‘The last year has been exceptionally challenging for the restaurant industry. But the smartest of entrepreneurs also know that the pandemic didn’t hit all restaurants the same way. For aspiring business owners, the coming months may be just the right time to consider opening a restaurant that gets people excited and offers healthy, on-the-go options…a place like the Toastique brunch franchise! If you are thinking about getting into the restaurant industry, you might wonder why you should take the brunch franchise route at all. Why shouldn’t you open your own restaurant instead of riding on someone else’s brand identity? After all, isn’t an entrepreneur supposed to start from scratch? Wouldn’t that be more satisfying? The answer to the second question is that, no, it won’t be satisfying in the current scenario. As far as the first question is concerned, that in itself is the problem. Unfortunately, most people who get into the restaurant industry enter with unrealistic expectations. It helps to have an objective assessment of the problems an entrepreneur will run into. To make it easy for you, here are four problems that anyone launching an independent restaurant or standalone brunch spot will face.
4 PROBLEMS INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT ENTREPRENEURS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Real Estate
The first challenge will be finding the right real estate. As an independent restaurant entrepreneur, you should know that food is only one of the several factors based on which your patrons will judge you. Your business needs to be in the right place too. For a traditional dining establishment, the place also needs to be large enough to accommodate patrons while making room for those who wait. Of course, that’s only the beginning. Then you’ve to invest in the interiors to create the right ambiance. None of this guarantees that you’ll succeed. It only ensures that you meet the basic criteria.
Permits
The restaurant industry isn’t all about creating new dishes and naming cocktails. The real work is in getting the necessary permits from the local authorities and ensuring that all your procedures follow the government codes. It’s a real grind. It’s especially demanding when you’re not aware of the legalities involved. Industry veterans know the hard work behind getting all the required permits. They know how long inspections can take. For someone getting into the industry as an independent entrepreneur, it can get too challenging, too soon.
Marketing
This is the big one, and unfortunately, the most-overlooked issue for new restaurant entrepreneurs. A restaurant is like any other business or brand that needs marketing to drive in customers. And it’ll take a lot of time, money, and effort. When you’re launching a new brand, you’re trying to claim space among the established. For that, you need to be unique, memorable and offer a compelling proposition. Even if you’ve done all the necessary market research, things may not go according to plan. You may be launching in an area that may not like your particular brand of cuisine. Or, may not be able to afford it. To make matters worse, soon after you launch, there could be copycats with similar offerings. So, you’ll have to hire a full-time marketing agency. That means additional expenditure on their retainer fee and other marketing expenses.
Pricing
If you’re launching a standalone brunch spot, you won’t be able to consistently command the prices you need. Since it’ll take time for it to be a brand, you won’t be able to justify your high prices. You may be forced to offer steep discounts, come up with special offers to attract customers. Once they get used to your low prices – either on a particular product or for a bundled offering – it will be difficult to raise them again. All these will hurt your operational efficiency. But what if there was a different way to fulfill your dream of bringing healthy, delicious breakfast and brunch choices to the people of your community? If you’d rather skip the headaches associated with opening an independent restaurant. it’s time to look into investing in a brunch franchise like Toastique!
WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN A BRUNCH FRANCHISE WITH TOASTIQUE
Now that you know the problems associated with a standalone restaurant or an independent brunch spot, it’s time to think of becoming a brunch franchise with the most exciting new brunch brand in America right now. Here are seven excellent reasons for you to become a Franchise Owner with Toastique.
7 reasons to be a Franchise Owner with Toastique
Unique offerings
Toastique elevates toast from a classic side dish to a health-focused power meal. Our customizable gourmet toasts provide patrons with a wholesome, convenient meal option that can’t be found at any other fast-casual restaurant or independent brunch spot.
For the health-conscious
Consumers are ditching sugar-filled or carb-rich diets for healthier options. Along with our all-natural smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and açaí bowls, our healthy, grab-and-go meals and snacks have made us the preferred brunch brand for the health-conscious.
Ideal for the “new normal”
Toastique successfully survived and even thrived during the pandemic thanks to our “grab-and-go” menu offerings and our model of takeout and delivery. All our locations were operational and profitable throughout the past year- in fact, we even opened a new Toastique location in summer 2020!
Low build-out cost
Toastique’s launch model is franchise-friendly and highly efficient. Our build-out costs are among the lowest in the industry. As more commercial real estate becomes available, they can only get lower.
Fast growth
How much did our first location make in its first year of operations? Over a million dollars!* Not only that, but we managed to hit those profits without any professional marketing or advertising support. Why? Because healthy toasts is a category where Toastique has no national competition.
Low overheadWe have a lean, and efficient model that’s focused on fast and organic customer acquisition with low costs. This is what enabled us to finish our first two locations in 40 days.
Multiple revenue streams
As a Franchise Owner, you can create revenue from delivery, takeout, or dine-in as the times change. You can also earn from catering opportunities in your vicinity.
There you have it, more than enough reasons to be a Toastique Franchise Owner! Before someone else claims your brunch franchise location, click here and learn how you can make it yours.Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. (Warning: May result in intense cravings- visit at your own risk!)
Sarasota, Florida doesn’t have to wait long to enjoy gourmet toasts and cold-pressed juices from one of the country’s fastest-growing healthy food franchises. Toastique is coming to town under the leadership of Luke and Laura Anderson. For a franchise brand that’s synonymous with healthy and active lifestyles, there couldn’t have been a better pair to introduce Toastique to Sarasota.
For the couple, it was love at first sight. “Having run multiple businesses and after researching the world of franchise businesses, I was truly impressed from the moment I received the first piece of literature about Toastique. I was all in,” says Luke about the couple’s Franchise Discovery Process.
As Laura puts it, “Being the cook in the house, fueling my active family with healthy food has always been a priority. Finding a brand that I could feel good about and help bring that concept to others greatly influenced my desire to partner with Toastique.”
LET’S MEET THE ANDERSONS!
Luke and Laura have lived in the Sarasota area since 2003 and in Lakewood Ranch since 2009. Their only son, Chad, is a junior at Lakewood Ranch High School. Laura, who is originally from Central California, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University. She was also a collegiate D1 softball team member there.
She went back to school at SCF to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN) and was a Labor & Delivery Nurse for five years at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Looking for an opportunity to spend more time with their son she transitioned to Lakewood Ranch High School where she has served as both a nurse and a faculty member.
Luke is from Florida and was raised in Bradenton. He attended Bayshore High School where he was a multi-sport varsity letterman and went on to play collegiate D1 football at Eastern Kentucky University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He is the former owner, operator, and partner of Audio Video Partners (AVP), LLC., a low voltage and audio-video integration firm specializing in commercial projects.
Before AVP, Luke was a partner in Synergy Multimedia and later sold that business to Tempus Electronic Lifestyles. At Tempus, he served as the head of operations and project management. He recently sold his ownership in AVP to his partner to pursue new passions and business endeavors.
THE RIGHT BRAND, THE RIGHT LOCATION
What makes Luke and Laura the right Franchise Owners for Toastique’s new location? Well, the Andersons love the area for its “year-round active lifestyle,” as they put it. How active are the couple, by the way? Traveling, hiking, running, fitness, tennis, and cooking are some of their top leisure activities. Sounds pretty active to us!
As Laura says, “We wanted a business that suited our personal and professional backgrounds. With Toastique, we knew right away that it was the perfect fit for us.”
The duo is deeply involved in their community, in everything from youth sports to business networking. They also love the area for its young families and high-level public education. Considering their interests and those of the market they will operate in, Luke says they are excited to bring this new healthy and active lifestyle brand to the area.
From Toastique’s point of view, they’re not just the ideal Franchise Owners. They’re also the ideal customers. This enables the Andersons to better understand the local market and orient their outreach to address the need gap for healthy food in the area.
In Luke’s words, “We were looking for a franchise brand that was new, had a product offering that we could be passionate about, and a modern aesthetic. Toastique checked all of those boxes.”
“GENUINE LEADERSHIP”
Laura and Luke were impressed when they met Toastique’s leadership team, including Founder Brianna Keefe and CFO/Director of Construction Kyle Izett. The Sarasota couple has one word to describe them: genuine. Their admiration for Brianna and Kyle grew as they realized that the Founders were living the Toastique brand values. “Their dedication really struck us,” Laura says.
Approval Day was special for the Andersons. This is the opportunity for prospective Franchise Owners to travel to Toastique’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and experience the operations of the business first-hand, as well as sit down for a face-to-face with Brianna and Kyle. They liked the locations they visited and were impressed by the evolution of the space layout in each new location.
Luke says, “Having built a business from scratch, we know first-hand the challenges you face when owning a business. We were impressed from the beginning by not only the product and image of Toastique but also the business model and level of detail the team has put together.”
The product, the people, and the positioning seemed perfect for the new Franchise Owners. “The gourmet product offerings, clean and elegant branding strategy, and a simple business model that we could be part of early on and bring to our market,” are a few of the things that Laura says helped the couple make their decision.
“After the meeting, we knew this would indeed be a partnership and not just a stand-alone operation,” she adds.
The Andersons know that their new venture will be successful because they’re passionate, determined, and more than willing to put in the hard work. “Combining the business ownership and construction experience Luke has with the passion and determination I possess is going to be a killer combination,” Laura says with confidence.
