When COVID-19 derailed Daniel Tirado-Barbauld’s plans to open a food truck, he turned his focus to coffee — one of the few things still deemed essential during the pandemic. He wanted to go into business for himself, and after considering a few concepts, BIGGBY® COFFEE stood out. It wasn’t just the numbers or the low entry cost that caught his attention. It was the brand’s message: “Love People.”
Tirado-Barbauld, who opened his first BIGGBY® in Crown Point, Indiana, says the brand’s philosophy resonated on a personal level. “It really connected with something my mom used to tell me before she passed — when life gets hard, just love your sister and love people.” Now, several years into running the business, he sees that message play out every day in how he interacts with customers, hires and mentors young employees, and stays involved in the community. “I want to leave this world better than I found it, and for me, it all comes back to loving people.”
Tirado-Barbauld hopes to grow to two or three locations, but his main focus remains on giving back. He offers his employees a 401(k) — an uncommon benefit in food service — and says he wants to be known as a business owner who’s making a difference. “One day, I hope one of my baristas who started at 16 comes back 10 years later, now a nurse or a teacher, and tells me she still gets her morning coffee from me.”
1851 Franchise sat down with Tirado-Barbauld to talk about his journey into franchising, why he chose BIGGBY®, and how he uses his business to give back. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Daniel Tirado-Barbauld: I got into BIGGBY® during COVID. Before that, I was planning to launch a food truck, and I was getting close. I had the menu planned out and some money to invest, but once the pandemic hit, that obviously wasn’t an option anymore. I realized the two things people were still buying were coffee and alcohol, and alcohol didn’t really fit me.
So, I went down the coffee route. I looked into Scooters and a local Indiana brand called Coffee Cabin. I’m a big advocate of keeping money local, so I gave Coffee Cabin a try, but I realized BIGGBY ® was more in line with my values.
What drew me in was their message: “Love People.” It really connected with something my mom used to tell me before she passed — when life gets hard, just love your sister and love people. BIGGBY® was promoting that exact message.
They also said, “Check our numbers.” During COVID, they grew conservatively — by 30%. That was impressive. The cost of entry was low, so I reached out to their area rep and said, “This might be something I want to do. What would it look like for me?”
I signed the franchise agreement, and when I was scouting locations, I came across one where the equipment was already in place from a former coffee shop. We met with them and signed the lease the next day.
Even though I’m from Tri-Town and this location is in Crown Point — our high school rival — it ended up being the right spot. I’ve been doing business here for four years now, and I love giving back to this city. Crown Point is a team-oriented, sports-driven community, and that resonates with me. Sports taught me that life isn’t just about yourself — it’s about something bigger.
That’s also true for BIGGBY®. It’s about sustainability and the footprint we’re leaving. I want to leave this world better than I found it, and for me, it all comes back to loving people. That’s what I try to do — love on every person who comes through the window, because you never know what kind of day they’re having.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Tirado-Barbauld: I cooked fine dining for about six years. You really have to love that work because you’re not making a ton of money, and you’re giving up weekends, holidays and time with family. I knew I’d have to step away from that and get a “big boy job” if I ever wanted to save enough money to do something for myself, like a food truck.
When that didn’t work out, I started looking into franchising. BIGGBY® made sense. I never even tried their coffee before I signed the franchise agreement. It was all about their morals and the way they treated people. They had the kind of playbook I could follow, and that made franchising feel like the right move.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Tirado-Barbauld: I’ve always understood franchising as paying for a playbook. Like if you could pay $10 billion for Bill Belichick’s playbook, you’d do it — because consistency matters. That’s what you’re buying. You still get to put your own spin on it, but you’re starting with a proven formula.
Since becoming a franchisee, I’ve learned it’s also about accountability. Big companies survive not because they never mess up, but because they own it when they do. BIGGBY® has made some hard decisions and removed people from the system when they didn’t uphold the brand’s standards. That gives me confidence. I now get to represent those standards, and they align with what I believe in.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Tirado-Barbauld: It came down to values. I could’ve picked Scooters, Tim Hortons or some other brand. But BIGGBY® stood out. They care about their farmers. They care about sustainability. They’re not just milking other countries dry — they’re building long-term relationships.
