Quick service restaurants - something between fast food and traditional dining - are all the rage these days. People see them as a balance between health concerns and convenience; food is fresher than it is in fast food settings, while the preparation time is a fraction of what a typical restaurant can deliver.
As a result, would-be franchise owners are often searching for quick service restaurant opportunities. But once you find a franchise you like, the next step is deciding on the proper location. While some franchise businesses decide on your behalf, individual owners are often on the hook for determining the best place to open a new location.
With this in mind, let's take a look at six ideal spots for opening a quick service restaurant franchise:
Airports
The typical airline passenger spends several hours in the airport terminal prior to departure. Many will get hungry during their wait, making airports a prime location for quick service restaurants. Providing quick service food options to passengers makes sense considering the time limit they have to stand in line or wait to be served. While some people may be able to sit down and still make their flight, others want a fast meal that isn't soaked in fat and salt. Quick service restaurants offer the perfect compromise.
Hotels
Available space in and around hotels is an excellent opportunity to open a quick service restaurant. It's especially true for tourist-heavy cities. For instance, hotels in Honolulu are always full of people visiting from out of town, most of whom will find themselves hungry in their hotel rooms at some point during their stay. By having quick service options close by, tourists get access to fast and affordable food without having to venture far. While it might not be the local favorites they're looking for, quick service options will tide them over for the time being.
Shopping Plazas
The modern suburban landscape is defined by enormous shopping plazas containing dozens of shops ranging in size from massive department stores to tiny boutiques. Given the foot traffic moving throughout these plazas, quick service restaurants should have no difficulty getting sufficient business throughout the week. While every plaza already has a Subway, chances are shoppers are interested in having more options than sandwiches. They want burritos, tacos, pizza, ice cream, and all the other popular quick eats and treats.
Tourist Hotspots
Times Square, Hollywood Boulevard, and similar tourist hotspots are teeming with fast food options. While these top-tier locations might be oversaturated with competition, consider looking to similar hotspots in your hometown. But don't limit yourself to streets and shopping districts; theme parks and similar attractions make for ideal quicks service locations as well. Anywhere there are large numbers of out-of-towners occupied with fun and excitement is a great place to open your quick service restaurant.
Office Buildings
City blocks and neighborhoods packed with businesses and office buildings are a potential goldmine for quicks service franchise owners. That's because you have thousands of people all of who seek to grab a bite to eat once or twice during their work shift. All it takes is a few dozen regulars to provide the basis for a successful location. