How Multi-Unit Togo’s Franchisee Letha Tran Made Her Childhood Dream a Reality

Letha Tran has been eating Togo’s for more than 20 years. In fact, she remembers eating at the sandwich brand before she was even tall enough to see over the counter.

“I’ve been eating Togo’s since I was a kid, and I always wanted to open one of my own,” said Tran. “I remember asking my mom if she could help lend me the money to make that happen—but, of course, she encouraged me to go to college first.” 

Tran worked in human resources for around eight years after graduation. Eventually, another opportunity to own a Togo’s presented itself, and she simply couldn’t pass up the chance to make her childhood dream come true. 

“I traded in my corporate job for sneakers and a T-shirt,” said Tran. “I took a leap of faith and opened my very first Togo’s.”

Today, Tran is the owner of five Togo’s restaurants in Redwood City, Morgan Hill and San Jose, California. 

“I wasn’t actually looking to expand, it just happened,” admitted Tran. “The opportunities came and I just took them. I don’t know exactly how I did it, but I have five locations now.”

With more than 200 locations open and in development, Togo’s is continuing to expand across California and the western U.S. with the help of passionate franchise partners, like Tran, who are invigorated by the legendary brand’s innovative approach to sandwiches. 

Tran also said that Togo’s recent branding updates, which include the new tagline “True to the Sandwich,” vibrant employee uniforms, contemporary packaging and revamped store designs have brought in more first-time customers and long time visitors alike.

“I love the new modern, clean look,” she said. “We’re getting really positive feedback from customers, and our employees love the environment they’re working in now. It keeps us relevant and competitive, especially with the new self-order kiosks. We’re attracting a much younger crowd than before.”

This is the perfect time to invest in a Togo’s, according to Tran. “For any new franchisee coming in, now is the time to start with this franchise, because the look is just incredible,” she said. Tran emphasized that while owning a Togo’s certainly requires a lot of hard work, she gets to wake up every day with a passion for her job. 

Tran credits much of her success as a multi-unit owner to the brand’s extensive training and ongoing support for franchisees. “Togo’s is a great franchise to be a part of,” she said. “The support is tremendous. [The team is] very personable. If you need something, you can just call them on the phone and they'll be right there.”

For the accomplished entrepreneur, success simply means doing what you love every day. “I just love coming to work, seeing my team, and talking to my regular customers every day,” said Tran. “That just makes me happy.”

The current initial investment for Togo’s franchise ranges from $268,000 to $501,500, which includes a $15,000 to $30,000 franchise fee. For more information, visit https://www.togos.com/franchising.