1851

As they grow&nbsp;<a href="http://layneschickenfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Layne&#x2019;s Chicken Fingers*</a>, the rapidly expanding, Texas “Born and Breaded” chicken finger franchise, and&nbsp;<a href="https://mooyahfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes</a>, the “better burger” franchise, across Wisconsin, brothers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-bergeson-31013314?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasbergeson?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luke Bergeson</a> have built a partnership structure that allows them to scale quickly while preserving the family values their operation was built on. By carefully evaluating the brands they choose to scale with, the Bergesons ensure their businesses are not only culturally aligned but also financially and operationally sound.&nbsp;“We focus on operations and look for a system that our team can execute well — whether it’s busy or slow — and do it right every time,” Josh said. “That consistency is a game-changer in both the franchise and restaurant spaces. There are so many restaurants that come and go, but if you can consistently do things well and get it right every time, that’s incredibly important. That’s definitely something we saw with Layne’s.”This operational simplicity is the catalyst for their current expansion. Because the model reduces friction and can be easily replicated, the Bergesons have the confidence to enter new markets knowing the Layne’s experience will remain consistent for the guest, even without their presence in each restaurant every day.While the motivation to scale is largely driven by ease of operation, it’s also about creating capacity to support a growing team and carry on a legacy that began with their grandparents’ independent restaurants and their father’s Subway franchises. Growth is a way to serve the people and community they love.“We’ll grow as we can grow, and to grow, we need the right people,” Josh said. “We recently launched an initiative to offer free healthcare to 100% of our employees. That’s probably not something we could afford if we only had one or two restaurants. But because of our growth, we’re able to provide better lives.”<h2>The Decision to Franchise as a Family</h2>While the Bergeson family has long been involved in the restaurant space, Josh and Luke’s path to partnership wasn’t always a given.For Luke, the pull of the restaurant industry was always there.“Growing up in our dad’s restaurants, and hearing his stories about working in his parents’ places, I just loved being part of it,” he said. “I enjoyed working with my dad, the customers and the employees. After school or practice, when other kids went to Subway — our dad’s store, I’d jump behind the counter to help with the rush and ‘earn my sub’ for the day. Everyone in town knew us and knew we were a family business. I never really imagined doing anything else.”Josh, however, originally took a different route. After pursuing finance and economics in college, he made a pointed effort to move away from the family business. He landed in the insurance and financial planning space, but as someone who didn’t enjoy working for others and had a wide range of interests, being boxed in like this “just didn’t really fit” him.“I remember my old boss, who worked with his own brother, talked about how special it was to be a part of a family business,” Josh said. “That stuck with me. I realized I didn’t&nbsp;need to go out and do something on my own. When my dad and brother began growing in the restaurant world, I asked if there was room for a third. Coming back to work with my family was the right choice.”<h2>The “How” of a Family Partnership</h2>“We get a lot of people who ask how we can work with family. They say something like, ‘I could&nbsp;never work with my brother, mother or father,’” Luke said. “It really helps that we don’t just love each other — we really like each other.”Enjoying each other’s company on a fundamental level sets a great baseline for the Bergesons’ business operations. From there, they divide responsibilities based on each other’s natural strengths, allowing each person to lean into what they love and are good at.&nbsp;With consistent communication, the three stay in touch on a regular basis and are able to collaborate to keep all aspects of the business running smoothly.“We’re always in contact; I talk to Luke and Randall almost every day,” Josh said. “Sometimes, we’ll jump on a three-way call to go over plans for the week or make quick decisions. We each handle our own day-to-day, but for big-picture things, we like to check in with each other. We all see things differently, and that mix of perspectives helps a lot.”And, notably, the Bergesons’ emphasis on family keeps them grounded outside of work, too. Though many restaurant owners are never really “off work,” when Josh and Luke gather their families, they stay connected to their loved ones.“It’s not just a job; it’s integral to our lives. But our wives are great at helping us strike that balance,” Luke said. “It also helps to have young children running around. We don’t have too much time to talk about work when we’re running and playing with the kids and making sure they’re getting what they need.”<h2>Growing the Family Through Franchising</h2>Throughout their franchise journey, and as they prepare to further expand their&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/info">Layne’s</a> presence across Wisconsin, the Bergesons’ “franchise family” has grown consistently.Even when they first began considering an investment in Layne’s, they were largely driven by the brand’s family feel.“When we first visited Layne’s, it really felt like a family organization,” Josh said. “Having&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-reed-5a724a152?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garrett [Reed]</a> and Matt [O’Reilly], who are not brothers but are awfully close, then Garrett and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-reed-359407a?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric [Reed]</a>, who are actually brothers … Then, bringing in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-wattar-0a4187a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-laynes-mooyah-2730863" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Samir [Wattar]</a>, who is someone we knew from MOOYAH previously — that felt like a family. And given that Layne’s is very focused on their values of protecting the brand and protecting the franchisee, it felt very family-oriented.”As the business has scaled, the Bergesons have found close connections with their fellow owners and team members.“You start getting to know the franchisees; you’re on calls with them and start having text threads and sharing in something that most people don’t understand is a tough gig,” Josh said. “It’s great; it’s rewarding. But it’s tough. As we’ve gotten closer to some of the franchisees in the system, getting their numbers and talking to them as we navigate the business growth, we have started to extend the family because we have that shared commonality.”<h2>A Legacy of Service and the Next Generation</h2>While Luke puts it simply — “I’m a third-generation restaurant guy” — the Bergesons’ mission goes far beyond operating a group of successful restaurants. For them, being family-owned isn’t just something to paste on marketing materials. It’s the operational philosophy. It dictates how they make decisions, how they treat their teams and how they show up in their community.“We all have that servant heart and the desire to make people feel comfortable or welcome, whether it’s personally or in the restaurants,” Luke said. “I think that's why I was so drawn to restaurants. Every customer that comes in, I enjoy making their day, making them smile and serving them.”Josh has a similar, values-based approach.“We’re all Christians, and I would like people to see the fruits of our Christian labor,” he said. “What I mean by that is, if someone looks at how we operate the restaurants, what we believe is reflected in that. People will see that this is a well-run organization that clearly cares about its people. I want people to be able to clearly see that whoever is running this business is a good human. I think we do a pretty good job of that. We’re never perfect, and we’re always growing, but we’re always looking toward that goal.”As they build a legacy of service, stability and opportunity, they’re also laying the foundation for continued growth through the fourth generation.“When I think about legacy, I think ‘legacy for my children,’” Josh said. “It’s an interesting thought. Grandma and grandpa had one restaurant. Our dad had up to four restaurants at a given time, and now, we’re at seven restaurants with plans to grow beyond that. I hope we can do this legacy proud, continue to grow it and leave something greater for our children.”For more information on families in franchising, stay tuned as 1851 Franchise highlights more incredible franchise families over the next two weeks.

1851 Franchise magazine cover with photo of Josh & Luke Bergeson

Bergeson Family Builds Franchise Legacy with Layne’s and MOOYAH

1851 Franchise

By combining high-trust family dynamics with a brand built on streamlined operations and a commitment to excellence, brothers Josh and Luke Bergeson found the perfect vehicle for expansion.

Why This Multi-Unit Franchisee Family Continues to Invest in Layne’s and MOOYAH 

multi-unit-laynes-mooyah

Paris Baguette

image of paris baguette franchise owner franchisee in a bakery with a cake

How Paris Baguette Sets Franchisees Up for Lasting Success

paris-baguette-franchise-support

Woodhouse Spas

Woodhouse Spas Builds Q3 Momentum With New Club Pilot, Innovation Prep and Medspa Expansion Ahead of Q4

woodhouse-spas-builds-q3-momentum-with-new-club-pilot-innovation-prep-and-medspa-expansion-ahead-of-q4

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Marks Major Milestones in Q3: 21,000 Pros, New Tech Innovations and a National Philanthropic Partnership

sola-salons-marks-major-milestones-in-q3-21000-pros-new-tech-innovations-and-a-national-philanthropic-partnership

Sparkle Squad Window Cleaning Services

Sparkle Squad Franchise - Happinest - Troy Oliphant - 1851 Franchise

How This Sparkle Squad Franchise Owner Builds Community Connections and Steady Revenue

sparkle-squadd-franchise-kansas-city-troy-oliphant

Woodhouse Spas Franchise Support - 1851 Franchise

How Woodhouse Spas Franchising Works: A Deep Dive Into Support and Success

woodhouse-spas-franchise-support

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

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

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

FAT Brands Nears Bankruptcy as Creditors Demand Repayment of $1.3 Billion Debt

fat-brands-nears-bankruptcy-as-creditors-demand-repayment-of-13-billion-debt

Callaway Sells Majority Stake in Topgolf to Private Equity for $770 Million

callaway-sells-majority-stake-in-topgolf-to-private-equity-for-770-million

Keith Sizemore headshot, Radiance Holdings

Radiance Holdings Names Keith Sizemore Chief Development Officer

keith-sizemore-radiance-holdings-cdo

Jobseekers Are Flocking to “Unglamorous” Jobs — And Home Service Franchises Could Benefit

Jobseekers Are Flocking to “Unglamorous” Jobs — And Home Service Franchises Could Be Poised To Benefit

jobseekers-shift-boosts-home-service-franchises

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

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Bret Alex Feaster, Paris Baguette logo

Multi-Unit Jimmy John’s Franchisee Brings Paris Baguette to Southwest Michigan After Spotting Untapped Demand in His Own Backyard

paris-baguette-franchise-southwest-michigan-alex-bret-feaster

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

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

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

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

Paris Baguette Welcomes Zac Sulma as New Chief Operating Officer

new-coo-zac-sulma

Why This Multi-Unit Franchisee Family Continues to Invest in Layne’s and MOOYAH

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS