The move from corporate security to entrepreneurship brings energy and unease in equal measure. Without a guaranteed paycheck, uncertainty grows and the route to success is not always obvious. Even so, the desire to run the show pushes many to proceed. With a strong support system and proven model, Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the rapidly growing franchise, offers a soft place to land for people looking to make this kind of change.

Masroor Fatany, the brand’s first franchisee, is a prime example of someone who leveraged the support and structure associated with franchising to take the leap to entrepreneurship and build a successful business. Though he now has seven Layne’s restaurants and another four in development, alongside multiple Halal Guys locations, Fatany started his career in public accounting.

A new college graduate in 2009, Fatany was at Ernst & Young in the midst of an incredibly uncertain economy. Instability became the new normal. “Companies were having layoffs,” he said. “I wasn’t laid off, but there were fewer people doing the same amount of work.”

During this time, Fatany’s mother found a newspaper mentioning Sears Garage Doors, and the idea of franchising immediately clicked for him. “Franchising appealed to me because I knew there was a playbook and brand recognition,” he said. “At the time, Sears was a powerhouse, so I decided to take a chance on it.”

His foray into franchising taught him the fundamentals of scaling a business, and it validated his choice to leave the corporate world. After this, he was ready for his next challenge and chose to transition to the restaurant space.

Fatany initially launched and scaled to multiple successful locations with The Halal Guys, but Layne’s, which he knew from his college years, later appeared on his radar. While his corporate background provided a strong foundation in finance and strategy, his previous experience in franchising also helped him to understand how Layne’s stood out as a franchisor.

The cult-favorite chicken was a key differentiator, but the culture of support and commitment to franchisee success stood out in the franchising space and truly drew him in. “The leadership team has a genuine interest in franchisee profitability, which is key,” he said. “They’ve told me not to do certain real estate deals, for example. That’s rare in franchising. Layne’s isn’t chasing unit count as their key metric, and that speaks volumes in our industry.”

This philosophy prevents an “us versus them” mindset or stark division between franchisee and franchisor. “We’re in the same boat and we have to row in the same direction,” Fatany said. “You can’t have just one side rowing — it just doesn’t work.”

This type of alignment and shared effort can be a refreshing pivot from the often hierarchical structures of the corporate world for corporate escapees.

For a corporate employee looking to make a similar move, Fatany’s experience offers a clear roadmap. While professionals bring valuable skills in areas like finance, marketing or management, the operational intricacies of running a restaurant often require the development of new skills. This is why it is so crucial to choose the proper partner, and one that is just as committed to your success as you are. 

Layne’s leadership team’s hands-on guidance and deep commitment to franchisee success offer an invaluable support structure for corporate escapees as they take the leap.

The journey from a corporate career to business ownership is about trading structured security for personal freedom and impact. A partner like Layne’s helps to reduce the risk associated with that trade-off, offering a proven system, beloved product and culture of collaboration that ensures owners are never going at it alone.

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