1851

Founded in 1994 in College Station, Texas, <a href="https://www.layneschickenfingers.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-franchised-my-business-laynes-chicken-fingers-2717756" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Layne&#x2019;s Chicken Fingers*</a> is known for its friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. The brand’s successful <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/texas-restaurant-association-laynes-chicken-fingers-houston-franchisee-is-named-texas-restaurant-associations-restaurateur-of-the-year-2716736#brand-latest-stories">cult following</a> began at its original location near Texas A&amp;M University and has since grown from a tiny campus phenomenon to a Lone Star State icon, providing good times and delicious food at eight locations in Texas, including three in College Station, four in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and one in Houston. The brand also recently announced it will be bringing <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-fingers-announces-6-locations-set-to-open-in-dallas-fort-worth-in-2022-2717026">six new locations</a> to Dallas-Fort Worth by spring of 2022.1851 Franchise spoke with <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-fingers-executive-qa-garrett-reed-ceo-2715859">CEO Garrett Reed</a> to learn more about how the <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers">Layne’s Chicken Fingers</a> brand got to where it is today.<h4>1851: Can you start by telling me a bit about your background?</h4>Garrett Reed: I started in the restaurant development business and ended up at Starbucks in the late 90's, helping make the brand explode in popularity during that time. I eventually became a real estate developer here in Texas, and I knew the owner of Layne’s Chicken Fingers. In 2017, I had the opportunity to acquire the brand, and he stayed on as a minority partner.&nbsp;<h4>1851: How did the idea of franchising come about?</h4>Reed: In the beginning, the brand was completely “unfranchiseable.” When it was purchased in 2017, it was the ultimate mom-and-pop business — a cult following, high T-shirt sales, no real operations structure. It was super successful, but there was no way to franchise, as there was no repeatable business model to sell. We spent an entire year <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/top-5-benefits-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-multiple-prototype-offerings-2716750#brand-latest-stories">developing policies and procedures</a> following the purchase and went about it very systematically. From there, we decided we needed to stress-test the concept. We went to Dallas and opened up three units in six months, which was unheard of. The whole idea was that we were going to open up three units, wait three years, and adapt to any challenges and issues that came up along the way. We are now ahead of schedule and just opened our fourth unit corporately. We didn’t start franchising until 24 months ago, once we proved to ourselves that we could. Once we had it all down to a science — that is when we started to franchise.&nbsp;<h4>1851: How was the process of franchising? What lessons did you learn early on?</h4>Reed: I’ve found that in my restaurant development experience, there are two different kinds of franchisors. Some are just out there to make money, and there is nothing wrong with that. Then there is another group that is actually selling the concept and a business model. We wanted to sell something we could be proud of — which really <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-fingers-secret-to-franchisee-success-company-culture-2716751#brand-latest-stories">comes down to our culture</a>. It is all about how to greet guests and treat employees well.&nbsp;Now, as we’ve signed quite a few franchisees over the past couple of months, it is interesting to see how we compare to other brands. Most of our franchisees also own other brands, so we are learning a lot about how other brands treat their franchisees and how to do it the right way.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What advice would you give to other business owners thinking of franchising their concept?</h4>Reed: You have to know what you want to do before you begin. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/laynes-chicken-fingers-launches-strategic-plan-to-open-100-new-locations-by-2025-through-franchising-2715827#brand-latest-stories">Have a plan in place</a>. Do you want to sell as many franchises as you possibly can, or keep your business as it is? One of the things we do at Layne’s, which I would recommend to other emerging franchisors, is to avoid hiring an outside sales person or even an in-house sales person. We have teams for every aspect of the business, but the one thing that we don’t let anyone else in the company do is sell franchises. My business partner and I take every single call, we go to the Discovery Days and meet with every single franchisee prospect. If you want to keep your soul and keep your culture alive, don’t let somebody else sell franchises for you. It will be more work, and you will likely have to spend a lot more time saying no, but it is worth it in the end.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What do you love most about franchising?&nbsp;</h4>Reed: What I love most about the business is <a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers/why-laynes-chicken-fingers-executive-team-is-one-of-its-biggest-assets-2716749#brand-latest-stories">the people</a> who work for us. I want to get everyone I know into the business. The food business is the food business — we sell great fast food — but I love franchising because I love providing opportunities.&nbsp;<h4>1851: So, why did you franchise your business?</h4>Reed: The reason we franchise is to give people the opportunity to experience our culture. We are a cool, unique brand, and we want to spread that culture around the country. Our brand mascot is called the Astro Chicken — a chicken in a space helmet. We created that mascot back in 2017 because we wanted to spread some motivation. It all comes down to how you function as a human being. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Live carefree like a chicken would. They are the most ridiculous animals on the farm. Be ridiculous like a chicken. On the flip side, what is the most complicated thing that a human has ever done? Travel to outer space. If one bolt isn’t screwed on right, everyone dies. If you can live your life like the Astro Chicken — carefree, loving life — while also treating work like it is as important as space travel, you will be successful. That is what the Layne’s franchise opportunity is all about.

Why I Franchised My Business: Layne’s Chicken Fingers

1851 Franchise

CEO Garrett Reed spoke with 1851 Franchise to discuss the history of the brand, his experience with franchising and why he fell in love with the industry.

why-i-franchised-my-business-laynes-chicken-fingers

Strategic Franchising

Exiting Franchising: How Strategic Franchising Helps Owners Build and Cash In on Their Legacy

exiting-franchising-how-strategic-franchising-helps-owners-build-and-cash-in-on-their-legacy

Beansquad

Why Franchisors Need the Right Financial Partner by the End of Q1

why-franchisors-need-the-right-financial-partner-by-the-end-of-q1

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Brings the Crunch to Rockwall with April 18 Grand Opening and Free Layne’s for a Year

laynes-chicken-fingers-brings-the-crunch-to-rockwall-with-april-18-grand-opening-and-free-laynes-for-a-year

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Brings the Crunch to Waycross with April 11 Grand Opening and Free Layne’s for a Year

laynes-chicken-fingers-brings-the-crunch-to-waycross-with-april-11-grand-opening-and-free-laynes-for-a-year

ServiceMaster Restore

How ServiceMaster Restore Franchisees Offer Managed Repair Services

How ServiceMaster Restore Franchisees Offer Managed Repair Services in Addition to Disaster Recovery as a Single-Source Solution

servicemaster-restore-construction-services

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

KKR Nears Deal for Nothing Bundt Cakes at $2 Billion

kkr-nears-deal-for-nothing-bundt-cakes-at-2-billion

Prince St. Pizza Partners With Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchisee for National Growth

prince-st-pizza-partners-with-daves-hot-chicken-franchisee-for-national-growth

KKR to Acquire Nothing Bundt Cakes in $2 Billion Deal -  1851 Franchise

KKR to Acquire Nothing Bundt Cakes in $2 Billion Deal

nothing-bundt-cakes-kkr-acquisition

FTC Settlement Puts New Focus on Franchise Disclosure Standards - 1851 Franchise

FTC Settlement Puts New Focus on Franchise Disclosure Standards

franchise-disclosure-violations-xponential-fitness-lawsuit-ftc

Applebee’s Franchisee Files for Bankruptcy as Dine Brands Moves to Acquire 53 Units - 1851 Franchise

Applebee’s Franchisee Files for Bankruptcy as Dine Brands Moves to Acquire 53 Units

applebees-franchisee-bankruptcy-neighborhood-restaurant-partners

Amada Senior Care Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Amada Senior Care is a non-medical home care, assisted living placement, and related senior-support services with multiple revenue streams.

amada-senior-care-franchise-costs-fees-profit

Beef 'O' Brady's Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is a family sports pub concept built around community, casual dining and lifelong local loyalty.

beef-o-bradys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

image of urswim franchise deep dive costs and fees and investment range

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: A purpose-driven swim instruction and aquatics management franchise offering at-home, indoor and community-based swim programs.

urSwim Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

urswim-franchise-costs-fees-profit

Visiting Angels Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Visiting Angels is a senior home care franchise focused on in-home support for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

visiting-angels-franchise-costs-fees-profit

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

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


Why I Franchised My Business: Layne’s Chicken Fingers

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS