque Franchises
Just as there is no shortage of options in barbeque variety, there is just as much variety in the type of barbeque franchise you can run.
For example, have a look at this summary of franchise models that Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, a leader in the field, offers:
- Brick & mortar model: This a traditional type franchise with a dedicated dining area for guests to enjoy their food in the restaurant building. Usually runs 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft. (roughly 139 sq m to 186 sq m).
- Non-traditional model: This model is designed to fit into airports, food courts, subway stations and other non-traditional locations. Customers order at a counter and food is served to-go. It also has a grab and go station for guests that are on the go. Usually runs 500 to 800 sq ft. (roughly 46 sq m to 74 sq m).
- Delco model: The company describes this franchise model as a “modern day approach to meet the global needs of COVID with a smaller footprint designed for delivery and carryout orders mainly. Depending on space, it may have a smaller seating or waiting area.” Also usually runs 500 to 800 sq ft. (roughly 46 sq m to 74 sq m).
Dickey’s, like many other franchises, also offers another type of franchise model: the ghost kitchen.
A ghost kitchen is a shared working space for multiple restaurant concepts to prepare food. In addition, these spaces reduce financial overhead by delivery- or to-go-only operation. There are no dining rooms or servers.
Ghost kitchens were already making waves pre-pandemic, but post COVID-19 this type of food franchise model is expected to keep growing.
In addition, you can offer the services of your barbeque franchise through catering, the wheelhouse of franchises like The Spitting Pig Co. Owning a catering food franchise allows for a significant level of flexibility as it can potentially be run on a larger scale for events such as weddings, corporate parties or events. On the other hand, it potentially can be run smaller in scope on a part or full-time basis, working from home.
Advantages of a Barbeque Franchise
If you're looking for a business opportunity but—perhaps—lack the experience of running a company from the ground up, you might find the prospect of a barbeque franchise very attractive. When you invest in a franchise, you take on the methods of a business that (1) understands its established target market, and (2) has proven itself profitable and sustainable.
Independent companies that go into business without the support of an established partner often struggle to penetrate the market. They often misunderstand what their customers want and how to fulfill that desire. It can take a long time, along with trial and error, for an independent company to get their service offering right.
On the other hand, franchises tend to enjoy more immediate success because the parent company has done their market research. The franchisor has spent time developing their services and products to meet the standards expected by their customers.
When you invest in a barbeque franchise, you inherit not only the immediately recognizable branding of the parent company but the tried-and-tested business model catering precisely to a client base who already know and love their products. You take on the parent company’s hard-earned reputation—and reputations are hard to build in the marketplace. Additionally, franchises often boast an existing supply chain and vendors that already know what the business needs.
Your franchise parent company usually provides an excellent training package for you and your employees to ensure that you can maintain their hard-earned reputation. In addition to training, many franchise partners offer a range of business support functions, including HR assistance and compliance with food, business and employment regulations.
Money Matters: Franchising vs. Independent
Barbeque franchises require an initial investment, commonly from around £20,000 upward to several hundreds of thousands of pounds. For this reason, most people need to apply for a source of funding to obtain their startup collateral.
Luckily, banks and money lenders look at franchise businesses in a more favorable light because the business system of the franchise has already proven itself successful, profitable, and sustainable. This means that franchise businesses often achieve more reasonable interest rates than independent companies that open their companies without the support of an established partner.
Independent companies, on the other hand, often find it a challenge to obtain loans with sensible borrowing rates since they have very little to no evidence that their business will reach potential profitability. This comparative lack of faith from lenders has the potential to jeopardise their company from the start.
Having enough money before you start is important. Unfortunately, about half of all independent companies go bust within two years of starting up. However, 90% of franchise businesses report profitability within two years. Often, the biggest factor in the disparity in the success rate is the access to financial capital to begin.
So, if you’re looking to start up a barbeque business, consider a franchise as a viable option that offers support on your path to having a successful business (and the pleasures of being your own boss).