Franchise Updates
Find A Recession-Resistant Career With Toastique
Common Causes Of Recessions We’ve all heard about the effects factors like inflation, global conflict, and health crises have on the economy. The term ‘recession’ is getting thrown around a lot, and while it’s a little bit early to tell for sure, it seems that may very well be what we have to deal with in the coming months. But despite all of the panic and worry that comes with a potential recession, the truth is that they’re only as damaging as you let them be. With the proper insight and planning, you can weather any storm – and even come out on the other side stronger than before. In this article, we’ll take the fear out of recessions by explaining them in detail and outline how you can use them to your advantage as a Toastique Franchise Owner. RECESSIONS DEFINED The word recession refers to a significant and prolonged drop in economic activity and growth. It illustrates situations in which output declines, GDP shrinks rather than grows, and the economy contracts. Recessions have existed for over two centuries, beginning after the industrial revolution. During this time, countries began to experience large-scale economic downturns that impacted their modernizing economies. There isn’t a set threshold or definition for what makes a contraction a recession, as it can differ from country to country. However, a general rule among economists is that two consecutive quarters or more of negative growth in GDP qualifies as a recession. While this is the general definition, there are other ways to measure whether or not an economy is in a recession. For example, some economists look at other indicators such as employment rates, retail sales, and industrial production. Recessions can last for anything from a few months to several years and can have far-reaching effects on economies all over the world. Common Causes Of Recessions Recessions can be sparked by many factors, many of which often cause a negative domino effect on other areas of an economy. Here are some of the most common reasons for recessions and their impacts. Sudden Economic Shock Economic shocks are surprise factors or challenges that damage an economys function. When they occur, supply and demand usually shift unpredictably, causing prices to change and economic activity to slow down or even halt. A few examples of economic shocks are natural disasters, terror attacks, and, as you may already be familiar with, COVID-19. While it’s impossible to predict when these crises might happen, they can have a severe and long-lasting impact on economies, sometimes taking years for them to recover. Excessive Debt When people or businesses have too much debt, the costs of servicing it can affect their ability to pay all their bills and commitments. This leads to bankruptcies and defaults, which in turn can cause a decrease in economic activity and an increase in unemployment. Excessive debt is often considered one of the leading causes of recessions, as it can have a domino effect on businesses and consumers. When people struggle to pay their debts, they often reduce their spending, which impacts firms and leads to job losses. High Inflation Inflation refers to the upward increase in the price of goods and services over time. It’s always been a thing and isn’t necessarily problematic unless it gets out of control. When inflation rises excessively to the point where it outpaces wage growth, it can cause serious problems. A common way governments have sought to control inflation over the years – and today – is through increasing interest rates. However, when done to excess, this can lead to a decrease in demand and an increase in unemployment, both of which can cause a recession. The Economy’s Current State Of Affairs After years of global turbulence, lockdowns, and fiscal stimulus, analysts are no longer talking about the potential of a post-pandemic economic boom in 2022 and are instead predicting a recession. Of course, there isn’t a consensus across the board. Still, every day, another financial institution or respected economist is jumping on the bandwagon and agreeing that we are headed for some sort of economic downturn. How did we get here? Well, there are several reasons for this sudden change in tone: Supply Chain Disruptions And Inflation The U.S. began seeing signs of inflation in 2021. This was somewhat expected after years of lockdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupted supply chains, and increased prices of certain commodities. However, what wasn’t expected was the speed at which these inflationary pressures would appear. The United States Federal Reserve vastly underestimated how aggressively it would need to take action on the problem, and now we are seeing the effects of that miscalculation (a 40-year high). Of course, this has been compounded by global factors, such as production line disruptions in Asia and recent economic sanctions on Russian oil and gas, which have worsened inflationary pressures. Interest Rate Hikes In response to the quickly-rising inflation we’ve seen over the past year, the Federal Reserve has taken some – although delayed – action in controlling the problem. It’s increased rates multiple times in 2022, most recently by bases of 0.75 of a percentage point in both June and July. Economists predict that this is only set to continue; a survey by Bloomberg shows that most industry experts anticipate subsequent increases leading the rate to a range of 3.25% to 3.5% by the end of the calendar year. Yield Curve Inversion The yield on 2-year U.S. Treasury notes rose above the yields on 10-year Treasury notes in early July, a condition known as “yield curve inversion.” This is often seen as a predictor of an oncoming recession, as it indicates that investors are becoming more risk-averse and are anticipating lower economic growth in the future. The economy’s current yield curve inversion is at its deepest since 2007, the year before the notorious “Great Recession” of 2008. Why This Isn’t 2008 Despite all of this talk about recessions and economic contractions, the fact is that today’s situation is much different than that of 2008’s. The 2008 recession was uniquely characterized by a housing market crash, record-high levels of household debt, and widespread defaults on subprime mortgages. In contrast, today’s economy is in much better shape. The job market is strong, wages are rising, and thanks to stimulus payments, many people have savings. Experts believe that a potential recession in 2022 or 2023 won’t emulate those of the past but will instead be a garden variety occurrence, one that’s under much better circumstances. Factors Entrepreneurs Need To Consider As we’ve already mentioned, not everyone experiences recessions similarly. Some people and businesses can weather them quite well, while others suffer greatly. So what determines how well you’ll do during an economic downturn? Sector The first factor to consider is what sector your business falls into. Some sectors are naturally more resilient to recessions than others. For example, companies that provide essential goods and services, such as food and healthcare, do pretty well during economic contractions. This is because people still need to eat and take care of their health, regardless of the state of the economy. Income And Profits Generally, businesses with higher incomes and profits are better equipped to weather economic downturns. They have more money to invest in their operations, which gives them a greater chance of success. They can also afford to take risks, often necessary for innovation and growth. Find a Recession-Resistant Career With Toastique So what does this all mean for entrepreneurs? If you’re considering starting a business, now is an excellent time to research and find a recession-resistant opportunity. Toastique is a great option to consider, as it has the potential to do well in any economic climate for many reasons. A Track Record Of Resilience Having been in business for about a year before the pandemic, Toastique’s entry into the grab-and-go food sector was trial by fire. After opening two locations by the end of 2019, founders Brianna and Kyle faced the daunting task of keeping their business afloat during an unprecedented global event and growing it throughout 2020. While other food businesses were forced to shutter their doors, Toastique could pivot and adapt, thanks to the adoption of third-party delivery options and online ordering. As a result, the company could expand to three new locations in 2020 and bolster its growth to unimaginable levels. 2021 saw Toastique bring in $847,710* in gross sales and an unheard-of profit margin of 20% compared to an average of six to nine percent for the rest of the industry. *Item 19, 2022 FDD A Positive Industry Outlook Specializing in the $4.2 trillion health and wellness industry, $54.8 billion in superfoods, and $287.1 billion fast-casual industry, Toastique franchise has a lucrative outlook for growth. Its healthy, easy-to-go meals appeal to the future of consumerism, where the prospect of grabbing fast and fresh food is desirable. It’s also been found that healthy living improves during recessions, which further bodes well for Toastique’s future. An On-Trend Product One of Toastique’s most famous menu items – upscale avocado toast – is considered a leading dish in restaurant breakfast/brunch items. So much so that 45% of survey respondents agreed it was a significant trend as far back as 2018. Avocado toast’s popularity has only grown since then, and as a result, Toastique has. An Attractive And Nimble Business Model While many food businesses have been struggling to find their footing in recent years, Toastique has done nothing else but thrive. It’s been able to quickly adapt and change with the times, thanks to its simple business model. Toastique ‘s menu is made up of healthy, grab-and-go items that are easy to make and don’t require a lot of ingredients. This allows the company to keep it is overhead expenses low and its menu items affordable. Moreover, because it specializes in food, Toastique doesn’t have to worry about the volatile trends that often plague other industries, such as fashion and technology. As it did once during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s franchise business model can quickly adapt to changing consumer needs and preferences. Why Starting A Business During A Recession Can Be Lucrative In The Long Term While a recession can be scary for businesses, it doesn’t have to end the world. For entrepreneurs, it can be an opportunity to start a recession-resistant company and ultimately be successful. LESS COMPETITION During a recession, many businesses close their doors for good. This leaves room for new companies to enter the market and fill the void. If you can provide a product or service in demand, you’ll be in a great position to expand your reach and capitalize on consumer spending once it eventually rises again. MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING With businesses failing left and right, more money is available for those who can weather the storm. This is because investors are more likely to put their money into businesses with a higher chance of succeeding during tough economic times. If you can show that your business has what it takes to make it through a recession, you’ll be more likely to get the funding you need to grow. LOWER OVERHEAD COSTS Businesses are more than likely to sell products, assets, or equipment at a lower price in a recession. This could be an excellent opportunity to buy what you need for your business at a fraction of the cost. MORE MOTIVATED EMPLOYEES In a recession, jobs are scarce. This means that employees are more likely to be grateful for their work and motivated to do their best. If you can provide a stable work environment, you’ll be more likely to attract and retain top talent. NEGOTIATING POWER In a recession, businesses are often more willing to negotiate a price. This allows you to get what you need at a lower cost, saving you a lot of money in the long run. While some risks are associated with starting a business during a recession, there are also many potential rewards. Toastique is the perfect example of a company that’s not only weathered the storm but come out stronger on the other side. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAMS A REALITY Not to beat around the bush, but an economic slowdown is coming. And while that’s admittedly not ideal, we want our Franchise Owners to know that we’ve got their back. We’re committed to helping them weather the storm and come out on the other side ready to capitalize when the economy picks up. So whatever challenges lie ahead, we’ll be facing them together. With less competition and more potential customers looking for healthy and affordable food options, now is the perfect time to get involved with Toastique breaksfast franchise. Not only will you be getting in on the ground floor of a fantastic company, but you’ll also set yourself up for long-term success. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, there’s no time like the present. Contact our franchising team today to learn more about how you can get started with Toastique. We can’t wait to help you make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality!
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Starting a business during a recession? Are you crazy? Not if that business is Toastique Franchise!
While recessions and economic contractions tend to get a bad rap in the business world, they can present many unique opportunities for forward-thinking entrepreneurs. Positioned to capitalize on many of these opportunities, starting a Toastique franchise during a recession can be a wise investment. In this article, we’ll explore the topic of recessions, what they mean for businesses and consumers, and some of the unique opportunities they present for Toastique franchise owners. What Is A Recession? You’ve probably heard the word countless times, but what does “recession” really mean? In simple terms, a recession entails a general decline in economic activity. This decline can be measured by various indicators, including gross domestic product (GDP), employment, retail sales, and others. While the exact definition of recession varies among different countries, economists generally agree that recessions occur when GDP declines for two consecutive quarters, or six months. What Causes Recessions? Many factors contribute to recessions, including high interest rates, low consumer confidence, tight credit conditions, and other economic factors. Exogenous circumstances such as natural disasters or political events can also trigger economic declines. What Happens During a Recession? The most immediate impact of a recession is often felt in the job market, as businesses shed jobs in reaction to falling demand. This can lead to increased unemployment and underemployment, as well as lower wages. A recession can also lead to declines in asset prices, such as housing and stocks, which can result in lost wealth. Finally, recessions can lead to reduced lending and borrowing as banks become more risk-averse. This can make it more difficult for businesses and individuals to access the capital they need to invest and grow. How Long Do Recessions Last? Recessions usually last for a few months or up to a year and are typically followed by a period of economic recovery. However, some recessions can be much longer-lasting and lead to significant economic contractions (such as the Great Recession of 2008-2009). Recessions are generally considered adverse economic events, leading to output, employment, and investment declines. However, there can be some positive aspects to recessions as well. For example, they can help to reduce inflationary pressures and lead to more efficient resource allocation in the economy. What We’re Seeing Today While opposing opinions abound, it seems clear that the United States is currently amid some economic contraction. This is confirmed by the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which showed that GDP declined by 1.6% in Q1 and 0.9% in Q2. Some analysts are reluctant to declare this a full-blown recession, arguing that job numbers remain steady and consumer confidence has not been significantly affected. However, it seems likely that we are heading towards a recessionary period, especially given the ongoing supply chain disruptions and inflationary challenges North America has experienced over the past months. What Recessions Mean for the Average American Recessions are known to cause a number of changes in the economy and, as a result, evoke changes in consumers’ spending and saving habits. During a recession, people are likely to: Spend Less As economic activity slows down, people tend to spend less money on discretionary items like entertainment, vacations, and luxury goods. Instead, they focus on essential items like food and gas. Save More With job security concerns on the rise, people will likely start saving more during a recession. This can be done through traditional savings accounts and more creative methods like investing in gold or other precious metals. Pay Down Debt With income levels stagnant or falling, people often try to reduce their debt during a recession. Whether through increased payments or by not taking on new debt, paying down debt can be a priority for many during tough economic times. This has become particularly important in today’s conditions as the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. Adopt Healthy Habits? In addition to the changes in behavior noted above, recessions also tend to lead to an increase in healthy living habits. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including: More Time For Exercise With fewer opportunities to socialize and less money to spend on entertainment, people often have more time for exercise during a recession. This extra time can be used to explore new outdoor activities, join a gym, or simply take walks around the neighborhood. More Home Cooking Another healthy change that often occurs during a recession is increased home cooking. Dining out has become less affordable, so people are more likely to cook at home using fresh, healthy ingredients. This can lead to improved diets and better nutrition overall. Capitalize upon Economic Conditions with Toastique Toastique is a unique, healthy, affordable fast-casual restaurant concept positioned for success in any economic condition. Our customizable menu of gourmet toasts provides customers with a healthy, convenient snack and meal option that can’t be found anywhere else. We’re proud to be a franchise-based business, meaning that we empower local entrepreneurs to open and operate their Toastique locations. What Toastique Has to Offer Entrepreneurs who are looking to get into the world of business have a lot of options to choose from. But not all companies are created equal. Toastique’s unique restaurant concept offers many advantages over other companies, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to invest. Here are just some of the benefits: Low Overhead Costs One of the most significant advantages of Toastique is the low overhead. Thanks to our fast-casual model, we don’t have the exact high costs as traditional sit-down restaurants. This makes us much more affordable to open and operate, even in expensive markets. Franchisor Support Another big advantage of Toastique is the franchisor support it offers. We provide a turn-key operation, which means that everything from the initial set-up to ongoing marketing is taken care of. This takes a lot of the stress and guesswork out of starting a business, making it an excellent choice for first-time entrepreneurs. Recession-Proof Business Model Toastique’s unique business model is designed to weather economic downturns. Our company’s focus on healthy, grab-and-go meals and snacks makes it a convenient option for those looking to save money during tough times. Additionally, Toastique’s low overhead means it can continue operating profitably even when other businesses are struggling. Unique Menu Toastique’s menu is like nothing else on the market. Our combination of gourmet toast, all-natural smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and açaí bowls provides customers with a healthy, convenient, and affordable meal option. This unique menu sets Toastique apart from other fast-casual restaurants and makes it an excellent choice for health-conscious diners. Proven Success Having started only a few years before the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm, Toastique is no stranger to economic turbulence. Much of its development and structure today can be attributed to the company’s ability to adapt and pivot in the face of adversity. The fact that Toastique has been able to not only survive but thrive amid a global pandemic is a testament to the strength of its business model and its team. Low Starting Investment Toastique is a relatively low-cost franchise, with a starting financial investment of just $347,250. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to enter the restaurant business without breaking the bank. Forward-Thinking Business Model Entrepreneurs and those seeking self employment for the first time who are looking to get into the world of business have a lot of options to choose from. Toastique is a forward-thinking company that caters to tomorrow’s consumers. Our company’s focus on healthy, grab-and-go meals and snacks is in line with consumers’ growing trend of health consciousness. Our delicious and gourmet dishes also fare well with younger generations, who love the Instagram-worthy aesthetic of our toasts. In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to have a business that can weather any storm. That’s why Toastique is such an excellent choice for anyone looking to invest. With our low overhead costs, franchisor support, and proven success, we’re confident that Toastique is a perfect choice for first-time entrepreneurs and experienced business owners. Contact our franchising team today to learn more about how you can get in on the Toastique opportunity!
