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:

 ✔ Strong Resale With a Manager Of 14 Years In Place

✔ Arby’s Franchise Breakdown (Costs, Sales, & Fees)

✔ From Moving Trucks to Shelf Installs: Hanze’s Next Franchise Move

✔ Is Investing in Tropical Smoothie Worth It?! (Costs, Sales, & Fees)

✔ Should YOU Buy a Franchise? (The Honest Truth)

**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. 

• Automotive and Home Service Business

• Asking Price: $825,000

• SBA Pre-approved

• Current long-term manager in place

• Included: 8 vehicles, 5 technicians, and 2 customer service representatives

**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.

• The owner currently spends 20-25 hours a week in the office. An owner-operator is highly recommended.

• 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)

Hanze came into the process with experience; he already owned a successful moving franchise for two years. But he was ready to diversify. He wanted a business with fewer employees, fewer fires to put out, and more control over his evenings and weekends.

That’s when he connected with Marc at Franchise Empire, who introduced him to several top service-based brands. One stood out. After digging into the model and doing multiple validation calls with existing owners, Hanze secured two territories near his home in Ottawa, Canada.

Marc shared that he was proud to help Hanze take this next step, building a business that’s not only scalable but also designed to fit the life he wants. Let’s go, Hanze!

Arby’s opened its doors on July 23, 1964, in Boardman Township, Ohio, founded by brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffle. The name “Arby’s” comes from R.B. (for “Raffle Brothers”),  not roast beef, even though that’s what made them famous.

From the start, Arby’s set itself apart from burger joints by focusing on sandwiches, most famously roast beef. Over time, it became a household name, backed by quirky marketing campaigns and later their now-iconic line: “We’ve got the meats.”

But Arby’s has also led the way in surprising ways. In 1994, it became the first fast-food chain to ban smoking inside its restaurants, well before most of the industry caught up. And in recent years, they’ve leaned into over-the-top marketing stunts, like creating a burger-shaped golf driver for Father’s Day.

Today, Arby’s is part of Inspire Brands, a massive restaurant group that also owns Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Sonic, Jimmy John’s, and even Baskin-Robbins. Inspire operates over 33,000 restaurants in 60 global markets, generating more than $32.6 billion in annual sales. So what does it look like to open an Arby’s 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 27, 2025

• Units: 3,413 restaurants (company-owned and franchised combined)
• Initial Investment: $861,000 – $2.4 million
• Non-Refundable Franchise Fee per Restaurant:
  • Standard Traditional Restaurant: $37,500
  • Non-Traditional Restaurant: $18,750
  • New Restaurant Opening Incentive (“NRO”): $0
• Royalty Fee: 4% of gross sales
• Marketing Fee: 4.2% of gross sales
• Total Net Worth: $1,000,000
• Total Liquid Assets: $500,000

• Operators with QSR experience: Preferably multi-unit owners who understand fast-food operations.
• Strong financials: Ability to fund build-outs in the $1-2 million+ range.
• Community-focused leaders: Willing to adapt to local markets while keeping Arby’s unique menu offerings.
• Hands-on managers or well-structured teams: The model still requires strong operations and people management

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

Benefits for the Franchisee:

• Brand Recognition: Backed by Arby’s decades of marketing and Inspire Brands’ multi-billion-dollar portfolio.
• Menu Differentiation: Competes outside the crowded burger space with its signature roast beef sandwiches and unique limited-time items.
• Strong Parent Company: Franchisees benefit from the resources, systems, and purchasing power of Inspire Brands.
• Flexible Footprints: Options for freestanding or inline/endcap restaurants, each with proven sales performance.
• Innovation & Marketing Power: Viral campaigns and bold branding keep Arby’s relevant in a crowded fast-food landscape.

Curious about Tropical Smoothie franchise numbers in 2025? In this breakdown, I walk through their most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), covering real startup costs, royalties, average sales, and margins. With over 1,500 locations and top performers making up to $2.6 million, is Tropical Smoothie a good franchise to buy? Learn what it really takes to own one of the most talked-about smoothie franchises.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platforms

Starting a business from scratch sounds exciting until you realize how much you have to figure out on your own. In this episode, we break down the real differences between launching a startup and buying into a franchise. From building a team to finding vendors and creating your first marketing plan, we expose the time-consuming grind most new entrepreneurs face. Compare that with a franchise, where the systems are already in place and your job is to execute.

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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