Biscuit Belly Franchising

1851 Franchise: How did you get started in franchising? What’s your story?<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-c-4663465b/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-chad-coulter-founder-and-ceo-of-biscuit-belly-2728122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chad Coulter</a>: My wife and I are both pharmacists by training, but like many pharmacists, we wanted to get out of the field. It all started with an entrepreneurial itch. We got involved in a couple of "paint-and-sip" concepts — what we jokingly call “drinking and drawing.” That eventually led to our first restaurant venture, Lubino, a small wine bar concept that we grew to five units.Being a Georgia boy, I’ve always been around biscuits, so my wife and I had this idea in the back of our minds to do something in the biscuit space. In 2018, we started developing the&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbellyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=executive-qa-chad-coulter-founder-and-ceo-of-biscuit-belly-2728122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Biscuit Belly</a> brand and opened our first location in 2019. That year, we opened two locations. It was either the best or worst timing for starting a new restaurant concept — but that’s how Biscuit Belly began.1851: You took an unusual path from pharmacy to restaurants. How did you manage that transition without prior restaurant experience?Coulter: It was definitely a steep learning curve. My wife and I often joke that our first time ever working in a restaurant was the night we opened our own. We’ve always been good at hiring talented people, giving them the space to thrive and building a team around them.For our first concept, we did things like approving the wine list and menu, but it was a team effort. We learned as we went. I naturally fit into the visionary role — visiting wine bars and restaurants, taking inspiration and putting together a concept.That said, there were challenges. I still remember the plumbing system at our first location exploded on media night! I swore I’d never open another restaurant. But here we are.1851: Did your background as a pharmacist prepare you in any way for the restaurant business?Coulter: There are similarities. Both fields involve customer service and problem-solving. In a pharmacy, you’re dealing with sick people who don’t want to spend money and there are always delays. In a restaurant, the dynamic is much more positive — people want to be there, which makes it a more enjoyable experience.That said, the work ethic required in pharmacy translated well. During my residency, I worked 12 days on and two days off, with long days managing students, patients and hospital drama. That prepared me for the startup challenges of restaurant ownership.1851: Could someone without restaurant experience become a Biscuit Belly franchisee?Coulter: While it’s possible, we generally look for people with restaurant experience. Running a restaurant has a steep learning curve, and although we’ve simplified our systems, the ideal candidate has a solid business background or experience in the industry.If someone doesn’t have that experience, they need to surround themselves with a strong team who understands the space. Gung-ho entrepreneurs can succeed, but they need to be fully committed to the process and operations.1851: How did your experience as a franchisee influence your approach as a franchisor?Coulter: Our first franchise experience was with a paint-and-sip concept, and it was tough. The corporate structure fell apart, and we had to rebrand completely. After putting our life savings into the business, we had to start over, which was a hard lesson.That experience taught us the importance of transparency. At our first franchisee meeting for Biscuit Belly, our marketing director went through a detailed breakdown of how we spent the brand fund, dollar by dollar. One of our franchisees, who’s involved in 20 brands, told us no one had ever done that for him before. Transparency is something we prioritize because of what we went through as franchisees.1851: What makes Biscuit Belly stand out in the breakfast space?Coulter: Biscuit Belly is unique because we’re in the fast-casual breakfast category, which is pretty rare. Most breakfast concepts are full-service and 4,000+ square feet. We’ve shrunk the footprint to about 2,800 square feet and streamlined the experience while maintaining high-quality food and hospitality.When you walk into a Biscuit Belly, you’ll notice bright colors and custom murals tailored to the community. We also have a biscuit window where customers can see biscuits being made. It’s all about creating a unique and welcoming atmosphere.From a menu perspective, most items are scratch-made and we offer seasonal options, including healthier choices. Guests order at the counter, and we handle the rest — bringing food, busing tables and serving drinks. One of our team members coined the term “craft casual,” which perfectly describes what we do.1851: The ordering process at Biscuit Belly sounds innovative. Can you explain how it works?Coulter: The idea is to take the best aspects of fast-casual and full service. Guests place their orders at a counter, which speeds things up, but once they’re seated, the experience feels more like a full-service restaurant.We’ve also designed our kitchens and workflows for efficiency, allowing us to reduce labor costs while maintaining quality. For example, we’ve created specialized roles like the “bartista,” who handles both espresso drinks and cocktails. This structure allows us to onboard staff quickly and operate more efficiently.1851: What’s the investment to become a Biscuit Belly franchisee?Coulter: The total investment ranges from the mid-$700,000s to just over $1 million. That includes three months of operating capital, rent, legal fees, the franchise fee and more. The exact cost depends on factors like real estate and landlord contributions.Operationally, we’ve focused on reducing costs without compromising quality. For example, we’ve partnered with vendors to lower the cost of goods and created efficiencies in our kitchens. These savings help make the business more viable for franchisees.1851: What’s next for Biscuit Belly?Coulter: Our goal is to become the biggest biscuit restaurant brand in the next five years, with 50–100 locations. But we’re taking a quality-over-quantity approach. The first few franchisees set the tone for the system, so we’re very selective about who we partner with.We’ve spent the past few years refining the model — training programs, cost efficiencies and menu development. Now, we’re ready to ramp up franchise development with the right marketing and sales partners.Ultimately, the focus is on franchisee success. If our franchisees are profitable, they’ll spread the word, and that will drive our growth.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly">https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly</a>.

Biscuit Belly CEO Chad Coulter: From Pharmacy to Franchising Success

1851 Franchise

https://www.youtube.com/embed/axo2bjHuQsY

1851 Franchise spoke with Chad Coulter, founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly, about his journey from pharmacy to franchising, Biscuit Belly’s business model and his future plans for the brand.

Executive Q&A: Chad Coulter, Founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly

This brand page has been paid for by BISCUIT BELLY FRANCHISING. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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After playing a crucial role in the growth of pizza franchise Papa Johns alongside his brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-h-schnatter">“Papa John” Schnatter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbellyfranchise.com/leadership/chuck-schnatter/">Chuck Schnatter</a>, a long-time member of the brand’s executive team and investor himself, has learned a great deal about what makes a restaurant franchise succeed. A great menu can draw a crowd, but real systems, standardization and strong unit economics are what build a legacy. That’s what he was focused on when he invested in&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbellyfranchise.com/">Biscuit Belly</a>, the 13-unit Southern-style breakfast and brunch franchise.“You always have to start with the people. You invest in people first and concepts second,” Schnatter said. “In any company, until you have good leadership, you’re not going to have a good concept.”<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-c-4663465b/">Chad</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-coulter-%F0%9F%8D%B3-70053b2a/">Lauren Coulter</a>, co-founders of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly/info">Biscuit Belly</a>, caught Schnatter’s attention before the biscuit concept even launched.<h2>A Chef-Driven Foundation and a Resilient, Scalable Model</h2>Schnatter initially partnered with the Coulters on their wine and southern-tapas concept, LouVino. While the concept was successful, the team quickly realized how demanding a chef-driven concept serving the dinner crowd would be. The menu was also so chef-driven that it was difficult to replicate, so they began to pivot. As they thought up Biscuit Belly, the scalability was immediately apparent.“We felt like Biscuit Belly was a much more repeatable concept than LouVino,” Schnatter said. “Once we had the model, even though it was chef-driven, we could duplicate it … franchise it and grow it ourselves.”Schnatter also recognized the power of Biscuit Belly’s unique menu. While the brand is focused on biscuits and other Southern breakfast-style foods, there’s enough diversity to build resilience.“When you’re in pizza, 40 percent of your cost is cheese. So if cheese goes up, your costs go through the roof,” he said. “If you look at our menu, we've got pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, dairy, and wheat. All of those hold about equal weight, so if one goes up, it doesn’t crush our food cost.”<h2>Capturing the Next Wave</h2>Early on in the concept development process, Schnatter also recognized a massive opportunity in market positioning. Biscuit Belly operates in the breakfast and brunch segment, which is not nearly as saturated as the dinner space. And its colorful, vibrant brand identity appeals to a younger demographic that demands an elevated experience.“This isn’t your grandfather’s bacon and eggs,” Schnatter said. “Biscuit Belly is the next wave in breakfast. It’s where 18 to 45 year olds want to be.”Biscuit Belly’s model caters to the “the camera eats first” mentality, and the Instagrammable nature of the food lends itself to social sharing. This is another key driver of brand awareness, turning everyday guests into promoters of the brand — another differentiator Schantter recognizes and loves.In addition to great food and strong potential in the market, Biscuit Belly’s ability to get into the industry when it did, with a model as strong as it has, has positioned it to capitalize on this “next wave.”<h2>The Quality of Life Benefit</h2>One of the most important advantages Biscuit Belly offers its operators is a more balanced lifestyle. In the traditional restaurant world, much of the demand occurs on nights and weekends, and operators must adjust accordingly. This can be draining for owners, and it can also make staffing difficult.&nbsp;Biscuit Belly, however, flips this dynamic entirely. Closing in the early afternoon all week, owners benefit from more free time and a one-shift model that makes staffing easier and boosts employee retention.“Whether you’re an owner or employee, you’re out of there by 3:30 on a Friday. You can still go to your kid’s basketball game or make it to a concert,” Schnatter said. “You can have a life where you’re getting out of work when everyone else in the restaurant world is just arriving at work.”<h2>A Blueprint for Growth</h2>For Schnatter, the decision to back Biscuit Belly is based on a recognition of infrastructure and the potential for explosive growth. Whether growing from location one to two or 2,000 to 2,001, Schnatter says the growth process requires the same rigorous discipline.By applying the hard-won lessons of the pizza industry to the breakfast and brunch industry, Schnatter is supporting Biscuit Belly in its strategic approach to national growth.“I understand what it takes to run a restaurant company and finance a restaurant company. And I’ve been a franchisee with Papa Johns, so I’ve interacted with systems from both the franchisor and franchisee standpoint,” Schnatter said. “The same concepts apply whether you’re selling coffee, chili, pizza or biscuits. The fundamentals are the fundamentals, and you’ve got to follow them.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly">https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of Chuck Schnatter inside Biscuit Belly location

