1851

<p>Yes, <a href="https://www.farmerboys.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-bought-my-franchise-jeff-and-shirley-barnes-farmer-boys-2715458" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>Farmer Boys</u></a> can be girls, too.&nbsp; Just ask Shirley Barnes.&nbsp;</p><p>She and husband Jeff are proud franchise owners with two Southern California locations of the Riverside, California-based, 90-unit Farmer Boys quick serve restaurants and a third one in the works.&nbsp;</p><p>1851 Franchise asked them a little about their background and what this breakfast-and-burger concept had that intrigued them enough to buy.</p><h4>1851 Franchise: Tell me a bit about your background.</h4><p>Shirley Barnes: Jeff and I have been together since high school; we were neighbors growing up. Before Farmer Boys, Jeff was a technician who ran the used car department for Penske Toyota in Downey, California. I was a district sales manager for Charlotte Russe clothing stores in Orange County and a few in Riverside County. Jeff and I were both working long days, which included extremely long commutes. We decided if we were going to put this much time into our careers, we should go into business for ourselves.</p><h4>1851: Why did you get interested in franchising?</h4><p>Barnes: We had business backgrounds, but were intimidated to jump into this new adventure in the restaurant industry on our own. We thought that franchising gave us the security and brand recognition needed to be more successful as new entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: Why was the brand a better fit than other brands in the segment?</h4><p>Barnes: We attended several franchise conventions looking for the perfect fit, but discovered Farmer Boys one day when I was carpooling to the Glendale Galleria with one of my managers. We met at the Farmer Boys in Irwindale, and I noticed a franchising sign and called the number. The rest is history!</p><p>Ultimately, Jeff and I really liked the fact that Farmer Boys still felt small and like a family-owned business. Most of the other companies we spoke with were much larger, so you felt like just another person filling out a franchise application. The people at Farmer Boys made you feel like they were investing as much in you as you were with them.</p><h4>1851: Walk us through your journey as a franchisee candidate with the brand. What happened between your first inquiry and opening your first location?&nbsp;</h4><p>Barnes: Jeff and I had several interviews and meetings with all of the Havadjias brothers, the founders of the brand as well as with several people from the corporate offices. It was a very exciting time for us, and Farmer Boys was still a fairly small company. Our first location was their 39th store, and we felt as if we were embarking onto something big. Farmer Boys was very helpful in walking us through all the motions as this was entirely new territory for us. There were several bumps along the way, but we felt like we weren't going through it alone. We had experienced partners on our side.</p><h4>1851: Did you do a discovery day? How did it go?</h4><p>Barnes: Jeff and I met with the franchise director. He took us to several locations, and we finally stopped to have lunch at one of them. He ordered everything on the menu for us to try and we were amazed at how all of it was so delicious! We were also surprised at how busy all the stores were and how friendly the team members were.</p><h4>1851: Describe the moment you knew you wanted to buy the franchise. What made you buy?</h4><p>Barnes: Jeff and I knew we wanted to buy the franchise when we started speaking to Farmer Boys franchise owners. They were extremely helpful and honest, and we left each conversation feeling like they were personally helping to grow the brand. We knew then that Farmer Boys was the right place for us because it takes the whole team to really grow and succeed.</p><h4>1851: What advice would you give a franchisor who is hoping to get more franchisees to sign on?</h4><p>Barnes: No matter how big you get as a company, make sure that the franchisees always seem to have a voice in what is happening with their investment. Whether you’re a franchisee with only one location or one that has over 20, your voice still needs to be heard because your challenges are going to be so different. Most franchisee's want to grow their investments, which includes adding more locations, but that only really works as long as they feel like they are in partnership with the franchisor.</p>

Why I Bought My Franchise: Jeff and Shirley Barnes, Farmer Boys

1851 Franchise

This husband-and-wife duo shed their corporate 9-to-5 gigs to plant the seeds of their future in this fast-growing breakfast-and-burger QSR. They haven’t looked back since.

why-i-bought-my-franchise-jeff-and-shirley-barnes-farmer-boys

Workout Anytime

Workout Anytime Champions NIL Support for Female Athletes at Final Four - Sports Illustrated - 1851

Sports Illustrated: Workout Anytime Champions NIL Support for Female Athletes at Final Four

workout-anytime-nil-support-female-athletes

Right at Home

From Rabbi to Franchisee: Shalom Plotkin Brings Compassion to Senior Care With Right at Home

right-at-home-franchise-shalom-plotkin

Fresh Coat

Photo of TruBlue and Fresh Coat team members

Fresh Coat and TruBlue: How Sister Brand Partnerships Drive Franchise Success

fresh-coat-trublue-partnership-drives-franchise-success

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of two hands holding Woodhouse Spa gift box against gold background

Woodhouse Spas’ Proprietary Product Line Drives Franchisee Growth and Brand Differentiation

woodhouse-spas-franchise-proprietary-product-line

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Arkansas Layne’s Franchisee Secures Real Estate, Set To Open in June

arkansas-laynes-franchisee-secures-real-estate-set-to-open-in-june

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 Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

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

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Melissa & Matt Johnson and Pigtails & Crewcuts logo

Building a Family-Friendly Business: How Melissa and Matt Johnson Grew Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Antonio

how-melissa-and-matt-johnson-grew-pigtails-crewcuts-in-san-antonio

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Brianna and Matt Fitchett, Seniors Helping Seniors logo

Nonprofit Leaders to Bring Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise to East Bay, California

nonprofit-leaders-to-bring-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-to-east-bay-california

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

sean-phelan-caring-transitions-franchise-austin

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Raj Pingili and Paris Baguette logo

How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

how-a-family-vacation-inspired-raj-pingili-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-towson-maryland

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

Why I Bought My Franchise: Jeff and Shirley Barnes, Farmer Boys

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS