Food & Drink Franchises For Sale

What are franchise restaurants?

Franchise restaurants are all around us. You probably already knew that McDonald’s and Burger King were franchises, but you might not have known that plenty of our other high street staple eateries were also available to buy into. Pizza Hut, Papa John’s and Dominos are all investment opportunities for pizza lovers alone, and less well known franchise dining favourites include Cafe Rouge, Las Iguanas and Bella Italia.

Food and beverage franchises are any businesses that sell food and drink (from formal sit-down restaurants and bars to fast casuals, cafes and even coffee carts and sandwich shops) but rather than starting up and going it alone, you buy into a recognised brand. This can be particularly advantageous within the world of food and drink as consumers enjoy knowing they’ll receive a certain level of service and look forward to tucking in to a menu they know and trust, meaning your business is likely to be off to a better start than if you have to start building that customer loyalty from the ground up.

And, if you’re wondering what is considered a ‘fast casual’ restaurant, it’s an intermediate restaurant between a fast food joint and casual dining restaurant. Fast casuals are rising fast in popularity in the UK and include well known brands such as Pizza Express, Wahaca and wagamama or chain restaurants that are still emerging such as London-based pizza eatery Franco Mancas, which prides itself on its sourdough bases.

Is the food and drink sector for you?

You’ll need more than a love of good food to make it in the competitive world of food and drink. An ability to follow a set of guidelines to the letter, drive to make your business a success and a willingness to work unsociable hours in the name of good hospitality will all put you in good stead.

How much do food and beverage franchises cost?

Food franchises vary greatly in price. The listings on What-Franchise.com start at £10,000 for a Baguette du Jour (a bright and modern corporate function catering company) and go up to £1,500,000 for your very own branch of Dunkin’ Donuts!

The level of investment required varies so much in part because the set up costs can vary so much from brand to brand. For example, the set up costs for a coffee cart are obviously going to be much lower than a Hooters bar. But also the level of staff training required can differ greatly, as can how much support a franchisee typically requires. Plus, the better the brand is recognised, the more custom you can expect immediately, and the more the franchisor can price their opportunity at.

Which the right opportunity for you?

Working out which is the best or easiest business opportunity comes down to your own circumstances. If you have a history of working in catering or hospitality, you may find launching a large restaurant simple, and if you have very little experience in this area, you may want to start with a more entry-level venture. Check out our franchise listings below to start shortlisting the opportunities that look right for you, and once you settle upon your favourite, drop the franchisor a line using our handy ‘enquire now’ button.