1851

Raj Patel, Kaushal Patel and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hardikkumar-patel-a2a54b88/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dreams-come-true-for-indian-friends-through-6-unit-franchising-deal-with-the-brass-tap-2724817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hardik Patel</a> have been friends for years, and one of their favorite ways to spend time together is socializing in a sports bar. Often at their gatherings, they would discuss their dream of owning a business together. When Hardik discovered&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap">The Brass Tap</a>, the craft beer bar and entertainment franchise, he presented to the group the idea of purchasing one themselves. They all immediately fell in love with the idea, as owning the very same kind of place that they enjoyed spending time together really resonated with them. So, they reached out to the brand shortly thereafter.&nbsp;All three currently have careers in the IT industry. In addition, Hardik spent six years serving in the Army. While they do not have prior experience in business ownership, their families do, so they have a good understanding of the hard work that is involved. They also plan on relying on their analytical abilities from their IT backgrounds to help them configure their path to success.&nbsp;The three friends love the social atmosphere of&nbsp;<a href="https://thebrasstapfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dreams-come-true-for-indian-friends-through-6-unit-franchising-deal-with-the-brass-tap-2724817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Brass Tap</a> and the fact that it is a family-friendly environment. In conducting research before their investment, they visited several locations, enjoying drinks together and partaking in The Brass Tap’s events like bingo and trivia nights. After their research, they could not think of any brand that would be a better fit for their joint venture into franchising. While they initially planned on opening just one location in McKinney, Texas, they formed a strong partnership with the brand and have decided to purchase six locations, with plans to open one per year in nearby cities such as Melissa, Anna and Sherman.&nbsp;1851 Franchise spoke with Raj, Kaushal and Hardik about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future.PROFILE QUESTIONS1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Raj:&nbsp;All of us are working in the IT sector. I'm currently working as a manager, Hardik is working at Verizon as a network engineer and Kaushal is working in the federal government.&nbsp;Hardik and I met after coming over from India to America to pursue our masters degrees, and&nbsp;I met&nbsp;Kaushal&nbsp;when I was working my first job with the Navy exchange service, where&nbsp;Kaushal is working right now.&nbsp;The three of us have been good friends for seven or eight years now, and we love hanging out together in a bar. Whenever the three of us would get together, we always discussed the idea of opening a business. Initially, we thought about a liquor store, but it didn’t seem like a viable option in our neighborhood because there are so many big corporate giants like Total Wine, so it would be very difficult for us to compete.Hardik suggested that we could consider a sports bar, and more specifically, The Brass Tap.&nbsp;We reached out and were interviewed by the corporate team. We don’t have any industry background, but our families have business ownership experience with coffee shops and what not, so we felt confident with what we were doing. We decided to start with a location in McKinney, Texas, but the more we talked with the brand, the more confidence they had in us and soon they offered us more. We ended up purchasing six territories total.&nbsp;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?Raj:&nbsp;Franchising is a proven business model. It allows us to see the past track record from the other stores and how the stores with consumer demographics that are similar to ours are doing.&nbsp;We liked seeing this data and the numbers and analytics because of our IT backgrounds. It was something we could understand and calculate. A sports bar with our own name would not be as successful because we wouldn’t have that guidance and support that we are getting from the franchisor and corporate team. The Brass Tap has already been so helpful in advising us on how to deal with landlords and architecture, how to lay out a sports bar to make the best use of the space and giving us resources for marketing.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Raj:&nbsp;When we first visited The Brass Tap back in 2019, we immediately loved the atmosphere. There were bingo and trivia nights and people just socializing and enjoying themselves. We also really love that it is a family sports bar where kids are welcome to come in and enjoy the atmosphere, too.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Raj:&nbsp;We want to open up one new store each year, up to the six we have purchased. We are looking forward to expanding our business with each new location.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Raj:&nbsp;Hardik and I came over to America as international students from India and we met at school. We became friends before finding out he was actually my brother-in-law through a complex, long-distance family relationship. This was such an interesting thing to come to find out! I still consider him more of a friend than brother-in-law.I think people would also be interested to know that Hardik served in the Army. He knows a few languages, so the United States Army provided him an opportunity to be a translator and linguist.&nbsp;Hardik:&nbsp;I was working as a specialist on 15 Delta. My main task was to do the powertrain work on the Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters at the Fort Worth unit. I served for six years, and this December I was honorably discharged from the Army.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Raj:&nbsp;Make your own decision by looking into the numbers, as they are a key indicator of any franchise’s success. It’s also important to make sure the franchisor is going to offer you plenty of support, because every brand is different.You should also understand the demographics of the area your business is situated in. You want to understand what the local consumers enjoy and what they are interested in. For example, where we are located, there are not a lot of outdoor activities or natural beauty, so people like to socialize in an indoor environment.&nbsp;ABOUT THE BRASS TAPFounded by Jeff Martin in Tampa, Florida in 2008, The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer bar with 60 taps and 200 varieties of local, national and international beers. The restaurant also features craft cocktails, a premium selection of wines and a food menu designed around community and sharing. The Brass Tap has a unique vibe that is upbeat, high energy and casual all at the same time. You will also find live music, social events, high-definition televisions to view all the sporting action, as well as an open-air patio. With more than 35 locations currently open and 50 in development, The Brass Tap is positioned to quadruple in size in the Southeast and beyond. In June 2012, FSC Franchise Co. LLC acquired the rights to franchise The Brass Tap. For more info, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thebrasstap.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dreams-come-true-for-indian-friends-through-6-unit-franchising-deal-with-the-brass-tap-2724817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.thebrasstap.com</a>.&nbsp;

