There are more than 33 million small businesses in the U.S. according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). That’s over 99% of all businesses as they define the model as “firms with fewer than 500 employees.” More importantly, these small businesses, the lifeblood of America, employ 61.7 million of us each day. 

Owning a business is for many, the embodiment of the American Dream. It represents both financial freedom and personal achievement. Restaurants, strike that chord with business owners. It’s an industry that everyone can relate to any many have experienced as many of us have waited tables or taken a turn at the counter as a first job.

More than a decade ago, we wrote in our book, Appetite for Acquisition, that, “Restaurants are the fabric of our culture.” The passage continues saying, “In a high-tech world, the restaurant is a high touch environment where we still interact with one another.” Those words resonate more today than ever before as brands even entice their customers to put down their phone and interact more directly with one another at the dinner table.

Our Certified Restaurant Brokers at We Sell Restaurants play an integral role in helping others realize their American dream of restaurant ownership. Their entire mission is to guide and support those in pursuit of their own American dream and personal journey in buying a restaurant or transitioning out of the industry.

From the beginning, serving a need in the restaurant industry has been at the forefront of every transaction. Restaurants are specialized transactions that require knowledge of the industry, market understanding, lease knowledge and more. Unlike general business brokerage, the industry has specific requirements, including the valuation of the business, which must be accurate. Incorrect valuations lend to restaurants that cannot qualify for lending or fail to attract buyers.

More than two decades ago, Co-Founders Robin and Eric Gagnon established We Sell Restaurants as the go-to industry resource for buying and selling a restaurant. Their franchisees follow in this model advising both buyers and sellers. 

Franchisee play a key role in local markets by building a robust inventory of restaurants for sale and working within their neighborhoods. They know where population shifts are occurring, and growth in neighborhoods are happening. They understand how to help those leaving the business for retirement or new careers develop an exit strategy. They also guide the journey of those entering the business with opportunities, including advice, presentation of opportunities and follow up.

New restaurant listings pave the way for the American Dream to take shape. As the buyer progresses nearer to closing, We Sell Restaurants franchisees provide resources for every part of the business from equipment inspection to POS providers. They have the connections and resources to benefit anyone opening their own restaurant. 

As Restaurant Broker Franchisees, they:

1. Foster strong ties with Preferred Lenders and other funding solutions, empowering buyers financially.
2. Participate in the brand’s commitment to community.
3. Cultivate opportunities by building a listing inventory of restaurants for sale while helping those leaving the industry to exit successfully.
4. Advocate for small business ownership, further strengthening the pillars of the American economy and enabling more individuals to realize their version of the American Dream.
5. Adhere to our core values to “act with integrity” and “create a customer service experience worth sharing.”
   
   

As franchisees themselves, our Certified Restaurant Brokers have unique knowledge of pursuing the American Dream with Franchise Resales. Franchising, as an industry, has lowered barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide. This is true when it comes to restaurant franchises, too. By offering a proven business model, comprehensive training, ongoing support, and established brand recognition, franchising mitigates some of the risks typically associated with starting a business from scratch.

According to Franchise Business Review, 26% of franchises are owned by people of color, compared to only 17% of non-franchise business owners. This data points to an increased accessibility level for restaurant franchise ownership. As a restaurant broker franchisee for We Sell Restaurants, you would also help others achieve the dream of restaurant ownership through restaurant franchise resales.

→ Read also - Join the Restaurant Brokerage Franchise Industry and Make a Difference for Small Business Owners

Restaurant Brokerage is Booming

There's a unique opportunity for those who have loved being part of the restaurant industry but now seek a different role. If you are a restaurant owner who cherishes the industry but is ready to step away from stress of restaurant ownership, then the We Sell Restaurants Franchise Opportunity may be your ideal fit. 