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Our Brunch Franchise Development Director Answers Your Top Questions!
Hi, everybody! It’s me, Toastique’s Director of Franchise Development, Hailey Hyde, and I’m taking over the Toastique blog today to answer some questions from real brunch franchise candidates. I’m excited to help you dive into the Toastique breakfast franchise Discovery Process! One of the best parts of my job is giving franchise candidates guidance, advice, and answers to their questions as they research the Toastique concept and determine whether it’s a good fit for them. And then, of course, my very favorite part of my job is watching them become Toastique Franchise Owners and start their path to entrepreneurial success! Here are some of the top questions I’ve received lately, along with their answers. Let’s get started! I am concerned about the economy, inflation, and possible recession. Is now really a good time to invest in a Toastique franchise? – Rebecca L., Austin, TX Now is a great time to invest in a franchise. If we fall into a recession, it is the perfect time to invest your finances into an opportunity that will provide a larger return than other financial investments, including the stock market. Why is Toastique considered recession-resistant? – Monica D., Boulder, CO Studies have shown that people are more focused on their health than ever before, with the health-food industry growing year over year. We experienced such growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, with our sales dropping only slightly and our EBITDA stronger than the year prior. While other restaurants were forced to close their doors, we experienced an increase in sales at our Navy Yard location – with limited capacity requirements! I don’t have experience in the restaurant industry. Can I still be a successful Toastique Franchise Owner? – Nathaniel M., Portland, OR While restaurant experience is not required of Toastique Owners, it certainly is a plus. However, we have a fully-immersive, two-week training program in Washington, D.C., where we will train you on all things Toastique. Our recipes, processes, inventory, scheduling, and everything else have brought success to our toast Franchise Owners in other markets. Before attending the in-person training, you will also be required to review our cloud-based training materials and pass the accompanying quizzes. We are very hands-on with training and will ensure that all Franchise Owners are well-trained and set up for success. What are the backgrounds of some of your most successful Franchise Owners? – Greta R., Raleigh, NC As with our Founder Brianna Keefe, a few of our Franchise Owners come from a background in the hospitality industry, but we’ve also got Owners with backgrounds in fields as diverse as fashion merchandising finance, and even the U.S. Navy! One of our most successful Franchise Owners is Adrian Lojo, whose Orlando, FL Toastique brunch franchise location just opened its doors in November. He and his father were involved as owners of several McDonald’s franchises, so they have a lot of restaurant experience and understand the franchising world well. What will my average workday look like? – Michelle P., Tampa, FL Your typical workday will include working within your restaurant, checking inventories and placing orders where necessary, assisting your team with prep work, greeting guests and acting as the face of your business, receiving inventory, assisting your team with making gourmet products, checking your sales and adjusting your labor as needed. Your most important job will be creating a positive work environment for your team and providing excellent customer service. Best of all, most Toastique healthy franchise locations are open from 7 AM to 5 PM, which gives our Franchise Owners a healthier work-life balance than many other Franchise Owners in the restaurant industry. How long will it take for my Toastique franchise location to open? – Curtis N., Grand Rapids, MI Realistically, you are looking at 12 months to get your doors open. Our real estate team will assist you with site selection and lease negotiations, but these two items tend to take a little time. How will you help me find and open my location? – Renee A., Houston, TX Our real estate team will assist you in selecting your perfect location. They will perform market analysis in your area of interest to help you to find the best location. They can also present locations that might not even be on the market yet! For your grand opening, we will come to your location about two weeks prior to assist you with training your team. We will stick around a couple of weeks after your grand opening to ensure a successful kickoff! I have a few locations in mind already; can I use these? – Andre O., Charlotte, NC Locations of interest are welcome; however, we will need approval from the Toastique executive leadership team. Our locations do best in specific areas, so we need to ensure your desired location fits within Toastique’s model. What are the required funds? – Shay J., Denver, CO The financial requirements are $150,000 liquid and a net worth of at least $300,000. The investment is estimated from $347,250 to $568,7000 with a single unit franchise fee of $45,000 and a three-pack of $95,000. I have funds in my 401k; can I use these? – Amir I., Philadelphia, PA It sounds like you would be a good candidate for a ROBS loan (Rollover for Business Startup). I can refer you to Benetrends for more information and to start the application process. What is an SBA Loan? – Vanessa S., Las Vegas, NV An SBA loan is a loan backed by the Small Business Administration, intended for small businesses. They typically have specific requirements, but because the SBA backs them, they often make it easier for small businesses to obtain a business startup loan. I’m happy to say that Toastique is recognized and approved by the Small Business Administration. Anthony Byrd with Benetrends has helped a number of our Franchise Owners obtain financing. I can make the introduction for you. How much corporate support can I expect to receive as a Toastique Franchise Owner? – Ben J., Tempe, AZ Wow, where to start? Let’s break it down by the types of support our Franchise Owners receive from day one: Training: In addition to the two-week immersive training course in Washington, D.C., Toastique provides access to our cloud-based training material as soon as you are a signed Franchise Owner. This training material is not only available for you to achieve success as an Owner, but it also includes materials and resources for you to use to train your team! Ongoing Support: The training and support will never end as we continue to grow, with bi-monthly calls and annual meetings to keep Owners informed about new happenings, events, and seasonal promotions. We take pride in being available 24/7 for anything our Franchise Owners may need. Field Support: Using his considerable commercial construction experience, our CFO and Director of Construction, Kyle Izett, will assist you throughout the entire construction and inspections process to ensure that your buildout costs end up at or below market price. He’ll even perform the general contracting of new locations himself with the rest of the Toastique team if Franchise Owners prefer. Marketing Support: In addition to our dedicated followers on social media, we have partnered with a restaurant marketing group that will virtually introduce you to the neighborhood, assist you with your opening material, and really help you boost your business visibility! ______________________________________________ Is there anything we haven’t covered? If you still have a question about owning a Toastique brunch franchise that wasn’t in today’s Q&A, please feel free to reach out! Visit the Toastique franchising website to schedule a call with our Development Manager, who can answer any questions we might have left out today. Hoping to speak with you soon about how you can become Toastique’s next Franchise Owner!
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We Had Ourselves a Year!