Laura has a simple piece of advice to future Franchise Owners: Clarify all your doubts. As she states, “There are never too many questions to ask.”
Luke adds, “Owning a business is not easy. Make sure you have a solid plan in place before making this commitment. Your success will not be determined solely by you or your efforts but by your ability to surround yourself with people that make you better.”
Laura and Luke are now looking forward to “bringing this new and healthy brand to our local market and sharing that with family, friends, and the community.”
You too can become an entrepreneur, backed by a national brand known for creative gourmet toasts, cold-pressed juices, açaí bowls, and a simple, proven business model. Please visit our franchise website for more info.
Between opening our latest location in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard district and launching our gourmet toast and juice franchise opportunity in cities across the U.S. for the FIRST time in our history, you can say we’ve been very hard at work here at Toastique over the past several months!
Thanks to our rockstar franchise development team and our beautiful, all-new franchising website, we’ve already got calls rolling in from interested franchise investors all over America who want to bring Toastique’s unique gourmet toast and juice franchise opportunity to their community! We can’t wait to meet the amazing pioneers who are going to help us take Toastique to a national level, and we look forward to getting to know you a little better.
But- first things first…
Meet your Toastique Franchise Development Team!
Development Director- Mike Edwards
Mike will be your main point of contact once you have qualified for our Education Process. He can answer any questions you may have along the way and provide guidance and support, as well as educate you about the finer points of the Toastique brand.
Brand Manager- Charlotte Wagner
Charlotte works with franchise consultant networks nationwide to find qualified individuals who are interested in a staffing franchise investment opportunity.
Development Manager- Hailey Hyde
Hailey’s the first person you’ll speak to on the Toastique franchise development team. She’ll find out a little bit about you, and also give you more information about Toastique, our franchise opportunity, and who we’re looking for in a prospective Franchise Owner.
To say that our Toastique franchise development team members are franchising experts would be an understatement. With years of franchising experience with a variety of brands, their combined expertise and understanding enables them to effectively answer any and all questions you may have about our toast and juice franchise opportunity. You’ll be in good hands as you go through your Education Process journey with your trusted team helping you to navigate every step of the way.
Our Toast and Juice Franchise Education Process
Every journey begins with a single step. If you’re thinking about owning a Toastique franchise in your community, speaking to our Franchise Development Director for more information is the first step on your entrepreneurship journey. From there, you’ll move through our Franchise Education Process, which is designed to educate you on all things Toastique so that you can be sure that we’re the right franchise opportunity for you…and so we can be sure that you’re a good fit for us as a franchise candidate!
Here’s an overview of what a prospective Franchise Owner can expect, from their first visit to the Toastique franchising website to the day they sign their franchise agreement:
The Toastique Franchise Education Process
Qualification- Complete a brief questionnaire so we can learn a bit about you.
Initial Call- We’ll get acquainted with each other and find out what you’re looking for in a franchise. You’ll learn more about the franchise system, industry, and what makes Toastique a unique opportunity. We‘ll also get to find out more about your background.
Unit Economics- We take a deep-dive into the numbers together so you can see how much your investment will cost …and how much you can potentially make!
FDD Review- Access our Franchise Disclosure Document, which contains the nuts and bolts of the Toastique franchise, including guidelines, investment, and detailed performance information.
Business Model Review- Here’s your chance to ask questions about our marketing support, operations, and economics during an in-depth review of the Toastique model.
Clearance Call- It’s the moment of truth- our executive review team interviews you on a phone call to ensure that your ideals, goals, and spirit are in alignment with the Toastique brand.
Discovery Day- Come to Washington, D.C., and meet the Toastique team in person! You’ll get to see the business model in action, tour a couple of our locations, and, of course, sample our amazing menu items, including our signature gourmet toasts, smoothies, juices, and more!
Franchise Awarded!- We walk you through the signing of the Franchise Agreement, and voila! You officially own a Toastique franchise!
Excited to get started? We encourage you to take a tour of our franchise website to get better acquainted with the Toastique opportunity. Our website is chock-full of the most important information you need to know about who we are, what makes us unique in the juice franchise space, and how much you can potentially make as a Toastique franchise pioneer!
(A word to the wise, though- viewing our website on an empty stomach may lead to some pretty intense cravings for an Avocado Smash toast or a Blue Majik smoothie. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!)
Toastique is the PERFECT franchise opportunity for 2021- Here’s why!
We could go on all day about what makes Toastique an amazing opportunity to own a health-focused café in your community…but let’s face it, we’re in marketing- it’s our JOB to make this franchise sound amazing!
Go ahead, visit our franchise website, take a look around, and see for yourself why we’re so passionate about the Toastique brand, our delicious products, and our commitment to providing an absolutely awesome experience for our guests. Enjoy!
