The National Restaurant Association made a 2010 prediction for growth within the pizza industry, making it the perfect time for new pizza franchises to open to capitalize on that growth. With an affordable indulgence that has been popular for decades, the success of pizza franchises can withstand just about anything. To make your pizza restaurant a success:
1. Choose your franchise wisely. There are many different types of pizza franchises available, from delivery to eat in to take-n-bake pizzas. There are restaurants that serve nothing but pizza and ones that offer other entrees and side dishes. Decide what type of business you’ll have the best experience with. If you enjoy what you do, it will be apparent to your customers and your employees.
2. Choose your location wisely. One of the biggest factors in the success of any business is often its location. Luckily, with pizza franchises, you will generally get assistance in selecting the best location for the highest profit margin. Work closely with your franchise to find the perfect place for your restaurant and utilize that location to the fullest. Forge a relationship with the businesses around it and with the local community.
3. Rely on your training and assistance. One of the best things about owning a franchise is that most of the toughest work has already been done for you. The pizza recipes, the branding and the menu selections have already been chosen and proven to be a success with customers. The training provided also gives you guidance in every aspect of the business. Market research has already been conducted on what the customers want to eat and how they want it prepared, making your main job to stick as closely with the company’s plan as possible to ensure that you reach the success made possible that that company.
4. Cultivate repeat business. Pizza franchises are built on repeat customers. If you can keep the weekly pizza buyers coming back week after week, you have a steady income stream that won’t be interrupted by new fads or new pizza restaurants. People are remarkably loyal to their favorite pizza restaurant, making it important to forge good customer relations. Make sure that you commit to a high quality of customer service as well as a high quality of pizza and you will keep your repeat business.
5. Keep your costs as low as possible. With pizza franchises, one of the factors that is most important is cost control. Keeping waste low often comes down to effective training of employees. The cost of some pizza components, such as cheese and wheat, can fluctuate with the market, making any food waste a serious cost issue. Make sure that your staff is trained well in the art of pizza making to prevent any unnecessary waste. Just a little spilled cheese from each pizza can mean pounds of lost cheese each day. Use your franchise’s training materials wisely to ensure the most efficient employees possible and you will keep your costs low.