I didn’t want to invest in something that didn’t align with my values. BIGGBY® makes it easy to love people, and that’s what I care about. I can be hands-on. I’m in my store. You don’t see the owner at McDonald’s or Starbucks — but you do at BIGGBY®. That’s how I want to run my business. I want to be a part of my community and keep the money local.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Tirado-Barbauld: Ideally, I’d like to have three stores. Right now, I’m aiming for two.
Ultimately, I want to be a good community business owner. Maybe one day I get involved with a city council committee or something like that. I’m not necessarily trying to go into politics, but I love working in a community where people recognize me as a business owner who’s doing good work.
I want to offer my employees more than just a job. I provide a 401(k), which isn’t common for small businesses, especially in food service. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it to help people leave in a better place than they came in. I’m investing in their future the same way BIGGBY® invests in the farmers who grow our coffee.
One day, I hope one of my baristas who started at 16 comes back 10 years later, now a nurse or a teacher, and tells me she still gets her morning coffee from me. That’s full circle. That’s what it’s about for me.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Tirado-Barbauld: I think the world’s hard enough. Just love people. Be good at that. If there’s one thing you’re going to be good at, let it be kindness.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Tirado-Barbauld: Do your research. Find something you’re passionate about — something you don’t mind smelling like when you go home. If it’s coffee, great. If it’s burgers, great. Just make sure it’s something you can love.
Franchising is like getting on a bus where someone else is driving. If you don’t like where it’s headed, you’re going to hate the ride. But if you believe in the destination, it’s a great journey.
Also, just understand that it’s about people. If you can love the people around you, build relationships with your team and treat your community with care, you’re going to succeed. That’s the real work — and it’s worth it.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
BIGGBY COFFEE
SPONSORED
A former chef turned coffee entrepreneur, Daniel Tirado-Barbauld is currently working to open his second BIGGBY® COFFEE so he can continue mentoring young employees and giving back to the community.
When COVID-19 derailed Daniel Tirado-Barbauld’s plans to open a food truck, he turned his focus to coffee — one of the few things still deemed essential during the pandemic. He wanted to go into business for himself, and after considering a few concepts, BIGGBY® COFFEE stood out. It wasn’t just the numbers or the low entry cost that caught his attention. It was the brand’s message: “Love People.”
Tirado-Barbauld, who opened his first BIGGBY® in Crown Point, Indiana, says the brand’s philosophy resonated on a personal level. “It really connected with something my mom used to tell me before she passed — when life gets hard, just love your sister and love people.” Now, several years into running the business, he sees that message play out every day in how he interacts with customers, hires and mentors young employees, and stays involved in the community. “I want to leave this world better than I found it, and for me, it all comes back to loving people.”
Tirado-Barbauld hopes to grow to two or three locations, but his main focus remains on giving back. He offers his employees a 401(k) — an uncommon benefit in food service — and says he wants to be known as a business owner who’s making a difference. “One day, I hope one of my baristas who started at 16 comes back 10 years later, now a nurse or a teacher, and tells me she still gets her morning coffee from me.”
1851 Franchise sat down with Tirado-Barbauld to talk about his journey into franchising, why he chose BIGGBY®, and how he uses his business to give back. Here’s what he had to say.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Daniel Tirado-Barbauld: I got into BIGGBY® during COVID. Before that, I was planning to launch a food truck, and I was getting close. I had the menu planned out and some money to invest, but once the pandemic hit, that obviously wasn’t an option anymore. I realized the two things people were still buying were coffee and alcohol, and alcohol didn’t really fit me.
So, I went down the coffee route. I looked into Scooters and a local Indiana brand called Coffee Cabin. I’m a big advocate of keeping money local, so I gave Coffee Cabin a try, but I realized BIGGBY ® was more in line with my values.
