Killer Burger - Franchise Q & A

What was your original vision for your company? How has that changed over time?

When we started out in 2010 with one little burger joint in Northeast Portland, we just hoped we’d still be open after 12 months.  Then people started to rave about our burgers.  The lines started to head out the door.  Pretty soon, despite the Great Recession, we had landlords coming to us about opening new locations.  Then we had people in the franchise business coming to us and saying you guys really have something here.  So we followed the demand and started to see the scalability of Killer Burger.  Now we know we can go anywhere and give customers burger that stands alone and an experience that brings people together.

What do you believe is the single most important factor when choosing a franchise? 

Faith in what can deliver to the customer.

Why should someone choose your franchise over other similar franchises?  

You mean aside from fantastic burgers?  We keep it simple.  The offering, the inventory, the operations, the vibe.  It’s about having a great burger with a good beer or cocktail and having a good time!  

What types of qualities do you look for in potential franchisees? 

We look for people who are ready for a new stage in their career.  Folks who have experience executing a game plan and managing a team to do so.  

What do your franchise fees and royalties cover?  

All the training for you your store management team and your initial Killer Burger crew, so you’re all set for opening day.   Additionally, it covers the support we provide for the site selection and build out process.  

Why has your franchise model been successful? 

We’ve stayed true to our core value, making the perfect burger, every time.  When you stay focused you build operations systems that work and are replicable.  You also build a deep bench of people who know how to train your success.  

What is your favorite advice for new franchisees to help them succeed?  

Get as much information about the concept you are buying as possible.  Don’t go with a franchisor that isn’t forthcoming with the nuts and bolts.  Then follow the model, work the system, become an expert and love what you do.  

What would you tell potential franchisees that may be nervous about the financial burdens of starting a franchise?

Talk to current, successful franchisees about how they got through those early jitters.  

On average, how long does it take to start a new franchise from the franchisees point of view?

The big variable is how long it takes to find a great location for your store.  In some markets there’s lots of real estate inventory, in others you really have to work hard to find a spot.  Once you have a site, we estimate 3 to 6 months to get your doors open.  

Do you have any franchisee testimonials or success stories that you would like to share?

Check out our website to see what our franchisees have to say about Killer Burger!