How Food and Philanthropy Attracted Firehouse Subs Franchisee

1851 Franchise: What made you initially attracted to the brand?

Will Page, Firehouse Subs Franchisee: The food was the first thing that attracted me to Firehouse Subs. I had been to the restaurant many times to eat, and it was always delicious. If you’re going to sell food to people, it’s critically important to believe in the product. Not only do we make our sandwiches with quality ingredients, but Firehouse Subs is also unique because unlike other sub places, we steam our meats and cheeses, which makes the food taste great.

1851: What parts of the brand made you decide to buy it?

WP: When I started looking into owning a Firehouse Subs, I realized that the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation distinguishes the company from other sandwich franchises. The foundation allows franchisees to give back to their local communities by providing funding and equipment to first responders and public safety organizations. Over the last seven years, my franchises have donated more than $250,000 worth of equipment to first responders in the area. It feels good to know that at Firehouse Subs, we aren’t just selling sandwiches. We are getting involved in the community and helping to save lives.

1851: When researching the brand, how important was the website in helping educate you about the opportunity?

WP: I submitted a franchise request form through the website, but other than that, I did not use it very much. For the most part, I relied on the Firehouse Subs corporate team to educate myself about the opportunity.

1851: How did you perform due diligence on the brand?

WP: I have two Firehouse Subs locations, and I opened my first in 2011. From the moment I started looking at opportunities to own a sandwich franchise, it took me about 11 months to open the first restaurant. Because it was important for me to do my research before making an investment, I also considered Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s, Subway and Which Wich. During the due diligence process, I visited a lot of stores to not only try the food, but also to speak with the franchisees to learn about their experiences. Eventually, I discovered the ins and outs of each franchise, and I realized that Firehouse Subs was the right opportunity for me.

1851: How do you absorb content and media today?

WP: When it comes to absorbing media, I mostly use my phone. I use it to go on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but I also use it to stay updated with local news and industry news in the franchise and restaurant worlds. I’m rarely on a computer. When I need to know something, I usually just pull out my phone and Google it.