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. —&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbellyfranchise.com/">Biscuit Belly</a>, the fast-growing brunch franchise known for its scratch-made biscuits and Southern hospitality, closed out the year with enough signed deals and planned openings to put the brand within reach of 20 operating restaurants by the end of 2026. After signing six leases this year and opening one new location in Summerville, South Carolina, the brand enters the new year with one of the strongest growth outlooks in its history.“We’re at 13 locations now, and we're confident we'll hit that 20-location market by the end of next year,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-c-4663465b/">Chad Coulter</a>. "We’re bringing on additional team members to help get us there because we know it’s there — and we have to execute at a high level.”Throughout 2025,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly/info">Biscuit Belly</a> focused heavily on building a robust development foundation and aligning new real estate opportunities for the year ahead. The brand’s lease activity this year includes sites across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Ohio, which will expand Biscuit Belly’s presence from six states to nine once they open. Two of the most anticipated locations are in Columbus, Ohio, and Houston, Texas.“The Columbus location will open in the Grandview neighborhood, fairly close to Ohio State’s campus,” Coulter said. “Because of this location, competition for the space was fierce. There were 9 LOIs on the space in the first week, but after talking with the Landlord, she really liked the concept and chose us to move forward. We are working with some branding experts to make this location really pop, as we want it to be our flagship store in the market.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Franchise development also saw meaningful growth this year, including two new multi-unit signings — one in Houston and one across the Florida Panhandle. These groups reflect the type of operators the brand continues to attract as it scales.“One of the groups was a multibrand, multi-unit group in concepts like Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon,” Coulter said. “They’re very hands-on operators. The individual out in Houston has a ton of retail experience and is building the team around her that’ll really make her successful.”Biscuit Belly also reviewed its operating costs in 2025, updating supplier agreements and shifting to new vendors with lower prices. The company said it also reached substantial reductions in commission rates with major delivery platforms. “Even with the challenges of traffic and inflation, our store-level profitability is as strong as it’s ever been. We will continue to fine-tune the model without sacrificing quality or the integrity of the brand,” Coulter said.Catering has continued to gain traction, now representing 10 percent or more of sales across the system and growing by large double-digit percentages over last year. The brand plans to build on that progress in 2026.“Next year we’re bringing on a first-party catering ordering service and have hired an internal catering sales team to continue that momentum on the catering side," Coulter said.&nbsp;Looking ahead, the company is concentrating on opening the stores already in development and bringing its count to 20 locations by the end of 2026. Biscuit Belly is also working toward adding two or three more multi-unit operators and lining up at least five additional projects for 2027 in the regions where it already has support, including parts of Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Texas. Coulter stated that the pipeline is already shaping up very nicely beyond 2026, with a goal of between 25 and 30 locations by the end of 2027.“We want to be smart with what we’re doing,” Coulter said. “We’re not just looking to open stores for the sake of unit count growth.About Biscuit Belly:Founded in 2019 and franchising since 2020, Biscuit Belly opened its first location in Louisville, Kentucky, where it became known for its creative approach to Southern comfort food classics with a focus on large, gourmet biscuit sandwiches. With a chef-cultivated menu, the brand has paired its Southern-inspired offerings with genuine hospitality to create an upbeat, fun environment where guests can enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends. With thirteen locations currently open in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the brand has a goal to reach 20 open units by the end of 2026. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbelly.com/">https://biscuitbelly.com/</a>.&nbsp;