What drew me in was their message: “Love People.” It really connected with something my mom used to tell me before she passed — when life gets hard, just love your sister and love people. BIGGBY® was promoting that exact message.
They also said, “Check our numbers.” During COVID, they grew conservatively — by 30%. That was impressive. The cost of entry was low, so I reached out to their area rep and said, “This might be something I want to do. What would it look like for me?”
I signed the franchise agreement, and when I was scouting locations, I came across one where the equipment was already in place from a former coffee shop. We met with them and signed the lease the next day.
Even though I’m from Tri-Town and this location is in Crown Point — our high school rival — it ended up being the right spot. I’ve been doing business here for four years now, and I love giving back to this city. Crown Point is a team-oriented, sports-driven community, and that resonates with me. Sports taught me that life isn’t just about yourself — it’s about something bigger.
That’s also true for BIGGBY®. It’s about sustainability and the footprint we’re leaving. I want to leave this world better than I found it, and for me, it all comes back to loving people. That’s what I try to do — love on every person who comes through the window, because you never know what kind of day they’re having.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Tirado-Barbauld: I cooked fine dining for about six years. You really have to love that work because you’re not making a ton of money, and you’re giving up weekends, holidays and time with family. I knew I’d have to step away from that and get a “big boy job” if I ever wanted to save enough money to do something for myself, like a food truck.
When that didn’t work out, I started looking into franchising. BIGGBY® made sense. I never even tried their coffee before I signed the franchise agreement. It was all about their morals and the way they treated people. They had the kind of playbook I could follow, and that made franchising feel like the right move.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Tirado-Barbauld: I’ve always understood franchising as paying for a playbook. Like if you could pay $10 billion for Bill Belichick’s playbook, you’d do it — because consistency matters. That’s what you’re buying. You still get to put your own spin on it, but you’re starting with a proven formula.
Since becoming a franchisee, I’ve learned it’s also about accountability. Big companies survive not because they never mess up, but because they own it when they do. BIGGBY® has made some hard decisions and removed people from the system when they didn’t uphold the brand’s standards. That gives me confidence. I now get to represent those standards, and they align with what I believe in.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Tirado-Barbauld: It came down to values. I could’ve picked Scooters, Tim Hortons or some other brand. But BIGGBY® stood out. They care about their farmers. They care about sustainability. They’re not just milking other countries dry — they’re building long-term relationships.
I didn’t want to invest in something that didn’t align with my values. BIGGBY® makes it easy to love people, and that’s what I care about. I can be hands-on. I’m in my store. You don’t see the owner at McDonald’s or Starbucks — but you do at BIGGBY®. That’s how I want to run my business. I want to be a part of my community and keep the money local.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Tirado-Barbauld: Ideally, I’d like to have three stores. Right now, I’m aiming for two.
Ultimately, I want to be a good community business owner. Maybe one day I get involved with a city council committee or something like that. I’m not necessarily trying to go into politics, but I love working in a community where people recognize me as a business owner who’s doing good work.
I want to offer my employees more than just a job. I provide a 401(k), which isn’t common for small businesses, especially in food service. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it to help people leave in a better place than they came in. I’m investing in their future the same way BIGGBY® invests in the farmers who grow our coffee.
One day, I hope one of my baristas who started at 16 comes back 10 years later, now a nurse or a teacher, and tells me she still gets her morning coffee from me. That’s full circle. That’s what it’s about for me.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Tirado-Barbauld: I think the world’s hard enough. Just love people. Be good at that. If there’s one thing you’re going to be good at, let it be kindness.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Tirado-Barbauld: Do your research. Find something you’re passionate about — something you don’t mind smelling like when you go home. If it’s coffee, great. If it’s burgers, great. Just make sure it’s something you can love.
Franchising is like getting on a bus where someone else is driving. If you don’t like where it’s headed, you’re going to hate the ride. But if you believe in the destination, it’s a great journey.
Also, just understand that it’s about people. If you can love the people around you, build relationships with your team and treat your community with care, you’re going to succeed. That’s the real work — and it’s worth it.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 430+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.
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