Today’s hectic lifestyle of work and extracurricular activities leaves very little, if any, time for home-cooked, sit-down family meals, so family dinners often consist of fast food burger restaurants. Take advantage of the lifestyle many individuals live and open a hamburger joint of your own.

While opening a “family-owned” restaurant is an option, hamburger fast food chains are often a more desirable investment for business entrepreneurs. What makes hamburger chain restaurants an appealing investment is that people already know the restaurant's “reputation” regarding food and service, therefore eliminating the need to build a client base. Another benefit of a hamburger franchise is that the individual making the financial investment in the chain receives detailed instructions on opening a restaurant, leaving very little room for errors that could lead to financial loss. Investors also need to follow these hamburger chains basics:

1. Researching which hamburger franchises are available in your geographic area of interest.

2. Securing the necessary financing.

3. Identifying established burger restaurants for sale in your area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Investigate the expansion opportunities for hamburger restaurant chains in your area

It is important to know which (if any) franchises are looking to expand in a geographic location before you invest time and energy finding a suitable site only to find franchises have no desire to expand in that area.

I recommend: Franchising.com and Franchise Gator are two resources providing information such as a general overview of the burger chain and their menu, the amount of capital required to invest in the franchise, franchise agreement terms, and support (such as employee training) you will receive from the company.

Secure the financing necessary to open your hamburger fast food restaurant.

Capital is the foundation for you to open your burger chain restaurant. When obtaining your financing, be sure to factor in all the costs associated with starting a franchise such as kitchen equipment, HVAC systems and permits.

I recommend: Irwin Franchise Capital, a restaurant financier, outlines costs that are eligible for conventional loans. In addition to Irwin Franchise Capital, GE Capital Solutions also provides franchise financial assistance.

Locate established hamburger restaurants that are for sale by owner in your area

Established hamburger restaurants that are for sale provide interested buyers information and resources that is not available if one opens a new restaurant. Benefits of purchasing an established hamburger joint are acquiring trained staff and a sense of income potential.

I recommend: Search established hamburger restaurants that are for sale nationwide on BizBuySell and BusinessesforSale.com. Search results provide information such as the asking price, income potential, reason why the establishment is for sale and a link to contact the seller.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Research the age demographics of the area you are looking to invest in to help ensure there is a market to support hamburger franchise. You can obtain demographics for an area online at census.gov or by contacting the jurisdiction's Office of Economic Development or Planning Department.

Hamburger chains are located in cities all over the country. Their menus offer a variety of home-type cooked meals including hamburgers, fish sandwiches and chicken. People like them because they can get a home cooked meal for a reasonable price without having to cook it themselves.

Cash in on burger restaurants by opening your own in your city. Large conglomerates own these chains and franchise them out, so get the scoop on start up costs and other regulations. Decide if you will run it yourself or hire a management team. Look for the following when deciding on franchise terms for hamburger chains:

1. Pick hamburger restaurant chains that have franchises available in your area.

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 2. Decide how much you want to spend on your burger chain restaurant.

3. Choose your hamburger franchise based on name recognition.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check availability and pricing for local hamburger chain restaurants

Not every franchise has openings in your area. Once you have decided on a chain, contact them to find out if you can open a store in your area. If they have no need in your local area, they will send you a list of close areas that need a local restaurant. You can also decide on a restaurant chain based on total price or down payment needed. You can check your state to see which restaurant chains have openings.

I recommend: Frugals offers franchises in many states so check to see if you state is available. Contact them even if you do not see your state on the list. They list the terms for the franchise right on their website for your convenience. Burger Hut requests you to fill out their form for franchise information. Food Franchise provides franchises available in every state. You can also check franchise availability based on total price.

Ask the hamburger fast food chains about initial investment

Initial investments for restaurant chains is usually high however, some cost less than others cost. Before you decide, find out exactly what monetary commitments you will need to make upfront. Remember also, that the initial investment for the franchise fee only covers the franchise itself and you will still need working capital for such expenses as electricity, phone and payroll.

I recommend: Hardee's franchises are available and require $300,000 in liquid capital as well as net worth of 1 million dollars. Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries offers franchises with liquid capital of $200,000 and total capital investment of $167,000 to $566,000.

Open hamburger franchises for immediate business

When you open a chain store, you are cashing in on the name of the franchise. People know that whether your store is in Maine or California, they will get the same menu and service when they stop at a familiar place. This is why you buy a franchise, but the down side is there are tight regulations on franchises. You will get your operating schedule, menu and décor from the company. If you fail to meet your obligations, which usually include buying all of your supplies from them, you will lose your franchise.

I recommend: Americas Best Franchises offers franchise information on available franchises. Click on the one you chose and check the requirements carefully before investing in the opportunity. Franchise Works allows you to search for franchises by state, initial investment and what type of franchise. Once you put in your parameters, the available franchises populate on the next screen. Choose one and check all requirements not just monetary requirement.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchase business insurance for hamburger restaurants before you open for business. Make sure your insurance covers all hazards including accidents and food poisoning as well as the normal fire and theft.

In order to run an effective hamburger restaurant, additional hamburger chains management education and training is just what you need. It is important for you to remain abreast of changes and innovations in the hamburger business to compete in the market. There are many resources that you can seek out in order to be more a more valuable manager and successful entrepreneur.

There are both established programs as well as educational information that will allow you to take a more "teach yourself" approach. No matter how you learn best, there is a training program for you and your hamburger franchise.

Consider the following when seeking hamburger chains management education and training:

1. Many colleges and universities offer both 2- and 4-year hospitality management programs.

2. There are professional organizations dedicated to the management of foodservice establishments, including hamburger franchises.

3. Being certified as a Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) can not only make you more marketable in the foodservice industry, but can also greatly benefit your hamburger fast food restaurant.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain a degree in hospitality management in order to manage hamburger restaurants

More than 1,000 colleges and universities across the country offer 2- or 4-year programs in restaurant and hospitality management or institutional food service management. Although having a college degree in hospitality management is not always a requirement in order to get a management position at a hamburger chain, it could be the difference between securing the position and being passed over for a promotion.

I recommend: Hamburger University, owned and operated by the hamburger chain, McDonald's, is the only restaurant company that can award college credit. World Wide Learn gives insight into how a hospitality management degree can further your career.

Join professional organizations to have access to other burger franchise management teams

Connecting with the management teams of other hamburger restaurants is a great way to keep your chain ahead of the game. By joining professional organizations, you are included in national conferences and publications sponsored by the organization that will educate you on management within the hamburger industry.

I recommend: Society for Foodservice Management holds an annual conference and provides access to Webinars and online articles. The Foodservice Conference & Expo can offer you an opportunity to network with others in burger chain restaurant management.

Get certified as a Foodservice Management Professional to get ahead in hamburger restaurant chains

Seeking certification as a Foodservice Management Professional is not a requirement in order to be a manager in hamburger joints, but through a series of courses and a written test, you can develop yourself as a stronger candidate for management positions. This is a good option for those managers who may have received their education and training on the job.

I recommend: The National Restaurant Association Education Foundation explains what the benefits are of becoming certified as a FMP. Schools such as Cornell University offer the FMP certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is important to remember that many burger restaurants also offer their own form of training process for the management team and may require you to attend additional training programs in order to manage a hamburger chain.
• •  Some hamburger chain restaurants recognize experience as a server or a cook as an appropriate form of hamburger chain management education and training.