Biscuit Belly Franchise - End of Year Wrap-Up - 2026 - 1851 Franchise

Biscuit Belly Finishes Year Strong and Looks Ahead to a 20-Unit Footprint in 2026

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Biscuit Belly Franchise - Seasonal Evolving Menu - 1851 Franchise

Biscuit Belly Uses Seasonal Menus to Stay Fresh Without Losing Its Southern Soul

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Biscuit Belly Franchise - Cost of Goods Sold - Inflation - 1851 Franchise

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. —&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbelly.com/">Biscuit Belly</a> is bringing back its&nbsp;seasonal Heart-Shaped Biscuits to turn up the love this February. Whatever your Valentine’s Day plans, these deliciously unique creations are sure to bring a buttery and flaky Instagrammable moment to any meal.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to CEO and founder Chad Coulter, the seasonal offering has become a fan favorite staple for the brand over the last four years. “We are always thinking about it from the perspective of what our guests are going to like and what is appealing to post online and deemed ‘Insta-worthy,’” Coulter said.&nbsp;As a brand, Biscuit Belly is no stranger to innovative experimentation to build a more joyful dining experience for its guests. Whether it’s the cozy magic of the fall lineup featuring Sweet Potato Pancakes and Apple Butter donuts or the spirit of February, the brand is dedicated to creating memorable moments between friends and family.&nbsp;Available until February 15th at all Biscuit Belly locations, these limited-time offerings will have your feed blowing up with hearts in no time. Visit your local Biscuit Belly to take advantage of the little moments that make saying “I love you” especially delicious.&nbsp; For more details, visit<a href="http://www.biscuitbelly.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=biscuit-belly-is-spreading-the-love-with-heart-shaped-biscuits-this-february-2728441">&nbsp;www.biscuitbelly.com</a> or follow Biscuit Belly on social media @biscuitbellybiscuits to keep up to date with their joyful kitchen innovations.&nbsp;

Biscuit Belly - Heart Shaped Biscuits Press Release - 1851 Franchise

Biscuit Belly is Back With Heart-Shaped Biscuits for Valentine’s Season 2026

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Andrew and Rachel Adams took their time before stepping into a restaurant. The idea kept coming up, but the math had to work beyond food costs and rent. It had to work on a calendar.&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbellyfranchise.com/">Biscuit Belly</a> finally gave them a model that fit how they live in Hoover, with daytime hours and a playbook that rewards showing up in the community, getting to know regulars and using catering to reach beyond the four walls.“I had talked about restaurants for years. Rachel had always said no, just because of the time commitment,” Andrew said. “We really love to travel and do different things, so that was always her hiccup in the road, the time commitment. When&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly/info">Biscuit Belly</a> came up, they reached out to our hospitality group that we’re a part of to see if they would be interested in franchising. They brought it to us.”<h2>A Daytime Model That Made Ownership Sustainable</h2>For Andrew and Rachel, Biscuit Belly’s hours solved the one problem that kept pushing restaurant ownership to the back burner. The restaurant runs early, then it clears. That meant they could be hands-on during the rush and still have their evenings. Before they signed, they went to the corporate stores to see it for themselves. They tried the food, watched how the operation ran and made sure the experience felt consistent from location to location.“The hours were a huge plus, 7 to 2 during the week and 7 to 3 on the weekends, and still have nights available and a little bit better hours to travel with,” Andrew said. “That was a huge selling point for us with work-life balance. We checked out all the corporate stores at the time, made sure it was a really consistent product and something that we could get behind, fell in love with it, and decided it was the perfect match.”<h2>Why Brock’s Gap Made Sense</h2>With the brand decision made, the next priority was selecting the right pocket of Hoover, Alabama. The Adamses landed at&nbsp;<a href="https://biscuitbelly.com/hoover/">The Village at Brock’s Gap</a>, a newer shopping center in a fast-growing area where rooftops, schools and daily routines create a strong breakfast and brunch daypart. It also offered a steady stream of community moments, from school drop-offs to local catering needs, where a morning brand can become part of someone’s week.“Hoover is continuing to grow. There are new shopping centers coming up, and this is one of the newer ones,” Rachel said. “People are just learning where we’re at. There are a lot of houses around here, too. It’s been really good to see people come in after they drop their kids off for school. It’s definitely continuing to grow, and we’re excited about what’s to come.”<h2>Building Awareness the Old-Fashioned Way</h2>Newer developments can mean a slower start, especially when a restaurant is tucked back from the road and customers do not immediately realize it is there. Early on, the Adamses leaned into community outreach and treated it as part of the weekly routine, not a one-time opening push.“Just informing people in the community that we’re back here and that this exists behind the shopping center that’s close to the road,” Rachel said. “We spent the first year getting out, taking samples out and catering, talking about catering, just to get awareness out.”That same outreach mindset carried into their catering strategy. Rather than waiting for new guests to discover the restaurant on their own, they used catering to introduce Biscuit Belly to groups across the Birmingham metro area, including customers who might not typically make the drive to Hoover for breakfast.“We continue to want to see the brand grow, and obviously our store as well,” Andrew said. “Catering has really helped us get our name out to parts of Birmingham that don’t necessarily come to Hoover a whole lot, but still, like downtown. We had a couple caterings this morning. There’s 150 people total that had Biscuit Belly this morning that didn’t even come in the restaurant.”<h2>A Menu That Feels Familiar, Then Surprises You</h2>Breakfast is a crowded category, and the Adamses see the menu as one reason Biscuit Belly can stand out. Andrew describes the concept as approachable, but still different enough that customers can find a favorite and keep exploring.“For the brand, it’s a southern menu with a twist,” Andrew said. “People can still get that down-home cooking, biscuits and gravy, but they still get to try something different. Something they would not have thought about, some flavors they probably wouldn’t have put together.”<h2>Support That Shows Up in Real Time</h2>As first-time restaurant owners, the Adamses point to franchisor support as a stabilizer, especially when the learning curve is steep. Rachel said marketing has helped them stay visible and keep customers engaged.“Marketing, for sure, coming up with new ideas and new ways to gain new customers and keep existing customers,” Rachel said. “They run a lot of fun campaigns and things that grab your attention.”Training has also been hands-on, with support before opening and continued updates as new items and limited-time offers roll out.“We went to Kentucky and had manager-owner training there. They came down to our store and helped get us ready, our staff ready,” Rachel said. “There’s a great training program in place that continues to update as new menu items come out, and LTO items, they help support us.”Andrew also pointed to accessibility as a practical advantage. When a question comes up in the middle of a busy week, being able to reach someone quickly matters.“All of the corporate employees have been readily available,” he said. “If we need to pick up the phone, call, text, email, everyone gets back to us really quickly.”<h2>Becoming Part of the Weekly Routine</h2>For the Adamses, the long-term win is not novelty. It is repeat business and word of mouth, built through the kind of consistent experience that turns a first visit into a habit. Rachel said she sees that momentum in the guests who return on the same days each week, then bring someone new.“We get people that come in every single week. We have different groups that come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” she said. “We see a lot of the same faces, and it’s nice to see new people and also see those familiar faces bringing new people.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly">https://1851franchise.com/biscuit-belly</a>.

Biscuit Belly Franchise - Hoover, Alabama - Andrew and Rachel Adams - 1851 Franchise

Executive Q&A: Chad Coulter, Founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly

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