Keeping it in the Family: How One MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes Franchisee Turned the Brand’s Unique Concept into a Family Business for Future Generations

When you walk into any of the five MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes* locations that are owned by Jeff Kullman, you would think that all of his employees—and anyone else who steps into his restaurants—are members of his family. That’s because Kullman goes above and beyond to connect his business to members of his local Texas community.

In fact, it was that sense of family and togetherness that first inspired Kullman to leave his career as a homebuilding executive behind back in 2009. As an entrepreneur, Kullman realized that he wanted to be a part of a brand that could open up the door to long-term growth that could then be passed down to future generations. So together with his two sons, Jason and Josh, he invested in the brand and decided to make MOOYAH his family business.

To say that the leading better burger brand has become an integral part of Kullman’s family—both personally and professionally—would be an understatement. Through working with his sons in the stores on a daily basis and seeing their families grow alongside their restaurants, Kullman is already realizing the potential for MOOYAH to be passed down to a third generation.

“One of my granddaughters, who is in first grade, loves to go to into our restaurants. She’s already helping out by doing small tasks like mopping floors and cleaning tables, and my son says that she’s looking to move on to salting fries and making shakes,” Kullman said. “That type of family involvement is exactly why I franchised with MOOYAH in the first place. I wanted to be a part of a business that could create a future for my sons and their families, and the brand has exceeded every one of my expectations.”

Kullman has experienced numerous changes since opening up his first MOOYAH restaurant in Flower Mound in the spring of 2010. For starters, both of his sons have each welcomed two daughters of their own.  And as Kullman’s family has grown, so has their footprint with MOOYAH across Texas. After starting with one location, they have added four more units to their network throughout the Lone Star State. The Kullman’s Southlake location was the next to launch in April of 2011, followed by a restaurant in Plano in March of 2013 and Austin area locations in the summer of 2014 and spring of 2016. And even while operating their five existing locations, Kullman and his sons have their sights set on further expansion down the road.

As the father and sons continue to extend their reach as local business owners, they remain more committed than ever to staying connected to the MOOYAH brand, both as employees and as a family.

“If you visit one of our MOOYAH locations, you may find Jason or Josh working the cash register or maybe even the grill. We’re very hands-on in our operations, and there’s no doubt that it has been a major contributing factor to our continued growth and success,” said Kullman.

In order to ensure that they continue to see that type of success down the line as more family members are introduced to the MOOYAH brand, the Kullmans have created a winning management formula that capitalizes on everyone’s individual strengths. While Kullman handles back of the house business affairs for all of their locations—including assessment, site selection, due diligence, contracts and HR matters—Jason and Josh oversee the day-to-day operations in their restaurants. They take a very personal approach to making sure that things are running smoothly by visiting all five of their locations as much as possible.

“Jeff, Jason and Josh are perfect examples of how MOOYAH goes above and beyond to set our local owners up for success. Our top priority is ensuring that they have access to a system that allows them to tap into growth potential that can last for generations,” said Jordan Duran, director of franchise sales for MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes. “We’re looking forward to continuing to support the Kullmans as they make their dreams of building a family business into a reality, and we’re eager to help other franchisees do the same down the line.”

MOOYAH has a long history of promoting a family-friendly environment across its growing franchise system. From its one of a kind culture and supportive environment to its affordable initial investment range that falls between $373,350 and $623,300, the brand’s system is designed to support local owners as they work to grow alongside the concept.

For Kullman and his sons, MOOYAH’s system has meant being able to establish a business that will leave a lasting legacy for their entire family. And according to Kullman, that’s something that wouldn’t be possible without the brand’s help.

“It’s rare to find a brand that’s as invested in its franchisees as MOOYAH, especially when you consider that the better burger industry is so saturated. But they really go the extra mile to help us ensure that business is running smoothly across all of our locations,” said Kullman. “There’s a sense of loyalty across MOOYAH’s entire system that really makes it the obvious choice for families looking to build something together. We’ve been incredibly successful so far, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow on both a personal and professional level as we expand with MOOYAH in the future.”