Dreams Come True for Indian Friends Through 6-Unit Franchising Deal With the Brass Tap

1851 Franchise

Raj, Kaushal and Hardik love going to bars and dreamt of going into business together. The Brass Tap combined these two passions, so they bought six locations.

dreams-come-true-for-indian-friends-through-6-unit-franchising-deal-with-the-brass-tap

Right at Home

Right at Home Expanding In-Home Care Services in Wausau, Wisconsin 

right-at-home-expanding-in-home-care-services-in-wausau-wisconsin

The Growth Coach

Top 5 Reasons To Invest in The Growth Coach Franchise

top-5-reasons-to-invest-in-the-growth-coach-franchise

Caring Transitions

Planning Today for Peace Tomorrow: Caring Transitions on the Importance of Estate Planning

planning-today-for-peace-tomorrow-caring-transitions-on-the-importance-of-estate-planning

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Onigilly Franchise - Target Market - San Diego - 1851 Franchise

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen Franchise Sets Sights on San Diego Expansion

onigilly-franchise-san-diego-restaurant-expansion

ServiceMaster Restore

Liberty Restoration Group Renews Proud Partnership with Lindenwood University Athletics

liberty-restoration-group-renews-proud-partnership-with-lindenwood-university-athletics

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

slim-chickens-rd-center-fayetteville

Nearly 40% of Americans Are Eating Out Less as High Prices Redefine Dining Habits

nearly-40-of-americans-are-eating-out-less-as-high-prices-redefine-dining-habits

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum, Surpassing 200 New Franchise Owners in the First 10 Months of 2025

authority-brands-enters-q4-with-record-momentum-surpassing-200-new-franchise-owners-in-the-first-10-months-of-2025

Franchises, work-life balance, millennials in franchising, millennials work-life balance

The Best Franchises for Millennials Wanting Work-Life Balance

best-franchises-millennials-work-life-balance

Photo of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchisee Lily Wilford

Entrepreneur: This 18-Year-Old Saved Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead

18-year-old-franchise-owner-lily-wilford

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Ron Taylor and SweatHouz logo

From Edible Arrangements Leader to Wellness Entrepreneur: Ron Taylor's $53 Million Franchise Journey

ron-taylor-edible-arrangements-sweathouz-franchise-journey

image of matthew yocum from freshcoat painting franchisee in marin county california

How Fresh Coat Helped Matthew Yocum Turn Corporate Experience Into Purpose-Driven Business Ownership

fresh-coat-franchise-marin-county

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Dreams Come True for Indian Friends Through 6-Unit Franchising Deal With the Brass Tap

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS