Is Roly Poly the Right Investment for You?
Q: Do I need restaurant experience to be a successful franchisee?
A: Food service experience is an advantage, yes, but we will teach you the necessary food service skills. More importantly, we have found that business skills are the most important criteria. It is also vital to have a friendly, outgoing personality and a strong work ethic. Finally, marketing, sales, and management skills are certainly a plus.
Q: How much capital do I need to get started?
A: You should have $75,000 – $125,000 in liquid capital to invest in the business.
Q: What are the total start-up costs?
A: The upfront franchise fee is $25,000. On average, it costs another $76,000 – $120,000 to build and equip a store. Most franchisees blend bank financing with their personal equity investment.
Q: How long does it take to open a store?
A: Immediately after you sign your franchise agreement, Roly Poly moves into the site selection process. This can take from a few weeks (if a location is already identified) to several months. Once you sign a lease on a “vanilla box” site, typically the build-out time is 60 days.
Q: What kind of sales volume does the typical Roly Poly store record? What are average profit margins? How much can an owner-operator take out of the business?
A: By law, Roly Poly is not permitted to profess any “earnings claims” during the sales process. To help you answer these types of questions, you are encouraged to speak with Roly Poly franchisees throughout the Roly Poly network. Some franchisees are willing to discuss their experiences with prospective owners. We will facilitate this process.
Q: What is the monthly royalty expense?
A: Your royalty is between 4% – 5% of sales.
Q: What type of training do you provide?
A: Prior to and during your opening, you will receive a minimum of 14 days of formal training in your store.
Q: How many employees will I need?
A: Most stores run with five employees at lunch, plus a delivery person. During evenings and weekends, two to four employees are utilized depending on the volume of the store. Note: Employee totals always include you as the owner/operator.
Q: Does Roly Poly help me with all of the administrative details of owning a business?
A: Yes. Roly Poly will walk you through all of the paperwork necessary to get started. If you do not have the basic accounting skills required to operate a small business, you will need an accountant or bookkeeper.
Q: Do all franchisees buy their food and supplies from the same vendors?
A: Yes. Roly Poly has national pre-negotiated contracts with our main vendors that give us significant volume discounts. One of the benefits of joining an established franchising system is that all of the contracts and pricing are in place with food vendors, paper suppliers, printers, equipment manufacturers, beverage companies, and others.
Q: What are the core motivations or “common denominators” that the successful Roly Poly operators all possess?
A: Self-starter with high energy – Personal discipline and follow through – The ability to motivate and lead others. A strong work ethic – An obsession to please the customer – The ability to multi-task – Staying power!