As Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be Famous™ chicken finger franchise with 30 operating restaurants and another 300-plus in development, continues to grow its national presence, franchisees consistently see groundbreaking turnout and sales volume for their grand openings. And, maybe more importantly, this performance continues even after the excitement and exposure of the grand opening event dies down.

While the Layne’s name, great food and quick, friendly service are key contributors to this success, much of the groundwork is laid early on by the franchisee and the leadership team.  Taylor Thomas, a franchisee who just opened his second Layne’s location in Texas, saw this play out with his recent Nacogdoches opening.

“When we had our first restaurant open in Tyler, we broke the sales record,” Thomas said. “And then, about five months later, we turned around and broke that record in Nacogdoches. It’s been a lot of fun to see that. Our general manager from Tyler was there to help the team in Nacogdoches; it’s great to see how they work together. I’ve never seen something run so smooth in my life.”

This smooth, record-breaking opening wasn’t an accident. It was the result of a deliberate plan, perfected by Thomas and his team and further supported by an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to support from the Layne’s corporate team.

The Franchisee Playbook

For Thomas, the strategy for a successful opening is built on a significant upfront investment in people and practice.

Hire Early and Invest in Training

Thomas aims to hire key staff, like general and assistant managers, between 35 days and two months ahead of the opening. 

“We hired our Nacogdoches GM two months out, and she stayed in Tyler working with our operating partner for that restaurant,” he said. “That allows them to ‘get the reps in,’ build some preparedness and allow them to get hands-on learning in more of a controlled atmosphere.”

While there are costs associated with bringing the leadership team on in advance of the opening, there is a noticeable return on that investment, driven by accuracy and efficiency in the early days of operations.

In addition to hiring the leadership team well in advance of the opening, Thomas says his team runs three days of dry runs with multiple shifts to “pressure test” the team. In addition to good practice, these days help team members build muscle memory that they can fall back on once real guests begin visiting.

“That’s one of the things that really helps move us forward,” he said. “We believe that it’s important to spend the money before the opening. It’s a heavy cost, but once you see the openings and you’re pushing cars through the drive-thru in under two minutes — that’s the proof it’s worth it.”

Partner New Teams With Experienced Leaders To Lay a Foundation

While Thomas’s team from his Tyler location was able to travel to Nacogdoches to collaborate, Layne’s franchisees working to launch their first locations will still have access to an experienced network of supporters.

“Jason [Cabrera] and Shaq [Jones] were here for the entire week before opening for training as well as the first week of operations,” Thomas said. “They watched and looked for where they needed to jump in. As an owner, that’s invaluable. I think I even saw Shaq making sauce at some point. That kind of support is invaluable because openings can be overwhelming. Everybody’s busy, and it’s a level of organized chaos. But it’s great to know that they’re there and willing to do anything they possibly can to make sure we’re prepared.”

“Our FBM was out directing traffic in the parking lots and helping people park. On day two or three, the whole Layne’s corporate team came out,” he continued. “There is another level of support and involvement in this franchise. It’s amazing.” 

Leverage Layne’s Connected, ‘Like Family’ Culture

In addition to the practical steps Thomas took to prepare his teams, from early hiring to hands-on practice, he notes Layne’s unique culture was also a key contributor to the success of the Nacogdoches opening.

In the Layne’s system, the support doesn’t just come from the franchisor; it comes from fellow operators, too.

“My biggest tip for a new owner is to reach out to franchisees,” Thomas said. “I talk to multiple other owners multiple times a week. It’s a big family that is here to make sure everyone is pushing forward and winning. In Nacogdoches, we had multiple other franchisees come down and check it out just to show their support, and we’ve done the same thing for other openings as often as we can.”

Thomas points out that, while many franchise brands will celebrate the support and community they offer within their systems, Layne’s walks the walk.

Partnership in Practice

For Thomas, record-breaking sales numbers are a big win, but the business model, franchise system and franchisee-franchisor partnership that have powered these numbers are also crucial contributors. 

That partnership is largely defined by genuine accessibility and a level of support that goes beyond a standard business relationship. Knowing that he can pick up the phone and get the information or resources he needs, whether he’s seeking support from the franchisor or fellow owners, is very reassuring. That tangible, all-in-one approach creates a different dynamic.

“When I made this investment, I signed up with the Layne’s brand, but I was also signing up with the people,” Thomas said. “The product is differentiated from others in the market, but at the end of the day, it comes down to who you’re going to be working with — who you’re adding to your family. And I’m proud to say that Garrett [Reed], Samir [Wattar] and my fellow franchisees are a part of the family now. There’s so much confidence there, everyone has mutual respect, and we all know that we’re working toward the same goal.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers.