1851

Before becoming a franchisee with Penn Station East Coast Subs, Bernie Marconi was no stranger to the restaurant industry. He spent 27 years working for KFC and Yum! Brands, including a role as a director of operations where he oversaw about 100 stores on the franchise side of the business. After nearly three decades with Yum! Brands, Marconi decided that he wanted to be a franchisee himself. When it came to finding the business ownership opportunity that was right for him, there was one brand that stood out: <a href="http://www.penn-station.com/franchise/index.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=simple-operations-and-high-quality-food-make-penn-station-east-coast-subs-a-strong-opportunity-for-franchisees-2707073" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penn Station East Coast Subs</a>.

&ldquo;There were a few things that inspired the change from Yum! Brands to Penn Station East Coast Subs,&rdquo; Marconi said. &ldquo;One was that I was very impressed with the quality of the food. The other major factor that helped me make the decision to become a franchisee was the brand&rsquo;s financial performance. After doing a bit of research and looking at the financials behind the business model, I was impressed with the operating income returns and the financial strength of the P&amp;L statement.&rdquo;

With over 315 units running across 15 states, Marconi is far from the only franchisee who decided that <a href="https://pennstation.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=simple-operations-and-high-quality-food-make-penn-station-east-coast-subs-a-strong-opportunity-for-franchisees-2707073" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penn Station East Coast Subs</a> provides its local owners with a strong investment opportunity. It&rsquo;s not just the business side of the concept that draws franchisees in &ndash; what separates Penn Station East Coast Subs from other sandwich concepts is its commitment to top-tier food and ingredients.

&ldquo;Again, it&rsquo;s the quality of our food. We have 14 different sandwiches, fresh cut fries and fresh squeezed lemonade &ndash; these are signature products that no one else has in the industry,&rdquo; Marconi said.

Penn Station East Coast Subs also affords its franchisees a low overhead and streamlined operations in order to simplify and encourage multi-unit ownership. Currently, Marconi operates two Penn Station East Coast Subs restaurants in Michigan &ndash; one in Rochester and one in Clinton Charter Township. And he says that since becoming a Penn Station East Coast Subs franchisee in 2002 and launching his two restaurants, the brand&rsquo;s corporate team has been supportive every step of the way.&nbsp; He&rsquo;s also evaluating sites for a possible third location.&nbsp;

Marconi said, &ldquo;The support from Penn Station East Coast Subs&rsquo; corporate team has been fabulous. Over the past 16 years, there have been a few times when we&rsquo;ve really needed their support, and everyone &ndash; including the President of the company, Craig Dunaway &ndash; was right there for us. I really believe that he walks in the shoes of the franchisees so that he can lend a tremendous level of support to help local owners make a strong income as they build out their stores.&rdquo;

What allows franchisees to realize their full potential and see a positive return on their investment is Penn Station East Coast Subs&rsquo; strong recruiting process. According to Marconi, the brand builds its strength by exclusively bringing on local owners or investment teams that have a level of experience in the restaurant industry.

&ldquo;One of the biggest things that I love about Penn Station East Coast Subs in addition to the quality of the food is the fact that you have to be an operator. The brand doesn&#39;t recruit anybody into the system, they must have restaurant experience, and I think this alone is a big reason Penn Station is successful,&rdquo; said Marconi. &ldquo;That thorough franchisee selection process is what makes this brand consistent across the board. When you walk into any Penn Station East Coast Subs restaurant, you can be sure that the franchise system&rsquo;s high standards are going to be upheld because of the caliber of franchisees running each location.&rdquo;

Going forward, Marconi plans to continue working alongside other members of the Penn Station East Coast Subs team to continue building on his location&rsquo;s momentum and experience even more success. That&rsquo;s another reason why Marconi loves being a part of the brand&rsquo;s franchise system &ndash; being a part of an experienced team and proven business model creates a strong competitive advantage.

&ldquo;Every member of the Penn Station East Coast Subs system works well together as a team. From corporate support to franchisees helping one another, we work together in the system to create a business model that&rsquo;s beneficial for the people operating each restaurant,&rdquo; Marconi said. &ldquo;For me, that builds success for the brand.&rdquo;

Simple Operations and High-Quality Food Make Penn Station East Coast Subs a Strong Opportunity for Franchisees

1851 Franchise

Michigan-based franchisee Bernie Marconi explains why he loves being a part of the Penn Station East Coast Subs team.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

simple-operations-and-high-quality-food-make-penn-station-east-coast-subs-a-strong-opportunity-for-franchisees

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

The Top 10 Low-Cost Franchises With High ROI 

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

How much can franchisees make? It’s a question many prospective owners ask before investing in a franchise. While earnings tend to be driven by variables such as industry, location and general management skills, a proper understanding of the key factors driving profitability can help franchise owners develop expectations that are realistic.&nbsp;Multi-unit franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mangesh-patel-9368569/">Mangesh Patel</a>, who’s readying the launch of six&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beefobradysfranchise.com/">Beef ‘O’ Brady’s</a> restaurant locations in the Macon, Georgia area, shares insights from his franchising experience.<h2>Understanding Franchise Income</h2>Keeping operational costs in check can have a major impact on overall earnings. Taking a proactive approach to expenses such as food and labor, as well as payroll and scheduling, can help align actual franchise income with general expectations for the business.“I just had a meeting with a couple of people, and they said, ‘You talked about a 25% profit margin, but I’m only doing 12%.’ So, I looked at the figures they sent me,” Patel said. “Their&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/calculate-restaurant-franchise-profit-2730476">restaurant</a> food cost was running at 37%, which should be around 30%. The national average is about 32%. If I do things correctly, my average food cost needs to be at or below 30%. And payroll should run around 18%. But many people run 25 to 28%.”So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unraveling-franchise-earnings-how-much-can-you-really-make-2723935">how much can franchisees make</a>? Here are five areas to consider.<h2>Practical Tips for Prospective Franchisees</h2><ol><li>Control Costs From Day One:&nbsp;It’s important to monitor payroll, food and supply costs closely. Overstaffing and inefficiencies can quickly reduce profits.</li><li>Plan For The Opening Surge:&nbsp;Traffic within the first few months of opening is likely to be higher. It’s important to adjust staffing and inventory accordingly, and pay close attention to how those levels change as time goes on.</li><li>Invest In Training:&nbsp;Properly trained workers can help reduce waste and improve overall service, which has a direct effect on net income.</li><li>Understand Your Market:&nbsp;Each market is unique and revenue potential will vary depending upon location, demographics and competition.</li><li>Track Metrics Regularly:&nbsp;Food cost percentages, labor ratios and weekly sales data act as key indicators operations may need to be adjusted.</li></ol><h2>What Profitability Really Comes Down To</h2>Patel notes that if franchise owners manage labor and costs properly, it’s not impossible to achieve strong cash flow even in the first year, bucking some franchising trends.So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-much-can-you-make-as-a-franchise-owner-2724761">how much can franchisees make</a>? While results tend to vary, careful planning, disciplined operations and a proactive approach to assessing initial costs are essential. But by grasping and guiding the elements that drive franchise profitability, franchise owners can maximize overall business earnings, scaling a business that’s sustainable financially over the long term.Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/power-rankings">Power Rankings</a> to read more on brands making moves.

How much can franchisees make? This guide explains what drives franchise earnings and how to manage costs, with expert tips from multi-unit owner Mangesh Patel on maximizing your franchise income.

How Much Can Franchisees Make? A Guide for Prospective Franchise Owners

how-much-can-franchisees-make-a-guide-expert-tips

<a href="https://hardeesfranchising.com/">Hardee’s</a>, a 65-year-old burger chain best known for its Thickburgers and breakfast biscuits, is facing a fast-moving round of closures driven by a franchise dispute rather than a bankruptcy filing.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/hardees-shutting-dozens-restaurants/91282586">Inc. recently reported that</a> 77&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-hardees-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2721286">Hardee’s</a> restaurants are expected to close within two weeks as one of the brand’s largest franchisees exits the system.&nbsp;According to the report, Hardee’s is suing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arcburger.com/">ARC Burger</a> — a franchise operator owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.highbluffcap.com/">High Bluff Capital Partners</a> — alleging the company fell behind on required payments and other contract obligations. Twenty-eight locations had already gone dark as of late December, with remaining sites scheduled to shutter across eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina and Wyoming.&nbsp;At the center of the complaint is the franchising “stack” of ongoing fees and pass-through costs that keep a system running. ARC Burger allegedly owes more than $6.5 million, including royalties, advertising fund contributions, technology and training fees, rent and taxes, and that payments stopped in December 2024. Hardee’s also argued in the lawsuit that the franchisee’s cash flow was not being used to bring accounts current.&nbsp;Hardee’s, for its part, is framing the shutdowns as a contractual enforcement issue, not a brand-wide retrenchment. “These closures are a result of ARC Burger’s failure to cure its defaults under its franchise agreements, despite solid sales,” a Hardee’s spokesperson said.&nbsp;The situation highlights a familiar franchising pressure point: unit economics. Inc. reported that Hardee’s operates more than 1,800 U.S. restaurants and that average annual sales per location are less than $1.2 million, well below averages cited for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-wendys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722520">Wendy’s</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-a-mcdonalds-franchise-2724654#stories">McDonald’s</a>. Lower volumes can leave franchisees with less room to absorb higher labor, food and occupancy costs while staying current on fees.&nbsp;Hardee’s said it is working to limit fallout for workers and communities and is looking for ways to reopen closed restaurants. For franchising, the next chapter will likely involve finding replacement operators, transferring sites and rebuilding compliance — a reminder that franchise growth depends as much on franchisee solvency and execution as it does on consumer demand.Read the original article&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/hardees-shutting-dozens-restaurants/91282586">here</a>.Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.1851growthclub.com">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

Hardee's Franchise - ARC Burger Lawsuit - 1851 Franchise

The closures stem from alleged unpaid royalties and missed franchise obligations by a major operator, not a broader chainwide collapse for the Hardee’s system.

Hardee’s Lawsuit Targets Franchisee as 77 Restaurants Prepare to Shut Down

hardees-franchise-closures-arc-burger-lawsuit

Ellianos Coffee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: A drive-thru specialty coffee franchise focused on speed, quality and Southern hospitality.

ellianos-coffee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: A fast-casual restaurant brand serving made-from-scratch sandwiches, salads, soups and pizzas rooted in Southern hospitality.


Newk’s Eatery Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

newks-eatery-franchise-costs-fees-profit

Window Genie Franchise - Deep Dive 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Window Genie is an owner-led, multi-service exterior cleaning brand with recurring demand and Neighborly backing that simplifies operations and supports growth.

Window Genie Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

window-genie-franchise-deep-dive

No-H2O Franchise Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, Profit and Data - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: No-H2O is a waterless, app-driven car-care model with mobile, pop-up or static formats, low infrastructure, quick ramp-up, matched marketing and systemwide accounts.