We Had Ourselves a Year! Wow! What a year it was. Toastique added ten new breakfast and juice bar franchise owners, many with multiple units under their umbrella, in nine new territories, in nine states. We also opened a full-service corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. Oh, and Toastique also racked up a few prestigious awards like our founder, Brianna Keefe, making the Forbes 30 under 30 list, being named the Woman of Wonder by Franchise dictionary Magazine, and the franchise brand itself being called by FranServe to the Fran-tastic 500. See you in the future! We’d Like to Introduce You to Toastique’s Newest Breakfast Franchise Owners! Toastique has been one of Raintree’s most successful and fastest-growing franchise brands under the Raintree umbrella — and 2022 was no different. The gourmet toast and fresh juice juggernaut opened up new healthy franchise locations in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Stone Harbor, New Jersey; and Riverton, Utah, among others. With those new locations come new franchise owners, and we couldn’t be more excited to help them along this unique career journey. Before we close out the New Year and make untold resolutions for 2023, we’d like to introduce you to some of the newest members of the Toastique family. From the Central Valley of California to the Atlantic Coast of Florida and some spots in between, these Toastique Franchise Owners are sharing their tasty and healthy breakfast creations across the country. Hello, Roger and Tammie Miller—Bakersfield, California We’re thrilled to have Roger, and Tammie Miller join the Toastique franchise family! The Millers, an all-American family from Bakersfield, California, couldn’t be more ready to offer their beloved community a host of healthy brunch, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and more options. Not only does their active, health-conscious way of life make them perfect owners, but they are also ideal customers. They love nothing more than sitting down for a delicious brunch of unique toast combinations and freshly pressed juice. When the couple isn’t growing their new business, Roger and Tammie enjoy spending time outdoors with their two daughters and four-legged friend. It Was Always About Health for the Millers Prior to becoming owner/operator of Bakersfield’s hottest new brunch spot, the Millers were in more traditional careers. For the last 20 years, Tammie has worked in the preoperative care unit of one of the biggest hospitals in the area. Roger worked his way through school bartending and ended up finishing his higher education career with four degrees: An associate in Arts degree in Sociology, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master’s in Healthcare Management. He is currently the Clinical Director of Acute Care Services at a local Level II trauma center. What Led Them to Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar Tammie and Roger researched franchising opportunities but found nothing they felt suited them properly. “Many franchises we looked at seemed cheap and most likely are cheap,” Roger sums up. “Toastique screams quality in everything it does,” he adds. Toastique’s emphasis on healthy living and creating food made with whole, healthy ingredients convinced the family that they were making the right decision. “Everything about it is so beautiful, from the logo to the decor and, most importantly, the food. You just know people will love it,” the new Franchise Owner says confidently. The new Franchise Owners also appreciate how the Toastique support team has been there to explain everything about the brand, product, and operations. Roger understands that they’re still early in the process of rolling out the new location. Still, he profoundly appreciates how Brianna, Kyle, and the company are ready to answer their queries. “Their availability thus far has been great,” he says. The Sky’s the Limit Roger and Tammie are confident that their Toastique breakfast and juice bar franchise will succeed. It has the right ingredients, from the product to the people behind it. But what will truly make it happen for the Millers is the hard work they’re willing to put in. And we couldn’t be more confident and happy for them. Good luck to the Millers! Let’s TOAST to Luke and Laura Anderson! For most companies, it takes quite a few years to get off the ground and make a name for themselves, let alone turn a substantial profit. However, Toastique gourmet toast and juice bar isn’t like most companies. Founded in 2018 by hospitality veteran Brianna Keefe, this gourmet toast bar franchise was successful from day one. Fast forward a few years, and the geniuses behind the Toastique franchise brand have spread its wings nearly coast-to-coast by beginning to franchise in 2020. Even in a year when opening a food service business seemed a little crazy, this healthy food and fresh juice cafe refused to slow down. Because of that growth and refusal to slow down—plus a love of healthy brunch—Luke and Laura Anderson of Sarasota, Florida decided to make a move and invest their time and money in a Toastique health food franchise. Who Are the Andersons? The Andersons moved to Sarasota in 2003 but have called Lakewood Ranch home since 2009. Laura, originally from Central California, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University. She was also a collegiate D1 softball player while there. Laura returned to school at State College of Florida to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN) and was a Labor and 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 originally from Bradenton, Florida, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Eastern Kentucky University while also playing for the school’s Division 1 football team. 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. From 9-to-5ers to Entrepreneurs Luke and Laura were contemplating going into the franchise business for some time, but never found anything that met their standards, values, and interest until they found Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar. “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. Laura added her two cents with, “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.” They love the area for its “year-round active lifestyle,” as they put it. 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 franchise brand to the area. A Confident Investment You must be confident when making a financial investment of this size, and the Andersons were nothing short of that after meeting with the Toastique executive leadership team. When talking about Founder Brianna Keefe and CFO Kyle Izett, the couple had one word to describe them: genuine. Their admiration for Brianna and Kyle grew as they realized that the Founders lived the Toastique franchise brand values. “Their dedication really struck us,” Laura says. Approval Day came, which meant an opportunity for Luke and Laura to travel to Toastique’s Washington, D.C. franchise headquarters and experience the business’s operations first-hand, as well as sit down for a face-to-face with Brianna and Kyle. That meeting only reinforced their confidence in becoming Toastique Franchise Owners. 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.” Michelle Wardius – King of Prussia, Pennsylvania There’s gourmet toast that your local coffee shop downstreet serves, and then THERE’S Toastique’s excellent menu of gourmet toasts. This breakfast franchise brand is redefining what healthy brunch looks and tastes with options using fresh ingredients like watermelon relish, prosciutto, fontina cheese, sundried tomato tuna, and many more. Because of its fabulous menus spread across many franchise locations and the incredible success of the companies since its founding, Toastique is a successful unicorn in the world of restaurant franchising. A New Queen of Toast Comes to King of Prussia, PA As a wellness-oriented person, Michelle puts staying healthy at the top of her list of priorities. She enjoys activities that get her moving, like sports and fitness, and is always up for a hike or bike ride with friends and family. Before joining in the Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar Franchise Ownership craze, Michelle’s post-college professional background was in the fashion and merchandising business. But like many of us, she didn’t end up doing what she went to school for and instead chose to take up the challenge of managing her husband’s dental offices for 20 years. She also got involved in real estate, selling it for eight years. Her extensive career experience and self-driven attitude led her to look for new business opportunities. She also wanted something that would give her a chance to be her own boss, have more control over her time, and have a dependable paycheck – which was a big deal for her due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Michelle also wanted an option that would reflect her passions for wellness and fitness and incorporate her family and community. Enter Toastique: The healthy and boutique restaurant franchise brand that emphasized the importance of healthy, on-the-go, and gourmet meal options. A Perfect Pairing At first glance, it seemed to tick off all of the boxes – a welcoming, positive culture with several potential opportunities and ways to get started. Its style also appealed to her, considering that her daughter already made much of the same food at home. However, she still felt the need to do due diligence on the healthy food franchise brand. And everything seemed to check out, but to be sure, she reached out to the team at Raintree for more information before becoming their newest franchisee. One of the things that stood out to her the most upon walking through the door was Toastique’s approach to making its food – she was amazed to see no industrial kitchen in sight. Instead, there was a focus on healthy, made-to-order meals with an emphasis on organic and locally sourced ingredients. Fast-forward to Michelle’s Discovery Day where she got to meet with founders Bree and Kyle and the three of them clicked immediately. Everything lined up from values and priorities to feeling comfortable around the entire executive leadership team. The Rest is History Michele’s hard work and business-savvy mind have been instrumental in making her Toastique breakfast franchise journey successful. She’s currently in the process of opening three new restaurant locations in King of Prussia, and we can’t wait to see her make waves in the world of healthy eating! We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Michelle and her team! If you’re like Michele or any of our other new Franchisees and are looking for a franchise opportunity that is supportive, values-based, and has a strong focus on healthy living. In that case, Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar Franchise may be the perfect fit for you. Visit our website to learn more about the franchise brand and what it takes to become a franchisee.
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Paul Diballa Brings His Restaurant Experience to Toastique!
