How Paris Baguette Takes the Guesswork Out of Opening a Bakery

So you’ve decided to finally open that cute little bakery café you’ve always imagined. It will be a dream come true.

But first, a little bit of a nightmare awaits. There is an avalanche of paperwork, licensing applications, restaurant inspectors, daunting legal hoops, questions about equipment and supplies to purchase and a million more decisions. And you haven’t baked your first macaroon yet. 

That’s if you go into it alone. There’s another option, however: franchising, which provides would-be restaurateurs a recipe to follow, both figuratively and literally.

That’s why Paris Baguette, a bakery café franchise with 4,000 restaurants operating across the globe, has become one of the most popular investment opportunities in the foodservice industry. This brand has restaurant openings down to a science. 

“We are here to set our franchise partners up for success, and that starts before the doors are even open,” said Mark Mele, Paris Baguette’s chief development officer. “That’s what people look for from a franchisor — the ability to help smooth the waters, answer questions and keep everything on track.”

The Franchisee Road Map: A Guide To Successful Openings

After a franchisee is awarded a franchise and decides to sign on with Paris Baguette, they have someone to guide them through each step in the process. The company has a comprehensive Café Opening Roadmap, which provides a 200-point, step-by-step checklist of tasks that must be completed by various parties, including the corporate team, suppliers, vendors, construction teams and franchisee to get the doors open. 

Step 1: Help Find the Best Real Estate Markets

When you’re on your own, you have to depend on a combination of imprecise marketing tools, advice from an indifferent real estate broker and a bit of luck to find a successful location. Paris Baguette, however, works with the top real estate brokers in the world and at the local level, who deploy sophisticated proprietary research and software to analyze the area’s consumer preferences, income and other factors to figure out the right place for the new location. From there, the team inspects the address to make sure it looks as good in real life as it does on paper. 

Step 2: Start Franchise Training Right Away

Once you sign a lease, your team will begin an extensive 10-week training with Paris Baguette’s highly skilled staff. New business owners can eliminate the guesswork by replicating procedures and processes that have already proven effective in thousands of other stores. That’s a giant head start compared to opening your own store where you’re left to figure it all out for yourself. In fact, for the solo operator, it can take years just to solve basic problems, whether it’s the kitchen layout and design or the best way to bake a loaf of bread. 

Step 3: Begin the Store Build Out Process

After you’ve received your construction permits, Paris Baguette is able to get you up and rolling in the dough (both figuratively and literally) in just 12 to 16 weeks. In a business where time is money, this accelerated development schedule has franchisees’ backs. With a professional construction team overseeing contractors, you’re not just decreasing the time it takes to open, but you’re also sidestepping the costly mistakes that solo operators face every day. 

Step 4: Throw Open the Doors and Say “Bonjour” 

To prepare for your big opening day, Paris Baguette’s operations and marketing teams will work with you to get all details finalized. The first thing to do is develop a comprehensive marketing plan that lets all your new neighbors know you’re in the area. Instead of coming up with a marketing plan on your own, the marketing team will assist in helping new franchisees develop strategies that are guaranteed to get new customers in the door as soon as possible. 

ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE

The total investment to franchise with Paris Baguette ranges from $709,193 to $1,386,292, including a $50,000 initial franchise fee. If you enter into an area development agreement, you must develop a minimum of four stores and, in addition to the total investment, you will be required to pay an area development fee equal to $20,000 multiplied by the number of stores you plan to develop. For more information on franchising with Paris Baguette, please visit https://parisbaguettefamily.com/.