DALLAS, October 31, 2024 — As the calendar turns into Q4 of 2024, this year’s figures show that Boston’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar has created a formula that serves franchisees with little to no previous experience running restaurants. Boston’s credits the success to a solid franchise support system and a flexible real estate model that creates lower barriers of entry for the right franchise partners- a model that is only getting more competitive with Boston’s new three-year royalty program for qualified new partners.
“In an ultra-competitive industry, we have seen success in an area where most have struggled: helping first-time franchisees find their footing and see early success in their investment,” said Boston’s Pizza President Jeff Melnick. “We partnerships can start before locations are selected or financing is complete, and we are there every step to help our franchisees make decisions that will have them off and running and keep the momentum alive long after they open their doors.”
Forty percent of this year’s openings are with operating partners without previous ownership experience, and more than 20% of Boston’s franchisees did not have prior casual dining experience. Despite this lack of knowledge, Boston’s has seen an average unit volume of $2.9 million among its top 75% of traditional locations and $1.9 million in non-traditional locations.
Filling the Pipeline
The franchise’s success has piqued the interest of many investors, as Boston’s has more than 20 restaurants in the development funnel as of the end of Q3, the most significant development pipeline that Boston’s has seen since Melnick took over in 2018. Many of these prospects are in California, Texas, and the Midwest, three zones currently making up 52% of Boston’s total restaurant count.
“We were successful at our location early on because of the plan that Boston’s knowledgeable and skilled professionals put together to get us opened up,” said Beaumont (Calif.) managing partner Sunny Mann. “Our weekly meetings to check progress and periodic visits kept things moving forward. Boston’s is a culture of ongoing support. It’s nice that our rep is always a call away if we need them.”
Unsurpassed Support
Boston’s has built a franchise support model to assist franchisees of all experience levels. Once they choose to invest with Boston’s, the franchise offers support in three key areas:
- Real Estate: Franchisees can bring their location or use Boston’s vetting process, aided by A.I. software, which analyzes demographics and competitor data to identify optimal sites and predict trends, reducing risk for franchisees. This approach has driven Boston’s success in challenging markets like Southern California.
- Operations: For franchisees lacking restaurant experience, Boston’s seasoned operations team advises on hiring a GM to lead restaurant operations or how to work with a third-party management company. Boston offers robust training and support for active owner-operators as well. Further, Boston’s offers a competitive three-year royalty program for qualified partners, highlighting Boston’s dedication to supporting franchisees and assisting them in achieving cash flow positivity.
- Design and Construction Support: Early action is critical, and Boston’s boots are on the ground before the pen hits the paper. With a potential site selected, Boston’s in-house designer offers services to customize and fit Boston’s brand into nearly any restaurant space, making it as easy for franchisees to see their visions through.
To learn more about franchise opportunities with Boston’s Pizza, visit ownabostons.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
Related Articles: Yahoo Finance, Market Watch