Location: Sarasota, Florida Toastique, Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar has been a success since its first store opened in 2018, and the franchise brand hasn’t looked back. Thanks to the vision of founder Brianna Keefe, the sky’s the limit for this boutique brunch spot. It’s quickly become one of the best franchising brands we at Raintree have the pleasure of working with. Someone else has taken notice of Toastique’s success, and his name is Paul Diballa. Paul is a classically trained chef with many years of experience working on the line in several restaurants throughout the Chicago, Illinois area. He finally decided to strike out on his own, and everything the Toastique Healthy Breakfast Franchise stands for aligned perfectly with his personal values. Follow along below to learn more about Paul’s journey into the world of franchising. What is your professional background? I went to Ole Miss but left without getting a degree. Then a friend of mine mentioned I should try culinary school, and I jumped at it. I ended up at Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts. From there, I went to Chicago and worked in a restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck. I did everything in the kitchen, from washing dishes and prepping recipes from scratch to running the line. And I also met my wife while she was working in the pastry department. After six more years in several other Chicago restaurants, I switched to selling insurance. During this time, my wife took a job at Gordon Food Service, a food distribution company, in the sales department. She really enjoyed working there, so when there was another opening in the sales department, I took it and spent six years as a sales representative. I then spent another six as a local franchise sales representative, where my interest in franchising developed. How did you first become aware of the Toastique breakfast franchise brand? I attended a franchise discovery day for a different brand, but it didn’t feel right from the get-go. Then I discovered Raintree, and through them, I eventually came across Toastique, Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar. WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE TOASTIQUE FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY? WHAT SET TOASTIQUE APART, IN YOUR EYES, FROM OTHER FRANCHISE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOOD/FAST CASUAL INDUSTRY? Toastique’s entire operation and business model were simple. It was also a new franchise concept that I hadn’t seen before that came with a small staffing number, low business overhead expenses, and a proven product that has been making a profit from day one. Also, the support I got from the executive team at Toastique and Raintree was a significant selling point. WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT MEETING TOASTIQUE’S FOUNDER AND THE REST OF THE CORPORATE TEAM? Brianna’s energy and belief in the healthy food that Toastique is selling were infectious. There’s no question I can’t ask that the corporate team won’t answer, and no problem too big or small for them to help me solve. WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT TOASTIQUE’S APPROVAL DAY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS DISCOVERY DAY)? It was a great time all around. Getting to visit different stores and see how they operate in such an efficient way was amazing. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL? It boils down to who we hire because whoever that person will be, they will be the face of the business. Plus, I’ll be there almost daily to ensure the business is booming. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A POTENTIAL FRANCHISE OWNER? Look at your returns and what you’re willing to spend. Don’t be afraid to reach out to franchise support, and do as much digging into the finances as possible. We can’t wait for Paul to get up and running with his Sarasota, FL, Toastique healthy breakfast franchise location. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and we have no doubt he’ll be a success. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Toastique, Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar family by investing in a franchise location, click here to learn more.
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3 Recession-Proofing Strategies to Keep Your Breakfast Franchise Ownership Dreams Alive in 2023
Buckle up, everybody — according to financial experts, we may be in for a bit of a bumpy ride in 2023. If you’ve been dreaming of going into business for yourself by opening a trendy and delicious healthy restaurant in your community, you might think this means you need to put those goals on hold. We’re here to tell you to think again! Unlike other breakfast franchises and healthy franchises in the restaurant and hospitality space, Toastique’s Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar not only launched in 2020 during a global pandemic, but continued to grow and thrive as other concepts were shutting their doors for good. Needless to say, the Toastique corporate leadership team knows a thing or two about how to ensure the organic juice bar or sandwich franchise of your dreams is equipped to weather just about any economic storm that blows its way, and they’ve agreed to share some of their top tips with prospective breakfast Franchise Owners like you. Let’s dive in! A Bit of Background About Our Healthy Breakfast Franchise As we mentioned above, Toastique got its franchising start during a period in history that was notoriously bad for the restaurant industry. Founder Brianna Keefe opened the doors to her first Toastique location in the bustling Wharf District of Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2018, just 40 days from the start of her organic juice bar’s buildout. With the constant foot traffic from hungry tourists and businesspeople in the area, Toastique quickly became a local hit, generating over $1 million in revenue in its first year, without a single penny spent on advertising! Buoyed by the immense success of her flagship location, Brianna opened two more Toastique cafés in the Washington, D.C. area and began looking into franchising her concept. Then in 2020, tragedy struck the restaurant industry in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic. Restaurants across the country were forced to close their dine-in eating areas during lockdown, and those who were unable to successfully pivot their business model to carryout or delivery were not able to remain open at all. Fortunately, the grab-and-go nature of Toastique’s menu items, along with the simple, scalable operations that require only a couple of workers at minimum, allowed Brianna and company to continue earning revenue by serving gourmet toasts, juices, smoothies and more on a to-go basis. Their natural ability to thrive during one of the worst things to happen to the restaurant industry in history helped Brianna and the rest of the Toastique team move forward with their plans for opening breakfast franchise locations across the United States, in a big way! In just three short years, Toastique went from one little location to a whopping 66 cafés nationwide, with more on the way. Because most of this impressive growth notably occurred during the pandemic, it’s safe to say the healthy franchise’s leadership team knows what it takes to not just survive but thrive in the face of a recession. Now, let’s get to the team’s tips for entrepreneurs who are looking to make a big splash in the healthy franchise industry regardless of what the economy is doing: Tip #1: Keep it Simple When investing in a restaurant concept, it’s important to account for the overhead expenses you will be putting in before you start to turn a profit. For example, renting or buying a space for a large casual-dining type of restaurant with tens of tables, a full kitchen and more, can be extremely costly. By opting for a restaurant concept that minimizes some of these overhead costs, you can get on the road to profitability faster. Two really easy ways to do this include investing in a concept that requires a much smaller footprint than an average restaurant, and keeping your menu simple. Sandwich franchises, for example, might have 15 different items on the menu, but all are made with roughly the same ingredients in various combinations and none of them require expensive, complex kitchen equipment to prepare. Additionally, by using fresh ingredients that are delivered regularly by local produce vendors, you can cut back on the need for storage space and eliminate other costly equipment such as freezers or industrial-size refrigerators. Toastique’s breakfast franchise model accomplishes both of these things. The small footprint of our cafés means that our Franchise Owners can open in prime locations without the exorbitant cost of larger restaurant spaces. A Toastique café can comfortably fit in just about any strip mall or storefront in trendy locations with high foot traffic. Franchise Owners get the benefit of a highly visible café location with an enticing appearance and enjoyable atmosphere without the hefty monthly rent or mortgage that can accompany a larger restaurant. Not only is our footprint about as big as an average coffee shop, but our business operations are nearly as simple! With the exception of a professional-grade juicer, our breakfast Franchise Owners are able to open their cafés with next to no special equipment. In addition to the gourmet toasts that have put us on the map, along with all-natural smoothies and juices, the Toastique menu contains few other items. Everything can be prepared on the counter, right in front of customers, with no need for a chef, line cooks or additional kitchen staff on the payroll. The grab-and-go nature of our breakfast franchise also eliminates the need to hire a wait staff, which helps put money back in your pocket. Best of all, just about everything we make and serve is fresh, locally sourced and requires little to no long-term storage. This not only helps our Franchise Owners cut back on expensive overhead costs but also allows them to ensure they are using only the highest-quality ingredients for each menu item they prepare. It’s also a great feeling for our Franchise Owners to know they are helping to put money back into their own communities by supporting local vendors. It’s a win-win! Keeping your operations simple is a great way to be sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew when following your dream of restaurant ownership. Toastique has perfected the art of opening cafés that are head and shoulders above other breakfast franchises in terms of quality and atmosphere without breaking the bank, and we’re happy to show you how to do it in your community when you pre-qualify for our Franchise Discovery Process. Check it out now. Tip #2: Tap Into a Niche Market Let’s face it: this country is overrun with fast-food franchises. It’s hard to walk a full block without running into a burger joint or fried chicken place. However, the public demand for healthy franchises in their areas has grown steadily over the past decade, and is projected to continue growing through the 2020s. With nearly half of consumers across all demographics stating they planned to start eating healthier in a 2022 study, it’s clear that people are clamoring for quick, easy and convenient ways to accomplish their health goals, yet the need for quick-serve healthy franchises remains largely unmet. Instead of hopping on the tired fast-food bandwagon, why not pursue your restaurant ownership dreams by opening a café that caters to health-minded individuals? If you do, you might just be the only place in town that can offer them delicious gourmet toasts, juices, smoothies and more on the go. By tapping into an underserved market like healthy franchises, you’re eliminating a great deal of competition, which can help give your sales a boost, especially when you’re first starting out. Think about it: what kind of restaurant is going to get the people in your neighborhood more excited — another typical fast-food franchise or a unique place that offers healthy, fresh foods prepared and served with care? The Toastique leadership team can tell you that our Franchise Owners are met with enthusiasm, excitement and great anticipation in every market we’ve opened so far. At our recent grand openings in Hoboken, New Jersey and Colorado Springs, Colorado, the line to get in stretched around the block — that’s how eager people were to try everything Toastique’s Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar has to offer. You’re not likely to see that kind of reaction for the grand opening of a run-of-the-mill franchise that only offers burgers and fries. In fact, way back in 2018 when the first Toastique opened, our highly Instagrammable gourmet toast creations, juices and smoothies created such a stir in the Washington, D.C. area that Brianna Keefe and company were able to build brand awareness and generate excitement without spending a single penny on advertising! When people saw the healthy, delicious menu choices we offered, they were hooked. No need for catchy jingles, slogans or ads to get Toastique into people’s brains — they just wanted what they saw being made fresh to order: unique toast creations that are as good to eat as they are good for you! By opening a healthy franchise like Toastique, you can stand out from the rest of the pack and tap into something that’s still sadly lacking in many suburban communities — good, healthy food that puts the focus on wellness without taking away the flavor. That standout presence in your community can translate to continued healthy revenue regardless of the economy. Tip #3: Have a Strong Support System Opening a restaurant on your own isn’t easy; in fact, a number of independent restaurateurs can tell you that it’s a series of headaches, hard work and stress that never really goes away, no matter how many years you’ve been in business. To get Toastique off the ground, our own Brianna Keefe put hours upon hours of hard work into making her healthy café a success. Going through the typical struggles of opening and operating a restaurant helped her and her partner, Kyle Izett, learn to effectively troubleshoot common pain points and discover workable solutions for a more streamlined experience for their Franchise Owners. Knowing what could go wrong at a restaurant and using their experience to help them perfect their breakfast franchise model has created a better experience for their investors. Today’s Toastique healthy franchise investors undergo a comprehensive training program including classroom learning and onsite training to get a hands-on feel for operations. That’s not all — while other breakfast franchises might leave their new owners in the dust after their grand opening has come and gone, your Toastique Franchise Owner support team is there for the long run with bi-weekly phone calls to ensure smooth sailing. See for yourself how Toastique helps Franchise Owners run their breakfast franchises with confidence in this video. Having the support of seasoned restaurant industry professionals in your corner can make all the difference between success and failure in your market. By investing in a healthy franchise concept like Toastique, you can rest assured that you’ve got the right kind of support to help you through virtually any issue you encounter, which is something independent restaurant owners just don’t have. With a dedicated leadership team to help Franchise Owners with marketing, operations, construction and buildout and so much more, Toastique can help aspiring restaurateurs get off on the right foot for success and give them the tools and support they need to continue operating a thriving breakfast franchise for years to come. DON’T PUT YOUR RESTAURANT OWNERSHIP DREAMS ON THE SHELF: MAKE 2023 YOUR YEAR TO OWN A TOASTIQUE BREAKFAST FRANCHISE With a growing demand but still largely unmet need for convenient, grab-and-go healthy food in many suburban and urban neighborhoods, now is the time to invest in a Toastique Breakfast Franchise! With our robust support network to help you get off to a great start, along with our proven healthy breakfast franchise model featuring simple operations, low overhead expenses and built-in feasibility for to-go and delivery orders, Toastique can help you make your mark and stand out against other breakfast franchises, sandwich franchises and healthy franchises in your market. Visit our franchise website today to find out how you can get started.
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Toastique Bringing Waves of Customers to New Healthy Franchise Locations!
By now, we’re guessing you’ve already heard about Toastique, the gourmet toast and juice bar that has swept the brunch world like wildfire. As soon as we started franchising in 2020, we knew we had something special on our hands. Currently, we have six company units open, six breakfast franchise units open, with 60 more currently in development. Recently, we opened a new juice bar location in Hoboken, New Jersey, courtesy of Jude Sangillo, one of our newest Franchisees. The new Branch and Franchise Owner were wonderfully detailed in an article by Caren Lissner, a staff writer for Patch.com. Hello, Hoboken Located on Washington Street and 15th Street near the Tea Building, this breakfast franchise specializes in smoothies, bowls, and covered toast (including avocado smash, smoked salmon, and Greek dishes). Jude told Carne, “I lived in Hoboken for five years, enjoyed every minute of it, and always dreamed of returning to start a business in the mile-square city. I believe that Hoboken’s Toastique health food franchise fills a unique niche in capturing many of the current wants and needs by serving food that not only tastes great but leaves you without feeling guilty because it is genuinely healthy with accessible menu prices in a fast-casual format.” He added, “Every community, including Hoboken, should have access to convenient, nutritious food options away from home.” Caren goes on to give details about the opening and tossed in a juicy little nugget that the first 25 customers at the door got a free meal! Why Investing In A Healthy Food Franchise Like Toastique Is A Fantastic Idea. Interest in healthy, whole foods has increased recently, but the pandemic has accelerated it. Consumers today recognize the need to make healthier lifestyle choices. If you want to start a business or branch out into the restaurant industry, this is the right time to consider opening a healthy restaurant franchise. Most people thinking of opening a restaurant choose one of the more traditional options. Whether it’s an ethnic restaurant or a fast food restaurant, these are the obvious choices in today’s popular culture. It might be easy but unwise because the restaurant industry and consumers have changed. Old ideas no longer work. As an entrepreneur, a healthy restaurant franchise is one of the safest bets you can make. You should always know where your industry is headed before investing your money, time, and effort. And it takes a significant investment to start a restaurant, especially in the traditional sector. Having your own healthy restaurant can help you get a decent return on each of your investments. Anyone can open a restaurant. But the unique difference you add to yours is what can ultimately make you successful. No matter how delicious, what you serve will be the same as what others serve. This causes some problems. Your restaurant has little competitive advantage and low brand recall. However, in a healthy restaurant franchise, your menu stands out from other businesses in the area, giving you a substantial competitive advantage. Sometimes, you can create entirely new categories with less competition. Prices Need to Be Flexible When there are too many competitors with similar products, the only way to differentiate yourself is to lower your prices. This is why many restaurants struggle to find repeat customers and earn a profit. This price barrier has always constrained restaurant entrepreneurs, but the new reality of app-based delivery has exacerbated the problem. When your customers shop on grocery delivery aggregator apps, it instantly compares you to other restaurants based on price. This has nothing to do with the quality of food as most dishes can be found elsewhere. Healthy restaurant franchises differ in that they are free to charge a premium for multiple dishes. Consumers will happily pay the price difference because it’s healthy and made from all-natural ingredients. Therefore, starting a healthy restaurant franchise can provide a reasonable and stable source of income. No Need For Over-Marketing After starting a healthy restaurant franchise, you don’t have to spend money unnecessarily on marketing. There’s no need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to raise brand awareness or educate the public about your health food franchise. This is another reason to invest in a healthy restaurant franchise from a nationally known chain like Toastique, Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar. This brand has extraordinary value in the minds of consumers. There’s no need to start from scratch and create a new brand. Back in June of 2022, we brought our awesome healthy fast-casual concept to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the locals went bananas for it! “We couldn’t be more excited to expand Toastique across Colorado Springs,” Brianna Keefe, founder, and CEO, told RestaurantNews.com. “Healthy eating isn’t going out of style, and we know the consumer demand is only growing. Therefore, we want to make sure that anyone who lives near Toastique checks us out, and we promise, once they try our top-notch ingredients and thoughtfully curated menu, they will keep coming back for more.” This grand re-opening occurred in early February and couldn’t have gone better. The line was around the block, with people lining up as early as 11 PM. the night before! Why would people do that? Because they were hoping to win free Toastique for an entire year! These grand openings are SO good for the healthy franchise brand because they bring in loads of new fans, and if you open your very own Toastique, your marketing efforts will have to be minimal because of our superb reputation. And yes, it’s true, the first 50 people in line will get free Toastique for an entire year. Change Your Life One Piece of Gourmet Toast At A Time Toastique’s charm lies in its unique menu of healthy gourmet toasts, acai bowls, and cold-pressed juices. The flexibility of formats such as eat-in, delivery, and grab-and-go make Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar very customer friendly. Investing in a health food franchise brand like Toastique can change your life for the better. It can set you and your family up for the future. It’s a big decision. It’s a serious decision. But it’s also a decision that many have made and haven’t looked back. Click here to find out more about our Breakfast Franchise Opportunities.
