Expansion Consulting
Expansion kills more restaurants than competition. The systems that worked for one location will break at three. Learn how to open your second restaurant or explore franchise development — we help you document, systematize, and scale.
Whether you want to franchise your concept or grow company-owned locations, the prep work is similar — but the execution is very different. We help with both.
Sell the right to replicate your concept. Franchisees pay you to use your brand, systems, and support. You collect franchise fees ($10K–$50K) plus ongoing royalties (4–8% of sales).
Requires: FDD, operations manual, training program, franchise sales infrastructure
Franchise Prep Services →Keep 100% ownership and control. You fund the build-outs, hire the teams, and keep all the profits. More capital-intensive but higher long-term value per unit.
Requires: Scalable systems, funding, site selection, manager training pipeline
Multi-Unit Services →Most restaurant expansions fail not because the food is bad — but because the systems weren't ready to scale. Here's what kills growth:
Your recipes, procedures, and standards exist only in the owner's memory. New locations can't replicate what isn't documented. Staff turnover destroys consistency.
You need GMs before you open new locations. Most operators promote their best cooks — who become their worst managers. No training pipeline means no growth capacity.
Location #2 should be easier than #1 — but many operators pick bad sites or sign terrible leases. Different zoning, different licenses, different landlord games.
Build-outs cost 30% more than planned. Opening months bleed cash. Without 6–12 months of working capital per location, you'll be begging the bank by month three.
Different states, different counties, different cities — all with unique health codes, alcohol licenses, labor laws, and tax structures. What worked in Minneapolis won't work in Phoenix.
Franchise law is federal and state-specific. FDD errors can void contracts. Entity structures matter for liability. Most restaurant lawyers don't specialize in growth.
Expansion-ready systems that work whether you're franchising or growing company-owned. We document, systematize, and train — so you can replicate.
Complete documentation of every system: recipes with exact portions, opening/closing checklists, training protocols, safety procedures, and manager playbooks.
Every recipe documented with ingredient specs, portion sizes, plate costs, and target margins. Vendor substitution protocols. Price update workflows.
Position-specific training tracks with daily checklists, skills assessments, and certification milestones. Manager development curriculum.
Visual identity guidelines, signage specs, interior standards, uniform requirements. Everything needed to maintain brand consistency across locations.
Pro forma models, break-even calculators, unit-level P&L templates, investor decks, and cash flow projections for new locations.
Market analysis, traffic studies, demographic research, lease negotiation support, and build-out budgeting. We've seen what works and what doesn't.
If you're pursuing the franchise path, you'll need additional legal and compliance infrastructure. We coordinate with franchise attorneys and brokers to build:
Franchise Disclosure Document coordination with your attorney. We provide the operational content; they handle legal compliance for all 50 states.
Territory rights, renewal terms, transfer provisions, termination clauses. We ensure your agreement protects your brand while attracting quality franchisees.
Initial training curriculum for new franchisees. Ongoing support systems. Field visit protocols. Communication channels and escalation paths.
Every engagement starts with understanding where you are and where you want to go. Then we build the bridge.
Free 30-minute call to understand your concept, current systems, and growth goals. We'll tell you honestly if you're ready.
We audit your existing documentation, systems, and financials. Identify exactly what needs to be built or improved.
We create the missing systems — operations manuals, training programs, financial templates — in formats that scale.
We stay with you through your first expansion. Training, troubleshooting, and refinement as you learn what works.
Full franchise development runs $30K–$50K industry-wide. We offer modular consulting so you can tackle one piece at a time.
One-time project
Comprehensive documentation
+ legal fees (separate)
Hourly consulting available at $150/hour for specific projects. Multi-location discounts available.
Expansion requires capital. We help you understand your options and prepare investor-ready materials.
7(a) and 504 loans offer favorable terms for restaurant expansion. We help prepare the documentation lenders want to see.
Specialty lenders like ARF Financial and Credibly understand restaurant cash flow. Different underwriting than traditional banks.
High-net-worth individuals and small PE groups looking for restaurant deals. We help build pitch decks and financial models they expect.
Full franchise development (including legal) typically runs $30,000–$50,000 industry-wide. Our consulting portion starts at $25,000; legal fees are separate and vary by attorney ($8K–$15K typical).
Franchising generates capital through fees but requires extensive compliance. Company-owned keeps full control but needs more capital. Most successful brands eventually do both. We help you decide.
At minimum: documented recipes with exact portions, training manuals, opening/closing checklists, inventory systems, vendor relationships, POS configuration, and financial reporting templates — all in formats others can follow.
Options include SBA loans, restaurant-specific lenders, private equity, and high-net-worth individuals. We help prepare investor-ready financials, pitch decks, and pro forma projections.
Everything: health codes, alcohol licensing, labor laws, tax structures, even equipment requirements. We help research territory-specific requirements before you commit to a lease.
Typically 6–12 months from "we want to franchise" to "we can legally sell franchises." Documentation takes 2–3 months; legal review and FDD filing adds another 3–6 months depending on state.
Schedule a free 30-minute call. We'll discuss your concept, your goals, and honestly assess if you're ready — or what needs to happen first.
Tools and services that complement your expansion journey.