American Burger: How To Start Your Own American Burger Restaurant

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 26/02/2019 , Updated on 04/05/2022, Reading time: 5 min

American Burger: How To Start Your Own American Burger Restaurant

Starting a business is the dream of thousands of people. But where others might not follow through and start the burger franchise of their dreams, you could be the one to stand out from the crowd. Here’s what you need to know about starting your own burger franchise.

Burger franchises are some of the most popular fast food restaurants in the country. Over many decades, American burger franchises have been populating the UK market, and with millions eating out and taking-away at the institutions, there’s no reason why you couldn’t be the next franchisee.

But what does a burger franchisee actually do? And is it the right option for you? Here’s what you need to know.

What does a burger franchisee do?

Burger franchisees are at the cutting edge of the QSR sector. From ensuring the right standards are being met throughout the premises to tapping into the some of the cutting edge tech trends making the burger industry tick, the life of a franchisee is incredibly varied - so you’ll never have the same two days in a row.

Whether you already have plenty of experience working with customers in the restaurant sector, or are a total newcomer to the franchising space, you need to be ready to take on just some of the following daily responsibilities:

Recruiting new and enthusiastic team members
Working with customers and delivering an excellent and authentic experience
Negotiating with suppliers
Tapping into expert training from a franchisor
Speaking to your franchisee network
Processing your finances

This isn’t an extensive list, but with the life of a franchisee changing from one day to the next, you need to expect the unexpected.

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Why run a burger franchise?

According to a recent study, the European fast-food market will reach a valuation of US $17 billion by the end of 2026, and as one of the largest markets in the region, the UK will contribute to a significant percentage of this figure. This presents a real opportunity for growth – for the right brand.
- Tim Lowther, CKE Restaurants

Since the first pioneering burger franchises started making their way in the UK market, the sector has gone from strength to strength. So much so that today, the UK makes up one of Europe’s largest and most competitive QSR sectors. From established franchises such as The Butcher and Rooster Shack, to new challenger players, this sector is hot - and getting hotter.

But why choose a franchise instead of going your own way? The truth is that starting a burger restaurant from scratch takes years, and can be super expensive. Not to mention having the right knowhow at your fingertips exactly when you need it. By joining a burger franchise, you’re skipping the queue and joining a nationally, sometimes even internationally, recognised business at its apex.

You’ll immediately be able to make the most of a business brand, its marketing strategies, price advantages and the vitally important expertise needed to start building your own business. You won’t need to waste time finding and winning over your customers - they’ll already be looking for you.

How to start your own burger franchise?

1. Find the franchise for you

If that’s piqued your interest, it’s time to start taking steps towards making it work. As mentioned already, the UK burger scene is extremely competitive, meaning that there are a range of franchises to suit aspiring burger shop owners. But this doesn’t mean that just any burger franchise will suit every franchisee.

Bearing in mind your financial flexibility, existing experience, desired location and how many units you actually want to be running, you’ll need to narrow down this sector to the right options for your needs. To give you some pointers, here are just a small taste of the franchises you could join:

For a minimum investment of £150,000 + VAT, you could become a franchisee of The Butcher. This exciting and fast-growing business came to being in Amsterdam and has recently expanded into the UK.
Rockets is a fast-casual, better-burger brand with an urban edge, developed by some of Ireland’s leading restaurateurs.
It’s often said there’s no use reinventing the wheel. But for a minimum investment of £120,000, you could join the franchise reinventing the fast food restaurant - Rooster Shack.

Ultimately, you’ll need to do your own research and figure out which of these exciting franchises most suit you.

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2. Find your financing

No franchise business comes free, though. And while you might be looking at the startup costs of some of these burger businesses in shock - that’s only half the story. Because franchising has such excellent survival rates among other businesses, many major banks will be prepared to lend up 70% of start up costs. Don’t let money get in the way of being your own boss.

3. Skill up

Lots of franchises won’t need you to have had previous experience in the burger industry to become a franchisee. What matters most will be the skills you bring, so whether you’ve developed leadership skills, team management, organisation and good business sense from a different pathway, as long as you have the right skills, you can still become a burger franchisee.

Start your own burger franchise

Being your own boss in a busy and exciting sector doesn’t get any more exciting than this. The rewards, competition and financial benefits of starting your own burger franchise are countless, meaning that the sky really is the limit as a franchisee.

But if this sector isn’t necessarily for you, there’s no need to fear. There are countless large franchises operating in a variety of sectors, so whatever your skills, interests and experience, have a look at the UK franchise directory to find an opportunity for you.