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How Toastique Brings Multiple Revenue Streams to Breakfast Franchise Owners
Toastique is a popular gourmet toast and juice bar franchise that offers customers healthy food and beverage options — but you already know that. However, you might not know why a fast-casual restaurant franchise like Toastique can be a life-changing time and financial investment for the better. For one, a fast-casual juice franchise has a proven business model that has already been successful in other locations. This can help reduce the risk of failure compared to starting a new restaurant from scratch. And at Toastique, we offer you all of the Franchise Owner support you need to succeed. We’ll start with a 2-week training program so you will learn everything from recipes, ordering, ingredients, processes, P.O.S. (CAKE by Sysco), inventory, management, employee training, hiring, marketing, grand opening assistance, and location-specific opportunities. After that, the ongoing support consists of bi-monthly calls to inform Franchise Owners of any new happenings, such as our Toast of the Weeks and seasonal promotions. Unlike the competition, we take pride in being available 24/7 for our Franchisees! Watch our Franchise Owner Support video HERE. Anyhoo… back to the advantages of fast-casual restaurant franchises. Starting a new restaurant can be expensive, but investing in a sandwich franchise can be more cost-effective. The franchisor provides the franchisee with everything they need to get started, including equipment, supplies, and marketing materials. If you invest in a successful fast-casual breakfast franchise, there may be opportunities to open additional locations in the future. This can help you build a successful business and generate more income over time. Of course, investing in a fast-casual franchise is not without its risks. It’s essential to do your due diligence and thoroughly research the franchise before deciding. You should also consult a financial advisor and a lawyer to ensure you fully understand the financial and legal implications of investing in a restaurant franchise. How Toastique Brings Multiple Revenue Streams to Franchise Owners At Toastique, we’ve been fortunate enough to be successful since the day our first gourmet toast and juice bar opened, and we’ve been able to translate that to our breakfast franchise owners. How do we do that? We’ve brought in multiple revenue streams to Franchise Owners by diversifying our offerings and expanding the gourmet toast and juice bar business model. Here are a few ways in which we’ve been able to do that: Boutique Franchise Concept: We have found the best way to support Franchise Owners is to grow sustainably in predefined Cities and Communities that would best support/sustain a Toastique location’s growth. Cafe Sales: Our primary revenue stream comes from the cafes, which offer a range of healthy food and beverage options. The brand has grown this revenue stream by expanding its store footprint and increasing customer traffic through marketing efforts. And it paid off because, at almost every grand opening, we have a line extending out the store and around the block — usually starting the night before like a Springsteen concert. Online Ordering: Toastique has also implemented an online ordering system, allowing customers to place orders for pickup or delivery. This has enabled the company to tap into the growing online ordering trend and has helped increase sales. Loaded Pipeline: Our breakfast franchise business model is so locked in, and our reputation is so high we have an entire pipeline of franchisee candidates, so there is a strong chance we ‘sell out this year’! In fact, we only have a handful of franchise territories left, so get yours before you’re done reading this! Retail Sales: We offer a range of branded products for sale, including t-shirts, reusable bags, and water bottles. This has allowed us to create a new revenue stream by tapping into the popularity of our gourmet toast and juice bar franchise brand and offering customers a way to take home a piece of the Toastique experience! Simple & Scalable: The small, effective design of Toastique eliminates the need for large cooking appliances like ovens, fryers, or hoods. This enables quick and inexpensive construction. Once operational, our venues can be operated by a three- to five-person team. The fact that 72% of franchise system owners have several units is unsurprising, given how easy it is to start a site. Catering: Toastique also offers catering services for events, which has allowed the company to generate additional revenue by tapping into the growing demand for healthy food options at events and corporate gatherings. Look At That Menu: Not only is our menu unique, creative, and delicious, but it also looks absolutely gorgeous! It exudes the “wow” element, making it tough to resist taking that Instagram picture. The aesthetic presentation of our menu items automatically leads to a tastier experience and free marketing for Franchise Owners because people eat with their eyes first. Have a look for yourself HERE! So our first menu item, which is our most popular item across the board at any gourmet toast and juice bar location, is our Avocado Smash. We make everything in-house and marinate the tomatoes, making them unique and delicious. Our bread is also locally sourced, and for the Avocado Smash, we use a multi-grain. The other most popular item is our Smoked Salmon. We use the pastrami salmon, which gives the dish more flavor, and pair it with our herb cream cheese, also made in-house. It’s full of toppings like capers and a toasty seasoning similar to Everything Bagel seasoning. We use local sourdough bread for this dish. Now to our bowls, and the most popular of our bowls is the PBMB Bowl. Again, we use house-made peanut butter using unsalted roasted peanuts and then top it off with a honey-roasted peanut butter drizzle. It’s a constant staple at all of our brunch franchise locations. Lastly, we have our Radiance Juice. It uses spring citrus, so we only offered it as a seasonal juice, but SO many people went crazy for it, so we decided to make it a permanent menu item. Once we did that, we changed the name to Radiance. It’s made with grapefruit, blood orange, regular orange, pineapple juice, and basil, so it’s ridiculously refreshing. At Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar, we believe everyone eats with their eyes first, so we want it to be just as beautiful as it tastes! Please, Won’t You Join Us? As we said above, we’re awarding a minimal number of franchises for the rest of the year — 25 to be exact — so don’t wait any longer. Head over to our Franchise Website and start the process!
