Here’s Lookin’ For You!: Franchising’s Most Popular Brands Want Developers–Are You Fit?

Area Developer:

Growing up with a father who owned a Burger King gave Will Bigham an early look into the back room operations of fast food franchising, laying the groundwork for his own career.

“As soon as I could reach the beverage station, I was pouring drinks,” he says with a laugh.

Years later, when he went into business for himself, his father Hugh signed on as a partner. Soon Bigham began assembling a portfolio of his own franchises. He now has a chain of locations for the Flying Biscuit Cafe, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Mama Fu’s Asian House in Charlotte, N.C.

“The franchisors that have been around a long time have a lot more to offer,” Bigham says. “Burger King has systems in place and pretty much figured everything out.” Newer concepts, he says, can be more of a challenge, but they also offer fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs. And by adding new concepts featuring different types of dining experiences, he can find additional ways to tap into the booming local economy.

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