33: Firehouse Subs & Chicken Salad Chick QSR Franchisee Hannah Lukowski

<p>Are you interested in buying into a quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise but unsure if it’s the right fit for you? My guest, Hannah Lukowski, is a multi-unit franchisee with Firehouse Subs as well as Chicken Salad Chick. She’s here to share why she chose the QSR industry and what the day-to-day looks like. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!</p> <p>Hannah earned a bachelor's degree in Public Relations, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right field for her. She dove into sales and after 5 years in the private jet industry was ready for a change. She wanted to be a business owner and loved the structure a franchise offered her. Her first purchase was a Firehouse Subs location in St. Louis—<em>and she hasn’t looked back</em>. </p> <h2>Outline of This Episode</h2> <ul> <li>[0:35] Quick Service Restaurants</li> <li>[3:05] Hannah’s transition into franchising</li> <li>[4:25] Why did Hannah choose the food industry?</li> <li>[6:50] Why Hannah prefers hiring from within</li> <li>[10:20] Getting started with Chicken Salad Chick</li> <li>[12:40] Letter of Intent and lease agreements</li> <li>[15:30] Smaller vs. larger franchises</li> <li>[18:20] How to get your voice heard</li> <li>[20:10] Cultivate relationships inside the franchise</li> <li>[23:40] Managing businesses in different states</li> <li>[29:55] How to do things the right way</li> </ul> <h2>The upsides of the QSR industry</h2> <p>I don’t talk about the QSR industry often, so was happy to have Hannah on the show. When she decided to get into the world of franchising, she wanted to start with something that would be an easy transition from her current job. Most restaurants have good hours (closed by 9 pm) and would allow her to spend time with her family. </p> <p>The food industry seemed pretty straightforward, was within the price range she was looking for, and had availability in her market. She was only 28 when she opened her first location, and she spent the first year working as the GM in the store. It allowed her to learn the ins and outs of t