Multi-Unit Franchisee, 2011 Issue 4

Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington Washington, D.C.

West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
STATE/TERR.
Jerry (Jared) Buss
Puerta Del Sol
Jan Co. Central Inc.
Rick Seagroves
NPC International Inc.; Walsh (tie)
NPC International Inc.

MUY Brands LLC PJ McGovern Peter Napoli Puerta Del Sol Boddie-Noell Enterprises Inc.

Oil Express Inc.

Mary Lynne Carraway Charlie Hudson Mark Dillon Kent Colvin LARGEST FRANCHISEE

55
39
18
38
21
90
138
37
14
3
184
85
12
32
81
17

UNITS

Dominating Forces

Multi-unit franchisees are empire builders. Some start small, with one unit, and grow incrementally, one unit at a time. Others start bigger, with agreements to build 10, 20, 30 or more units in a market. They all eventually get to the same place: building out their territory, adding units and brands, and generating sales that run into the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

They also employ people—several hundred or several thousand—providing them not only with a way to support themselves and their families, but also with the seasoning and experience to grow professionally. How many of today’s large multi-unit franchisees started as a cashier, fry cook, or dishwasher years ago, moving up the fast food chain to become managers, general managers, and, eventually, franchisees themselves?

It takes hard work, long hours, and a passion for both business and people. They know how to follow a system, nurture people, and (eventually!) to balance their work and personal lives. It’s not easy—in fact it’s extremely hard, at least in the early years—but all agree: It’s worth it to build your own empire and to work for yourself, and, ultimately, for the people who work for you and the customers and community you serve.