As a We Sell Restaurants franchisee, you maintain your connection with the vibrant restaurant industry, utilizing your hard-earned knowledge and experience. Yet, you enjoy a new kind of freedom. You get to be the orchestrator of a deal that helps new restaurant owners achieve their dreams. And as Baby Boomer restaurant owners retire, the demand for restaurant brokers has never been greater, making it an ideal time to invest in the We Sell Restaurants Franchise Opportunity. In fact, our franchisees earned an average of $350,912 in Gross Commission Income in 2022. This niche business model provides a path for those passionate about the industry to pursue high-earning potentials in a home-based franchise.

Training and Support

Franchisees of We Sell Restaurants receive ongoing training and support throughout their practice. Training takes place in five phases designed to help franchisees launch a successful practice.

Phase One focuses on research of the restaurant industry, your franchise market, and the process of buying and selling restaurants. As a current or former restaurant owner, you have a strong jump on this initial step of training. Building on your existing knowledge of the restaurant space, you will take a deeper dive into the process of selling a restaurant. 

In Phase Two, you translate your research and existing knowledge of the restaurant space to a tool designed specifically for restaurant brokerage by learning the proprietary software platform of the brand, the BOSS or Broker’s Operations and Sales System. 

The BOSS allows our Certified Restaurant Brokers to meet the challenges of the industry with an unmatched technological advantage. The system allows you to interact seamlessly with clients and record all notes, send, and write documents and even schedule marketing tasks. 

We Sell Restaurants Franchisees establish themselves as industry experts in Phase Three, when they complete training and become a Certified Restaurant Broker®. 

Phase Four is the official launch of your practice as a We Sell Restaurants Franchisee. Franchisees in this phase enter the field with a training partner to learn the ropes from a tenured franchisee. This phase also coincides with local marketing in your territory to promote your services to restaurant owners in your territory. 

The BOSS allows our Certified Restaurant Brokers to meet the challenges of the industry with an unmatched technological advantage. The system allows you to interact seamlessly with clients and record all notes, send, and write documents and even schedule marketing tasks.

We Sell Restaurants Franchisees establish themselves as industry experts in Phase Three when they complete training and become a Certified Restaurant Broker.

Phase Four is the official launch of your practice as a We Sell Restaurants Franchisee. Franchisees in this phase enter the field with a training partner to learn the ropes from a tenured franchisee. This phase also coincides with local marketing in your territory to promote your services to restaurant owners in your territory. 

Join the Business Broker Franchise that Supports the American Dream

Every transaction you facilitate is an opportunity to shape the future of the industry you love, helping new talent step into the spotlight while continuing your personal journey in the restaurant industry. You are no longer just a participant in the industry; you become a catalyst for growth, a mentor to new restaurant owners, and a vital contributor to the ever-evolving culinary landscape of America. 

If you're ready to embark on a new journey while staying true to your roots in the restaurant industry, we're ready to guide you through every step of the way. Click here to learn more about the We Sell Restaurants Franchise Opportunity - It's the restaurant business with banker's hours!

Let's continue the dream together, fostering the next generation of restaurant ownership!

Robin Gagnon, Certified Restaurant Broker®, MBA, CBI, CFE, is the co-founder of We Sell Restaurants, a brand that has carved an unparalleled niche in the industry as the nation's leading and only business broker franchise focused on restaurants. Under Robin’s leadership, We Sell Restaurants has grown to 45 states where it dominates the restaurant for sale marketplace, including franchise resales, delivering on the founder’s vision to Sell More Restaurants Than Anyone Else. We Sell Restaurants was named one of the most influential suppliers and vendors in the country by Nation’s Restaurant News and has earned a position on INC 5000’s list of fastest growing privately held companies. Franchisees of We Sell Restaurants surveyed by Franchise Business Review placed it 25^th in the nation in franchisee satisfaction.

Robin is the Chair of the Women’s Franchise Committee of IFA and is a member of the IFA Board of Directors. She is also an MBA and Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and has her CBI (Certified Business Intermediary) designation from the International Business Brokers Association. She co-authored Appetite for Acquisition, a small business book award winner in 2012 and contributes frequently to industry press appearing in Forbes, QSR, Modern Restaurant Management, Franchise Update, and others. Entrepreneur has named her to their list of the “Top Influential Women in Franchising.”