There is something for everyone in food franchising. A cheese steak franchise to consider is Steak Escape Sandwich Grill. The brand was established by Ken Smith and Mark Turner in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio, to the consternation of family and friends. Despite the doubts and small space for their restaurant (209 sq. ft.), the duo worked hard and became one of the best selling businesses in their market. The brand is on a simple mission: to brighten the day of everyone who comes through the doors of the restaurant. In addition to cheese steak, the franchise's menu also includes healthy bowls, loaded fries, subs, chicken and more. The ideal franchisee is passionate about customer service and cares about the community. Since franchising a year after its founding, Steak Escape Sandwich Grill has expanded to dozens of locations across the country. Franchisees benefit from a proven model and should be passionate about customer service.
As a franchisee, you can except a three-week long initial training program. You will spend one week in the brand's corporate offices learning operations, purchasing, procedures, marketing and more. The other two weeks will be spent in a corporate Steak Escape Sandwich Grill location in Columbus, Ohio, for real-time experience in all aspects of day-to-day operations. In terms of the initial investment, it ranges between $239,500 - $816,500, which includes an initial franchise fee of $25,000 for the first store. Royalty fees 6% of gross sales, plus 0.5% for marketing mall locations. Qualified candidates should have a net worth of at least $400,000 and a minimum of $200,000 in cash and other liquid assets.