Running a restaurant requires owners to manage a long list of moving parts, from staffing and inventory to marketing, technology and guest service. FSC Franchise Co., the parent company of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, The Brass Tap and Newk’s Eatery, aims to make those responsibilities easier to manage by providing systems and support that owners can rely on throughout the life of their business.

“We support franchisees from the moment they sign their agreement, through the real estate and construction process, their grand opening and ongoing operations,” said Scott SirLouis, chief operating officer of FSC Franchise Co.

Building the Foundation Before Opening

One of the biggest opportunities to simplify restaurant ownership comes before the doors ever open. Rather than expecting new franchisees to learn the business as they go, FSC provides training designed to prepare owners and their teams for the day-to-day realities of running a restaurant.

“Each new franchisee or their designated operator receives four weeks of training in one of our certified training locations,” SirLouis said. “This covers everything from daily operations to marketing, hiring and financial management.”

The program combines hands-on restaurant experience with classroom instruction at FSC’s corporate office. That support becomes even more hands-on as opening day approaches, when FSC sends a four-person training team to the restaurant for three weeks.

Training continues after opening through a mobile-based platform designed for adult learners. FSC provides content for positions ranging from general managers to cooks, bartenders and servers, while owners receive ongoing training in areas such as local store marketing, financial management and human resources.

Taking Complexity Out of Restaurant Technology

Technology has become essential to restaurant operations, but managing multiple platforms can create another responsibility for owners. FSC takes much of that technical burden off franchisees by supporting the systems they need to run their restaurants.

“We have an experienced IT support team that handles all the programming and technical aspects of managing the POS system and all other restaurant tech,” SirLouis said. “We provide and support the systems for online ordering, third-party delivery platform integrations, loyalty and gift cards.”

Franchisees also have access to a help desk as their first point of contact for technology issues. On the back end, FSC provides tools to manage cost of goods and labor scheduling, along with financial reporting software that helps owners track their restaurant’s performance.

With FSC supporting those systems at the corporate level, franchisees do not have to navigate every technology vendor or technical problem on their own.

"I wouldn't have made it without corporate," said The Brass Tap franchise owner Becky Samaniego. "They taught me everything I know. I didn't know what cost of goods was or operating margins. They were there every step of the way, and even their IT department has been incredible whenever we've needed help."

Giving Franchisees Better Visibility Into Performance

Simpler operations do not mean operating with less information. FSC provides regular reporting on sales, discounts, traffic, average check, sales mix, channel mix, labor productivity and other measures that can help owners understand how their restaurants are performing.

“Our Restaurant Franchise Consultants (RFCs) meet monthly at a minimum with franchisees to benchmark the performance of their store against the system and/or a peer group of similar locations,” SirLouis said. “The RFC is a partner with the franchisee, there to help the franchisee see what is needed to drive the business forward and give them the practical advice and tools to do it.”

Those RFCs are also available around the clock when owners have questions or need help. They conduct regular restaurant visits and work directly with franchisees to identify opportunities to strengthen operations.

Making Local Marketing Easier to Execute

FSC has also developed systems intended to remove some of the guesswork from local marketing. Its marketing team works directly with each franchise owner to develop an annual plan tailored to the individual restaurant and its market.

“We have a platform housing digital content and templates. That makes it easy for franchisees to conduct professional digital and social media campaigns,” SirLouis said. 

FSC also provides ready-to-use materials, instructions and content that owners can use to host events and drive guest traffic. Another online platform gives franchisees one place to monitor and respond to guest reviews and feedback. Instead of requiring owners to create every campaign or promotional idea from scratch, the system gives them a starting point to stay active in their local communities.

Using Scale to Simplify Purchasing

Purchasing is another area where FSC can take work off an individual franchisee’s plate. The company operates a buying group that negotiates volume pricing on food and paper products, while a web portal gives owners a straightforward way to order what their restaurants need.

“Franchisees can order through a web portal, making it easy to keep their restaurant stocked and running,” SirLouis said. “We negotiate national contracts at reduced pricing with multiple outside service vendors for things like cleaning chemicals, janitorial supplies, internet/telephone service, TV content providers, grease trap services and more.”

Rather than requiring every owner to research providers and negotiate separately, FSC can use its broader system to establish vendor relationships and pricing that franchisees can access.

Creating More Time to Focus on Growth

Taken together, FSC’s training, technology, marketing, purchasing and field support systems are designed to make restaurant ownership more manageable. Franchisees still have to lead their teams and operate their businesses, but they have an established framework behind them instead of having to develop every process independently.

For owners, that can mean spending less time figuring out systems and more time using them to improve the restaurant, serve guests and grow the business.

To learn more about franchising with FSC Franchise Co., please visit https://1851franchise.com/fsc-franchise-co.