Birth Of A Franchise: Sofi’s Crepes

Fast Casual:

One of Ann Costlow’s best memories of eating a crepe stems from an experience she had on a cold day in Paris. Costlow was tired after an exhausting day of walking all over the city, so she stepped into a creperie for a bite.

“I thought it was the best thing I ever tasted in my whole life,” she said.

When Costlow wanted to start her own business, her mind drifted back to that time in France, and she thought, “Why not crepes?”

Costlow went on to found Sofi’s Crepes (named after her dog) in Baltimore, a concept she launched in 2004. Now, with the help of consultants at Francorp, she’s hoping to expand her business through franchising.

While the success of many independent restaurants is due in large part to the personality of the owner, franchise experts say one of the components of a successful franchise is having a system that can be easily taught and replicated. More.