Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Restaurant Franchise (And What Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Says About Each One)
Buying a restaurant franchise is one of the most exciting and life-changing business decisions you can make. It’s also a serious investment that deserves clarity, data, and honest conversations before you sign. You will be the CEO of your business, so you really need to align well with the brand’s culture, mission, and hopefully enjoy the product!
Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or an experienced operator looking to diversify your portfolio, the right questions will reveal whether a brand is built for long-term success and whether it’s the right cultural fit for you.
At Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, we’ve helped franchisees build thriving restaurants and rewarding lifestyles. Here’s what the most successful owners asked before joining our family — and how you can use those same questions to make a confident, informed decision.
1. “How much does it cost to open this franchise?”
Startup costs vary by concept, but the right brand should give you clear, transparent numbers not vague ranges.
At Taziki’s, the initial investment typically falls between $567,000 to $1,198,000 depending on real estate, construction, and equipment. Our real estate team helps each owner right-size their footprint to match local demographics and demand so you don’t overbuild or overspend. In the Taziki’s FDD you will find more detailed information about what goes into this wide range, including fees, build-out expectations, equipment, working capital, and training costs. A call with the development team is a great place to get the most details.
2. “What kind of support will I get after I open?”
A great franchise system doesn’t stop helping once the doors open.
Taziki’s provides ongoing support that includes:
Local marketing and digital ad templates
Food safety, labor, and operational training refreshers
National partnerships for third-party delivery and catering
Quarterly business reviews with our support team
Franchisees often say the post-opening guidance is what gives them confidence to scale to multiple units.
3. “How strong is the brand’s reputation?”
Before joining any franchise, check brand recognition and online sentiment.
Taziki’s consistently ranks as one of the top Mediterranean fast-casual brands in America, with a loyal guest base that values quality ingredients, fresh preparation, and hospitality. Our Mediterranean diet-inspired menu also attracts health-minded families and professionals, a segment that’s growing faster than any other in the restaurant industry. People don’t just “like” Taziki’s, they “Love” Taziki’s.
4. “How profitable are the units?”
Profitability depends on top line sales, smart site selection, good operations, guest acquisition and guest loyalty/frequency.
Taziki’s franchisees benefit from:
Lower labor models than full-service restaurants
Strong average unit volumes (AUVs)
High repeat traffic from catering and app loyalty
5. “What’s the franchise culture really like?”
Taziki’s was founded on the idea of community, human flourishing, and fresh food shared among family/friends. That sense of purpose shapes how we choose partners, train teams, and support owners.
Our franchisees regularly collaborate at regional meetings, marketing summits, and our annual TazCon Conference, creating a true family of owners,not competitors.
6. “What does a typical day look like for an owner?”
In a Taziki’s, the owner often focuses on:
Team development and hospitality
Local marketing and catering outreach
Community engagement and business networking
Operations are designed for work-life balance. A Taziki’s restaurant closes early compared to full-service concepts, and a streamlined menu keeps labor efficient for the high quality of the product.
7. “How do I choose the right location?”
Real estate can make or break a restaurant.
Taziki’s provides data-driven site selection using the tool, Kalibrate, to analyze traffic counts, demographics, and trade areas. Data is a key part, but not the only part. As the local CEO of your business, you will ultimately be the one who submits the sites to the Taziki’s Real Estate Committee for review and approval. Your local real estate knowledge is part of the magic of the franchise model… you are the local expert! We go through a thorough analysis of the site with data, an “eye-test” and a real-world ROI model based on the expectations to determine if the site looks strong. We will have an honest conversation through a SWOT analysis of the site and your overall market growth strategy.
8. “What’s your marketing strategy and how will it help me?”
We help franchisees grow through both national brand campaigns and local store marketing.
That includes:
Seasonal menu features
Social media playbooks
University and catering partnerships
Local digital ad support
Each owner also has access to our in-house marketing portal for ready-to-use creative assets, community engagement ideas, and social media templates designed for Gen Z and family audiences alike.
9. “How does technology support operations?”
Technology is essential for efficiency and guest experience. Taziki’s strives to have a best-in-class tech team and tech platform to optimize your business. At the end of the day, any restaurant is a logistics factory taking raw materials, creating a delicious output, and doing so with first rate hospitality.
Taziki’s invests in:
Integrated POS systems and loyalty apps
Online ordering and curbside management
Catering CRM and data analytics
Restaurant365 for ordering, scheduling labor, and financial tracking
These tools,among many others, make it easier for owners to focus on people, not paperwork.
10. “How do I get started?”
Every great partnership begins with a conversation.
At Taziki’s, we start with an introductory call, followed by a Franchise Discovery Day where you’ll meet our leadership team, experience our food, and tour our restaurants. You’ll learn exactly what support, investment, and culture look like. The two-day process includes a morning we call “Day In The Life” where you will shadow a senior Taziki’s operations person (maybe founder Keith Richards) from about 8:30-noon.
Final Thoughts: Ask Boldly. Choose Wisely.
The best franchise owners ask great questions — not because they’re skeptical, but because they’re serious about success.
At Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, we believe transparency builds trust, and partnership builds performance. If you’re exploring restaurant ownership and want a brand that blends fresh food, financial strength, and community purpose, we’d love to connect.