15 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Restaurant Franchise

Buying a restaurant franchise is a big decision, and the best owners we meet come to the first call with a notebook full of questions. That is a good sign. The questions you ask before you sign tell you far more about a brand than any brochure will.

Here are 15 questions worth asking any restaurant franchisor, grouped the way most people work through them: the brand, the money, the support, the location and the fit. Where it helps, we have shared how Sunnyside Grill answers, using what is published on our franchise site.

Questions about the brand

1. How long has the brand been operating?

A brand with years of real restaurants behind it has had time to work out its recipes, systems and suppliers. Sunnyside Grill was established in 2004 and has been serving breakfast in Ontario ever since.

2. What hours and service model will I run?

Hours shape your whole life as an owner, from staffing to when you get home. The Sunnyside franchise model is breakfast and lunch, 7am to 3pm, seven days a week. Ask any brand what a normal day looks like for the owner, not just for the guests.

3. What makes the concept different from the restaurant down the street?

Listen for something specific: the menu, the room, the service style, the community feel. If the answer is vague, guests may find it vague too.

Questions about the money

4. What is the total investment, and what does it cover?

Ask for the full range, not just the opening fee. At Sunnyside Grill, the total estimated initial investment is approximately $200K to $300K for a retrofit and approximately $400K to $500K for a new build. The start-up costs page and the franchise disclosure document break down what goes into it.

5. What ongoing fees will I pay, and what do they fund?

Most franchises charge an ongoing royalty and often a marketing contribution. Ask what each one pays for and how it is reported. Our FAQ page and the disclosure document set out the Sunnyside details.

6. When is each payment due?

Timing matters as much as the total. At Sunnyside, the franchise fee is payable when you sign the franchise agreement, and additional funds are required at the start of construction.

7. Do you offer financing, or work with lenders who know the brand?

Sunnyside Grill does not provide financing, but we have a list of preferred lenders who are familiar with the brand. Whatever the brand, talk to your own accountant and lawyer before you commit.

Questions about support

8. Who designs and builds the restaurant?

Building a restaurant on your own is where many first-time owners lose time. Sunnyside has a full design and construction team, with an in-house contractor, sub trades, engineers and architects, a space plan and furniture layout, and a construction manual.

9. What does training cover, and who gets trained?

Ask whether training is only for the owner or for the whole team. Sunnyside owners and their front and back of house teams complete a structured management training program covering kitchen operations, recipes, service, POS, opening and closing, health and safety, quality control, reporting and local marketing.

10. What help do I get after opening day?

Look for ongoing support, not just a launch. Sunnyside provides an operations manual, field support, ongoing evaluation, group purchasing discounts and access to our corporate chef, plus a grand opening kit and local marketing support. The franchise program page lists it all.

Questions about location and timing

11. Will you help me find and negotiate a location?

Site selection can make or break a restaurant. Sunnyside reviews sites, runs site analysis with mapping tools from Corporate Geographics, and negotiates the lease with an experienced franchisor real estate broker.

12. What makes a good site for this concept?

Every brand should be able to describe its ideal location clearly. For Sunnyside, that means high foot or drive-by traffic, good visibility, good co-tenancy, and busy shopping centres and residential areas. See our growth opportunities for where we are looking.

13. How long from application to opening day?

At Sunnyside, application approval typically takes 7 to 14 days. After you receive the disclosure document there is a due diligence period of at least 14 days, and a typical store takes approximately 90 days to build. The seven steps page walks through each stage.

Questions about fit

14. What experience do you look for in an owner?

Brands differ here, so ask directly. Sunnyside looks for experience running a business or managing a restaurant, or an experienced operating partner, and our training fills in the rest.

15. Can I grow to more than one location?

If you see yourself with several restaurants one day, ask how the brand handles it. Sunnyside encourages new owners to open one location and master it first, then helps them open more when the time is right.

Where to find the answers in writing

A good conversation is a great start, but the answers that count are the ones in writing. In Ontario, a franchisor must give you a franchise disclosure document, and you have at least 14 days to review it before you sign anything or pay. Read it with a franchise lawyer and an accountant, and bring your list of questions to both.

Questions people ask about buying a restaurant franchise

What should I ask a franchisor first?

Start with the total investment, what it covers and what ongoing fees you will pay. Then ask about training, support and how long it takes to open. Those answers shape everything else.

Is applying for a franchise a commitment?

Not at Sunnyside Grill. The application review is confidential and there is no obligation. You only commit when you sign the franchise agreement after the disclosure period.

Who should help me review a franchise opportunity?

A franchise lawyer to review the disclosure document and agreement, and an accountant to look at your own finances. Neither replaces the other.

Get the Sunnyside franchise guide

Want the answers to these questions in one place? Get the Sunnyside franchise guide, covering the brand, the support, real estate criteria and the steps to ownership. Prefer to talk? Call our franchise team at (416) 604-0650.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. A franchise can only be sold through the franchise disclosure document.