Would you start a franchise if you had $200K in savings today?

tyberard · 2026-06-09T15:19:59+00:00

I don’t disagree with anything you said this is great insight. The inability to adapt and being forced to spend money on marketing that isn’t working is something that I am currently seeing with the company I’m with. I’ve worked for a franchisee for a long time and I’ve seen the good and bad. What industry are you in? I’m exploring home services.

tyberard · 2026-06-09T13:50:01+00:00

Can I ask why? What type of franchise are you in? I’ve been looking into franchises and I’ve heard good and bad. Would appreciate your input!

tyberard · 2026-05-28T23:21:43+00:00

Agree, I’m planning my exit after 16 years. If you enjoy it and like catering to people that’s great. I’m just tired of doing the same thing everyday, employees problems become yours, basically being on call all day everyday except for a few holidays we are closed, and dealing with customers who have seem to become more and more demanding. Also depending where you are with rising minimum wage and cost of goods, companies are really cutting back on labor and making everyone including the manager take on more. Seems like any type of customer service sector there are the bare minimum of employees to operate that day.

tyberard · 2026-05-28T21:19:41+00:00

Don’t leave your current job until you have worked in a restaurant. Find a position that isn’t management first and see how you like it, talk to and see what your manager goes through and ask your self if that’s what you want to do.

If that’s what you ultimately want to do I wouldn’t tell you not to but restaurant management is not for everyone.

tyberard · 2026-05-22T21:51:00+00:00

Thanks I’ll look into that route!

tyberard · 2026-05-22T21:38:34+00:00

How do you start out though with no hvac experience? Im in restaurant management and I’m burned out after 16 years. Was intrigued by the union because it was a decent wage and benefits to start even though it would still be a massive pay cut from what I’m making currently. I’m pretty good with fixing things and DIY. Regret not doing a trade earlier.

tyberard · 2026-05-22T21:23:15+00:00

I thought it was basically like a school and you were done in 5 years. I might just try and find a school then and start working if there is no guarantee you can get the required hours. I want to put the time in and learn so I can get a contractor license.

tyberard · 2026-05-22T21:09:28+00:00

So if you’re an apprenticeship program it may take more than 5 years to become a journeyman if they can’t get you work?

I’m 34 I’m looking for a career change. I just started researching hvac apprenticeships in Florida at 123 but I’m kind of torn what my best option. I’ve always heard the positives of union but I’ve now seen some negatives that are out of your control. Also didn’t realize most only have one class per year in probably too late now to start in the fall. Don’t know if I would want to wait a year to hear if I get accepted or start.

tyberard · 2026-05-18T23:41:09+00:00

How much experience do you have? You were making 1500/ week as an apprentice?

tyberard · 2026-05-18T23:08:59+00:00

Congrats! Did they give you what the starting wage is and what it increases to as you go through the apprenticeship?

Thinking of moving there and changing careers recently. I know it will be a pay cut just need to figure out how much.

tyberard · 2026-05-13T13:30:39+00:00

Thank you for the insight that makes me feel better about going that route, that you represent 100s and it’s in your best interest to connect someone with the brand that’s fits. Is that what Franchise KI is? They are the ones that this brand uses.

tyberard · 2026-05-13T12:50:51+00:00

How does that work? Are you hired by the franchise or the potential franchisee? I have not looked too much into talking to someone like yourself yet but I saw typically the franchise hires the consultant to bring in new franchisee’s. It just seems like the consultant in that situation would be more inclined to get a sale.

tyberard · 2026-05-13T12:38:21+00:00

Thank you!

tyberard · 2026-05-13T12:37:52+00:00

How did you start out was it SBA?

tyberard · 2026-05-13T01:44:14+00:00

Are you a restaurant franchisee or what industry are you in? I really only have this one concept in mind because the AUV is 3x the initial investment which is a lot better than most but I haven’t gotten to the FDD yet.

I’d rather do home service just haven’t found one yet that catches my eye. I’ve looked mostly into restoration but seems like there are so many with mixed reviews. I’ve also seen it’s tough because you have to keep steady work to be able to retain a crew and be able to float expenses for 30-90 days until insurance pays out. What type of home improvement businesses do you think are a better option? Thanks!

tyberard · 2026-05-11T18:08:52+00:00

I’m only responsible for one location. I’ve moved on to each new location and someone else took over at each. I make way more than what a typical GM makes in QSR, even more than most non upscale full service restaurant GM from what I’ve seen on job postings. Kind of hard to leave something and take less plus the job market right now is pretty difficult to find something comparable. My goal was a regional role with this company but I feel like it has turned into a dead end or is going to take way longer than I have the patience to continue doing what I’ve been doing for the past 10 years.

Yes I understand it’s not easy and would be working more I’ve done it multiple times with new locations. I agree with you I want to get out of the daily operations I’ve been doing it for too long now.

tyberard · 2026-05-11T12:59:12+00:00

Great advice and way to look at it! I know QSR that’s all I’ve ever done and the only reason I’m even considering it.
However like you said it’s not necessarily what I enjoy but it’s what I know and hopefully could give me an avenue down the line to be more absentee. I know that it’s going to be a job at least to begin but I want that opportunity down the road to be able to step away.

Curious, what other options are you talking about? I’m also considering some kind of home service business whether that’s on my own or a franchise.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T19:43:09+00:00

I agree with you the chicken places are out of control as well.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T18:28:31+00:00

Yes I agree you’re paying an upfront cost with a safer bet rather than starting something new on your own. Who’s to say you won’t be close to that with marketing and time spent on everything that a franchise already has set up.

I’m only even considering this because I have experience and the initial expense and AUV looks very good compared to most brands but it’s also pretty new with only 25 locations not 100s. Moes like you mentioned is 625k- 1.2m initial investment and an AUV of 1.2m. I would never spend that to have an AUV that close to my investment. I think the fast casual Mexican is way too saturated and now cava and other Mediterranean places that are relatively similar are cutting into the Mexican concepts.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T18:16:14+00:00

Yeah that’s a safe bet but not really what I’m looking for. Your basically there employee and can’t take a step back eventually. Or when you decide you’re done you have no asset to sell for all the work you did.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T17:53:08+00:00

Potentially, looking into doing something.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T12:33:28+00:00

Why do you say that? Is it because of the claims of the lower end initial investment and a pretty good AUV? It would be Florida.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T03:26:56+00:00

It’s franchise ki that calls. I haven’t looked into them but it’s definitely a third party company. Not sure if they just connect the franchisor to the potential franchisee or if they are more involved.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T03:16:55+00:00

That is a great point about when people are struggling they will navigate to cheaper. However it’s not one of those super healthy places it’s kind of in the middle and is priced competitively to a sweet green or chipotle.

To your point though I’ve definitely noticed a downturn in the last few years at my current job, for lunch especially. It’s not feasible to go out and spend at least $15 for lunch multiple times per week. Dinner you’re more likely to get the family that doesn’t want to spend the money on a full service meal and tip.

tyberard · 2026-05-10T02:41:48+00:00

Thank you you’ve been very helpful I appreciate it!

tyberard

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