Here’s What Our Franchise Partners Have To Say…

Monday, February 6

We spoke to some of our multi-site Franchise Partners about their journey with San Churro and here’s what they said:

Us: How long have you been a Franchise Partner with San Churro?

Karan: Since 2017

Jay: 8 years!

Katie: Over 8 years

Lidia: Almost 8 years

Us: Why did you decide to become a Franchise Partner with San Churro?

Karan: I visited a San Churro store in Queensland and it was love at first sight.

Jay: After having dinner on Lygon street, myself and my partner went to treat ourselves at San Churro Carlton, it was truly an amazing experience.

Katie: When we were looking at a number of different Franchise brands, we chose San Churro because we loved the culture and it was clear that the Support Office team was extremely supportive and have genuine care for their Franchise Partners.

Lidia: We believed in the product, saw a great opportunity and chose to take it. We had faith that we could uphold the San Churro standard and values. My husband and I work very well together, we’re a great team so we knew we could take on the challenge.

Us: Before becoming a franchise partner for the first time, did you have a business background?

Karan: Yes, I ran a successful restaurant for 10 years prior to opening my first San Churro.

Jay: Prior to San Churro, I was a multi-site Franchise Partner with Nandos for 8 years.

Katie: Both my partner Cosimo and I had significant business experience as we both had owned and operated businesses prior to joining San Churro.

Lidia: I didn’t, however I had a lot of hospitality experience after working in Melbourne Airport for Qantas and American Airlines. I brought a lot of customer service experience and I learned so much more when we opened our first San Churro. My partner did have a business background. He ran his own company specialising in tyres and wheels for over 10 years. He brought a lot of sales experience to our partnership.

Us: How many hours do you work each week and how many San Churro stores do you own?

Karan: Each week is different. Sometimes it’s only 10 to 15 hours each week and sometimes 40. I currently have two stores and I’m ready to open a third!

Jay: Initially I worked 6 days, approx 50 – 60 hours per week. Now that our teams are trained and self-sufficient, I spend 4 days at work and 1-2 days at home for admin work. I own 2 San Churro stores and now I work around 30 – 35 hours total each week.

Katie: We currently own 3 San Churro stores in Western Australia. I spend on average about 20 hours per week across the 3 stores, whilst Cosimo works full time as a University Lecturer and engages with the management team a couple of hours a fortnight to provide leadership training and mentoring.

Lidia: I am proud to say we now own 3 San Churro stores: QV, Carlton and Watergardens. I work about 10 hours per week including rostering, ordering stock and I also work in-store when needed. I enjoy working in-store because it keeps me fit and I enjoy working with my staff.

Us: How has the San Churro Support Office and Management team supported you and helped you achieve goals with your business?

Karan: San Churro is like an extended family, and help is always provided with every aspect of my business, from marketing to operations, menu to the design of our store. Everything is taken care of. This means I can focus on running my business and making it profitable. 

Jay: The San Churro Support Office and Management team are highly motivated and have long-term commitment and strategies to expand the brand. They are also very transparent with business goals and communicate them to Franchise Partners on a regular basis. They encourage Franchise Partners to grow within the brand and they take the lead on marketing campaigns and initiatives.

Katie: The support from the San Churro Support Office has been substantial and enabled us to achieve our goals whilst growing our businesses.

Lidia: We have always had great support from everyone at the Support Office. They always listen and make things happen for us, and for that we are very thankful.The Support Office always listens and makes things happen for us, whether it’s renovating our stores, creating delicious products or getting warehouse orders to our stores efficiently. Big shoutout to Terese and Romee, also a big thank you to Murray from the warehouse who is so accommodating and helpful!

Us: What is the most important piece of advice you would give anyone purchasing any franchise or a franchise in San Churro?

Karan: Do your research, and be prepared for lifestyle change!

Jay: Be ready to work hard! The initial journey won’t be  easy. Stay positive and don’t rush. Work hard and success won’t be far away!

Katie: Have a clear vision and goals on what you want to achieve, and ensure that you conduct detailed due diligence. Speak to existing Franchise Partners and seek legal and accounting advice.

Lidia: Running a San Churro is hard work but it’s very rewarding and there are so many learning opportunities. You can always ask your BDM for any help and the other San Churro Franchise Partners are always there to help too.

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FAQs

1. What is the initial investment when opening a traditional San Churro store?

The cost of opening a brand new San Churro store varies depending on the size, location and format of the site, however the average initial investment ranges from approximately $350,000 to $550,000. This cost includes start-up fees, training fees, and store design and build costs.

Occasionally there will be an opportunity to invest in an existing San Churro store.

2. How can I finance my business?

There are many ways you can fund a San Churro:

  • From savings
  • Borrowing against existing personal assets
  • Borrowing a portion against the plant equipment purchased by the business
  • Using ready cash from the sale of an existing business or property
  • Borrow against the new San Churro business

San Churro currently has a preferred lending status with ANZ and CFI. Both specialise in franchise lending and have all the details of our franchise system.

3. How long has San Churro been in business?

San Churro commenced business in September 2004. The first store opened its doors in March 2006 in Fitzroy, Victoria.

4. Does San Churro help with location selection and the lease?

The San Churro Franchise Development team locates new potential San Churro store sites, however we are open to suggestions from prospective Franchise Partners who have a location of interest. The final decision on all new sites will be at San Churro’s discretion.

We then work closely with new Franchise Partners in negotiating with landlords to secure the best possible lease arrangement. The Franchise Partner will ultimately enter into the lease in their entity.

5. What is the average size of a San Churro store?

The ideal size of a San Churro store is approximately 60 – 175sqm, preferably with prominent frontage, highly visible signage opportunities and outdoor seating.

6. How long will it take to open a San Churro store?

It takes time to find the perfect San Churro site and work through the negotiation process. Once the site has been selected, designing and building a San Churro store takes approximately 12 – 18 weeks.

7. Am I required to work in the store?

Yes, we believe that it is vital that our Franchise Partners work in their stores. The best stores are those that the Franchise Partner operates as this ensures that they remain familiar with the store’s day-to-day operations and that their valued customers are experiencing the exceptional standards of service that they expect from a San Churro store.

8. What kind of training support is provided?

San Churro Chocolateria conducts a comprehensive 6-week Induction course for all Franchise Partners. Throughout this training, you will learn everything from how to make the perfect churros to how to manage a successful business.

In addition to the 6 weeks of Induction Training, the San Churro Support Office team will work with you to recruit your new team and provide initial training for your staff. The team will also be there to help set up your new store and work with you during your first week of trade.

9. What happens once my store opens?

Our dedicated San Churro Support Office team is always on call to provide ongoing support in all areas of your business including training, operations, marketing, finance, IT and more. There are also many opportunities to connect with the San Churro network with regional and national meetings. Our committed Business Development Managers will also conduct regular store visits to help your business be the best it can be. 

10. What kind of return can I expect from the operation of a San Churro franchise?

When you submit an application and pay your application fee, we will provide you with a copy of our current Disclosure Document, which will give some historical financial information based on the performance of our actual stores. We recommend that you enlist the assistance of professional business, accounting and legal advisers to assess the viability of the business.

Due to the significant variables affecting the profitable performance of each franchise, it is inappropriate for us to make any representation to you on the potential level of sales and profitability of any existing or new store.