First, it was the consumers. Then the Franchise Owners caught on. Soon the industry followed suit. Now, one of the most reputed publications on the planet has recognized Brianna Keefe. The Founder of Toastique, the breakfast franchise that’s expanding all over the country, has been featured in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30!
AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB
One of the most renowned media companies in the world, Forbes has become synonymous with news on business, entrepreneurship, technology, lifestyle, and investing. With over 100 million visitors exploring their website over six months, it’s the go-to name for credible news across categories.
Launched in 2011, the Forbes 30 under 30 is a carefully chosen list of 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30. These are trailblazers that the company believes have already proven their mettle and are redefining the spaces they operate in. This year’s exclusive club of Forbes 30 under 30, for example, has collectively already raised over $1 billion in funding.
A WORTHY MEMBER
Brianna’s inclusion in this exceptionally exclusive list shouldn’t surprise anyone who has known her or worked with her. She has made a mark for herself in the restaurant industry for her entrepreneurship and the pathbreaking idea that’s making waves and finding customer acceptance all over the country.
She didn’t join a family business or venture into a tired and tested area. She opened a whole new category that offers fast-casual food for health-conscious people. And the business she started, Toastique, the breakfast franchise, has now become a movement with a healthy lifestyle. With every week, more and more Franchise Owners are placing their trust in her.
The fact that Brianna Keefe’s just 28 makes the achievement nothing short of incredible.
A COMBINATION OF ALL HER PASSIONS
Toastique wasn’t just another dream for Brianna. It’s the combination of all her dreams. Since childhood, she had been passionate about food, health, and hospitality. As she says it, she was interested in “clean living in all its forms.” The budding entrepreneur used to make smoothies in high school almost every day. At that time, her dream was to open a “smoothie shack by the beach.”
At the James Madison University (JMU), Brianna as a D1 athlete cheerleader soon realized that the existing options in fast food were anything but healthy. They were certainly convenient but not at all wholesome. That’s when she started her experiments with toast, the staple of the classic American breakfast.
But Brianna didn’t want to make ordinary toasts. She wanted to see how she could make it nutritious, something that had carbohydrates, healthy fats, and of course, proteins. She soon expanded her original avocado toast to several others while being mindful of the fact that what she came up with had to be easy to carry.
In other words, she wasn’t just experimenting with the ingredients. She was also looking for an easy format that would appeal to busy professionals.
A MOVEMENT IS BORN
Brianna’s passion finally saw fruition when she was walking around the District Wharf, DC’s new waterfront area. It was still under construction but she could see the potential and thought to herself, “This is it.” Toastique, the breakfast franchise that would redefine brunch, was finally born.
Of course, the fact that Kyle Izett, her boyfriend, had experience in commercial construction helped her launch the concept. From design to the eventual construction, all it took was 40 days for the first Toastique location to come to life. That lean buildout and the minimal investments it requires is another reason why the brand’s Franchise Owners love its business model.
Her love for all things healthy is reflected in the luscious delicacies that are synonymous with Toastique now. More than delicious toasts, the breakfast franchise also serves lip-smacking smoothies along with cold-pressed juices.
STUNNING RESPONSE
The success of the first location was beyond the wildest dreams of Brianna and Kyle. In its first year of operations, the Wharf location of Toastique generated more than $1 million in sales! What’s stunning about this feat is that the breakfast franchise didn’t use any professional advertising or marketing to generate brand awareness.
It was all word-of-mouth from its customers. They did the marketing for Toastique.
This spectacular success soon led to the opening of two more locations, one in Alexandria, Virginia, and another in the Navy Yard district. What’s striking about the performance of these Toastique locations is that although they were opened during the worst days of the pandemic, they turned out to be phenomenally profitable.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
It’s not just customers who have become believers in Toastique. The response from Franchise Owners has also been extraordinary. This has been extremely gratifying to Brianna and the team since her focus has always been on the collective success of all the entrepreneurs who’re part of the Toastique family.
In under three years, Brianna and her team have opened four locations of Toastique. There’s also a sister concern, a salad restaurant called Chopsmith. Toastique has also awarded a whopping 37 new franchise locations to new Franchise Owners across the United States. These will open over the next two years.
With a steady increase in the number of daily customers which is now at around 1200, Brianna and her team believe that Toastique will clock close to $7 million in revenue this year.
So, what inspires this Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur? “A sense of adrenaline” is how Brianna puts it. As soon as she wakes up, her mind begins to race with excitement about all that she has to get done by the end of the day.
CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS
Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, according to Brianna. You need to have passion, drive, and commitment. You also need to be hardworking, optimistic, and have a long-term commitment to the community you serve.
If you believe you have it, click here to learn more about the franchising opportunities at the breakfast franchise that’s redefining brunch and empowering entrepreneurs.