Quiznos Franchise

Quiznos Sub is one company that is uniquely suited to franchising. They’re going strong, but they’re the #2 spot in the submarine sandwich market behind Subway. Always look for the runner-up in second place to be trying harder - which is beneficial to a franchisee, because they’re more likely to offer a better deal and enthusiastically support their operating base. They also have a cool little marketing campaign, which has made them popular with the young crowd.

But what makes Quiznos really stand out in the franchise market is that the current CEO, Rick Schaden, is a former Quiznos franchisee! That’s what you call “working your way up from the trenches”.

Like any fast food franchise, Quiznos is at least likely to be a “recession-proof” business, since food is a staple item and the cost of Quiznos products are very economical. However, Quiznos has an advantage over many fast food chains, in that they offer an arguably healthier product. If you’ve tried a Quiznos submarine sandwich, you’ve noticed that it’s a welcome respite from the greasy burger patty on a bleached white bread bun served at typical fast food chains.

So, you have a popular product that sells well, is recognized nationwide, has the marketing done for you, and has even been ranked as the number-one sandwich chain by the June, 2006 issue of “Nation’s Restaurant News”, which awarded this title for its growth in chain locations. Quiznos was also ranked “Best Overall Franchise” in the January, 2006 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. So, now what?

Now, you have to know the basics: It’s a restaurant, which means you will be dealing with board of health inspections and food handling safety requirements. Restaurants typically have a narrow profit margin, so you shouldn’t expect to “get rich quick” overnight. And of course, especially the case with a fast food restaurant, the key to success is “location, location, location”.

For helping with the “location…” situation, Quiznos has its very own real estate division, which is tasked with assisting each franchisee in the site selection process. That’s right - when you get approved to be a franchisee, you get a Quiznos representative who actually comes out and scouts the area to pick a site for you. As for the rest, Quiznos boasts a comprehensive training program.

Now for the package deal: Quiznos offers one of the most aggressively-priced franchise packages in the fast-food world. The liquid capitol requirement is a mere $70,000, required-net worth is $125,000, and the franchise fee is a near-trivial $25,000. This puts it well ahead of most fast food restaurants and even trumps its direct competitors Blimpie and Subway in some respects.

Take into account that submarine sandwiches require little cooking. Beyond a toaster to warm the bread and some steam-table space for the soups if you offer them, almost everything you deal with is refrigerated. This low-maintenance set-up allows for less training and less required floor-space - you can wedge a Quiznos tucked into the smallest cubbies at the mall or along the boardwalk at the beach. Lately, you see a lot of large grocery stores which have a fast-food mini-court at the front, and Quiznos’ fit there as well.

It may not be for everyone, and it isn’t a path to fame and glory, but for owning your own business, this is almost the least work you can do and still have an income!