Hey Empire Builders,

Welcome to this week’s Franchise Empire Newsletter, where we share specific franchise opportunities that we think are interesting, and examples of everyday folks building their empires.

Today, in 5 minutes or less:

✔ Resale with $250,000 of Cashflow

✔ WingStop: From a Single Texas Kitchen to a Global Franchise

✔ From Food to Service: Gordon & Carole’s Franchise Empire

✔ How To Find the 1% of Franchises That Actually Win

✔ Papa John’s Franchise: Is $850K Worth It?

**Sales are non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the source; they should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Attention Franchise Buyers:

For those of you who are struggling to find the right franchise, or maybe you’ve worked with a broker or consultant and haven’t had success…

We now offer complimentary access to our proprietary Zero to Profitable Franchise™ system to help you get access to the most proven franchises and reduce your risk, so that you can buy a money-making franchise with confidence and PROTECT YOUR ASSETS. 

This is exclusively available for franchise buyers that want to work with our team in a brokerage capacity to find, vet, and launch a money-making franchise.

You can schedule a free consultation with our team to see if you qualify and if we are the right fit to work with each other.

You can do that here https://www.franchiseempire.com/ztpf

Franchise resales possess many benefits for aspiring business owners – established cash flow, experienced employees, systems in place, and brand awareness, to name a few. 

• Home Services Business
• Asking Price: $795,000
• Rolling 12 Month Revenue: $3.7M
• Rolling 12 Month Cashflow: $250,000

  **Revenue, or any financial numbers, is non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the franchisor. You should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

• This is a very proven and long-standing brand with a great track record.
• This is for an owner-operator, not someone looking for an absentee business
• Growth opportunity for a hands-on operator and experienced leader.
• Be prepared to put 10-20% down, combined with an SBA loan (We can introduce you to quality SBA lenders) 

After 14 years of owning and operating multiple Papa John’s franchises, Gordon and Carole were ready to grow again. But there was just one problem: their local market was tapped out. The available territory for expansion was limited, and they didn’t want to wait around for an opportunity to knock.

Gordon began exploring new brands on his own, especially in the service space, but quickly ran into roadblocks, slow responses, unclear information, and no real support. That’s when they reached out to Franchise Empire.

With a clear vision of what they were looking for, low overhead, easy-to-run operations, and room to scale, Gordon and Carole dove into our process to evaluate high-performing, service-based franchises that aligned with their goals. They weren’t just looking for a business; they were looking for a culture fit. A brand where Gordon could train his team, work every position if needed, and recreate the strong company culture they’d built over the years.

After plenty of due diligence and brand comparisons, they found the perfect match with Groovy Hues and secured four territories to launch strong right out of the gate. Gordon and Carole have done it before, and now they’re doing it again! Smarter, faster, and with a blueprint built for scale.

WingStop got its start in 1994 in Garland, Texas, founded by Antonio Swad and Bernadette Fiaschetti. What set it apart wasn’t just the chicken wings; it was the theme. The original restaurants were designed with a retro aviation style, complete with aircraft memorabilia, tying the idea of “wings” to both flight and food. 

In 2002, the brand had already served over 2 million wings, proof that their concept wasn’t just a fad, but the start of something bigger. Their momentum didn’t stop there. In 2010, WingStop went international with its first location in Mexico, and by 2022, it had expanded into nine different countries. 

And while the aviation theme helped it stand out in its early years, what really pushed WingStop into the spotlight was pop culture. Rapper Rick Ross became a franchisee, building up ownership of 25 locations and even gifting some to his children. His involvement helped push the brand deeper into mainstream recognition.

WingStop has reported 21 consecutive years of positive same-store sales growth in the U.S. That kind of streak is almost unheard of in the restaurant industry and shows just how sticky their brand really is. Today, WingStop has a reputation for crave-worthy flavors, strong branding, and consistent demand. So what does it look like to open one of your own? 👇

*You should treat the values as approximated values. These values were found online through research.

*Numbers according to their FDD released on March 28, 2025

• Units Open: 2,500+ worldwide
• Initial Investment: $298,200 – $1,013,500
• Franchise Fee: $25,000
• Royalty Fee: 6% of gross sales (5% for renewals)
• Marketing Fee: 5.5% of gross sales
• Total Net Worth: $5M
• Total Liquid Assets: $2.1M

• Restaurant Operators at Heart: Individuals with multi-unit or restaurant operations experience who can execute efficiently and maintain quality.
• Strong Financial Foundation: Must meet high liquidity and net worth requirements to support development and growth.
• Growth-Oriented Entrepreneurs: Candidates who want to build multiple units. WingStop is structured for scaling.
• People Leaders: Owners who can hire, train, and motivate strong teams while maintaining WingStop’s culture of service.
• Brand Builders: Operators who are passionate about engaging with their communities and elevating the WingStop brand locally.

*Information below taken from the Wendy’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document – Item 19 

Benefits for the Franchisee:

• Proven Growth: 21 consecutive years of positive same-store sales growth show strong unit economics and consumer demand.
• Celebrity-Backed Visibility: Endorsements and ownership from public figures like Rick Ross help keep the brand culturally relevant.
• Global Reach: With over 2,500 restaurants worldwide, WingStop offers international brand strength while still growing aggressively.
• Franchise Support: Extensive training, marketing, and operational support designed to help franchisees succeed from day one.
• Scalable Model: A menu focused on wings, fries, and sides makes operations simpler compared to full-service restaurants, making it easier to expand into multiple units.

There are 4,000+ franchises in America… but only a few are actually a fit for you. In this episode, we break down how our team filters the chaos down to just 4-6 best-fit brands that are perfect for your goals and lifestyle. You’ll find out why most franchise buyers get it wrong when they try to go it alone.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platforms

Thinking about buying a Papa John’s franchise? In this breakdown, I walk through the real startup costs, profit potential, and whether this $850,000 pizza franchise is actually a good deal. We cover how much Papa John’s franchise owners make, franchise fees, royalties, and everything else you need to know straight from the 2025 FDD.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platforms

That’s a wrap for this week’s Franchise Empire newsletter. 

Feel free to reply with any questions, or feedback. I appreciate and value your time and attention.

I’ll see you at the same time next week!

-Tariq and The Franchise Empire Team

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