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Toastique: Be the Toast of the Town
If you’re looking for a way to become a foodie hero in your town, opening a Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar could be just the ticket. We’re a popular restaurant chain specializing in artisanal toasts, smoothies, and other healthy eats. Here are a few reasons why investing with us in your town could earn you a lot of fans and admirers. First and foremost, we’re known for delicious and healthy food options. Unlike many breakfast restaurant franchises that serve greasy and unhealthy fare, we pride ourselves on using fresh, natural ingredients to create wholesome, delicious, and nutritious meals. From avocado toast to peanut butter banana smoothies, we offer a range of healthy menu items that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. We’re also known for its commitment to sustainability and environmentalism. The restaurant franchise uses only eco-friendly packaging and sourcing methods to minimize its environmental impact. This is an essential consideration for many modern consumers who are increasingly aware of their food choices’ impact on the environment. Another reason why franchising with Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar in your town could make you a foodie hero is because of our strong healthy franchise brand and extremely loyal following. Toastique has built a reputation as a trendy and hip breakfast restaurant chain that appeals to health-conscious millennials and Gen Zers. By opening a Toastique in your town, you could tap into this loyal customer base and attract a steady stream of patrons who are eager to try out the latest and greatest healthy food trends. One of the best parts of a Toastique breakfast franchise is how Instagrammable our food is. The aesthetically pleasing decor, colorful murals, and trendy design elements make for great photo opportunities. You’ll create a buzz on social media and attract people from all over eager to snap pics of their artisanal toasts and smoothie bowls. And lastly, maybe the most important part, it’s a pretty good business move. The restaurant industry is notoriously competitive, but Toastique breakfast franchise has already proven itself to be a successful and growing franchise brand. By partnering with the company, you could tap into its expertise and leverage its existing infrastructure to help your new business thrive. We have a proven track record of expanding into new markets and building a loyal customer base, which could help your new breakfast restaurant hit the ground running. Let’s Meet Our Newest Healthy Franchise Owners Toastique’s newest healthy breakfast franchise owners are no strangers to the franchise business. Brad and Natalie Plotkin are currently owners of a Title One Boxing franchise in Owings Mills, Maryland, and have been wildly successful at it. They were looking to expand their business investment profile but wanted something other than a fitness brand. After being presented with Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar, they immediately fell in love with the franchise concept and knew this was the perfect fit for them as well as a great sister business to their boxing franchise. They were able to find a location across from their Title One and submit a letter of intent. Both knew immediately from the healthy breakfast menu to the decor that Toastique was a perfect fit. I am so excited to watch them thrive in the Owings Mills market! Let’s meet them, shall we? Brad & Natalie Plotkin of Owings Mills, Maryland What is your personal/professional background? Bradley:Worked for nearly 20 years as Sales Leader in Retail at T-Mobile and Apple. Natalie: I spent 15+ years in Retirement Operations at T. Rowe Price. Prior to our career fields, we both spent many years working in the restaurant industry as servers, cooks, and bartenders at various restaurants. What are your personal hobbies or interests? N: Fitness is a large part of our life (hence Brad’s business) and is a starting point nearly every day for us. Bradley spends most of his days at his boxing club and is a huge boxing and mixed martial arts fan. I’m a huge plant enthusiast and have dozens spread throughout our home. Together, our family of four, including Dylan (10) and Harper (7), love to ride bikes and walk Beau, our 1-year-old Goldendoodle, who is an essential part of our family. How did you first become aware of Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar? N: Several years ago, Bradley was interested in juicing and smoothie businesses and inquired about Clean Juice and Nektar. After interviewing several franchisees in the Clean Juice system, Bradley opted not to move forward. Several years later, mid-pandemic, he was introduced to Toastiuqe healthy brunch restaurant by his franchise advisor Matt Lucas and fell in love with the franchise concept. Why is Toastique the right fit for you? B: Natalie and I loved the combination of food and drink offerings. Where we felt other restaurant franchise concepts fell flat was their limited menu and revenue stream in food specifically, and what Toastique offered was a totally unique healthy breakfast menu that was attractive and delicious. The concept and design of the cafe aligned very much with my wife’s aesthetic and personal style; it felt like going to our Toastique Gourmet Toast & Juice Bar would be like a 2nd home. What did you like about the Toastique health food franchise opportunity? B: We felt like the industry of healthy casual dining was very opportunistic, although there is some competition in the area. However, we recognized that Toastique’s approach, franchise concept, and overall healthy breakfast menu was so differentiated from our competition that we were confident that we could succeed in our market. We greatly appreciated that the restaurant franchise was relatively new and adapting to change and has succeeded during the most challenging of times with the COVID pandemic. What did you like about meeting Toastique’s Founder and the rest of the corporate team? N: We really liked the bond and relationship that the founders had with their team. It was evident that they worked on the front line and were passionate about the business, the people, and maintaining the essence of the franchise brand. What did you like about Toastique’s Approval Day (formerly known as Discovery Day)? B: We enjoyed seeing the multiple franchise locations and the volume discrepancies in the business during the morning and afternoon. It was great to see the front and back of house operations and manuals to get a glimpse of training and preparation for the day-to-day. We also enjoyed meeting other prospective Toastique breakfast franchise owners to understand who/what skill sets would be running locations. What was the “A-Ha!” or “lightbulb” moment that made you want to become a franchisee with Toastique? B: The menu. N: Walking in and seeing Dupont and realizing that she could absolutely go there to work every day. Why did you want to become an entrepreneur? B: Natalie has been in the corporate world for nearly 20 years and has reached a point in her career where she would like to pursue a business that she is passionate about. N: After working for nearly 20 years in corporate leadership, Bradley decided he no longer wanted to work for other sales leaders when he felt their goals didn’t align with his. Bradley was a top achiever for most of his career, yet every quarter, he was reminded that past results meant nothing. Rather than continuing to work for others, Bradley realized he would be happiest building something long-term for himself and his family. He’s been looking for years to expand on his fitness business and find a synergistic investment opportunity to provide his current members a healthy nutritional solution pre/post class. What do you think will make you successful? N: Bradley runs a TITLE Boxing Club directly across the street from our location. There is great synergy between the two businesses, and we will “feed” our members into our Toastique healthy brunch franchise location. Down the street from our gym is a Club Pilates and a flagship Marriott Hotel “The Tillery.” We are in a unique complex with nearly 2000 residents with access to the first stop on the metro station traveling to downtown Baltimore City. Our center has several restaurants and bars, quick-stop lunch places, and gyms, but nothing that offers a healthy meal! Natalie and Bradley’s experience in leadership, retail management, people management, and the restaurant industry should help them create an excellent environment that will deliver a unique fast-casual restaurant offering the only healthy meal in the center. What set Toastique apart, in your eyes, from other franchise investment opportunities in the Food/Fast Casual Industry? B: The menu, the adaptability to change in the marketplace, and the seasonal offerings allow for revenue streams that many other restaurant franchises wouldn’t allow for. What advice would you give to a potential Franchise Owner? N: Please research other similar businesses in the same industry and talk with owners within their businesses. When I was interested in Clean Juice, I was invited to Discovery Day and reviewed the financials they supplied, put together my own financials sheet, and just couldn’t come up with ways to break even. I spoke with several Franchise Owners and found many disgruntled franchisees in the system who lost a ton of money. With Toastique, there weren’t many Franchise Owners to speak with, so I spent time visiting different locations after we opted in to get a vibe on the people, their temperament, the traffic, the sales volume, etc., to see if it was in line with what the daily sales forecasts were. We were quite pleased with what we saw. Start scouting real estate early if you don’t already have a place in mind. The right real estate is key to the business’s success outside of the people you hire. How much did Toastique’s emphasis on healthy living and creating food made with whole, healthy ingredients influence your choice to own a franchise with them? B: Very much so as it aligns with our daily lifestyle. What are you looking forward to most about owning your own Toastique breakfast franchise? N: We are excited to go to a place that is vibrant and clean and be able to sell a healthy breakfast menu to the public! Be Like the Plotkin’s & Get Yourself on the Toastique Bandwagon Don’t wait any longer to secure your Toastique healthy breakfast restaurant franchise location because our territories are flying off the shelf almost as fast as our Avocado Smash! Visit our Franchise Website and let’s get going!
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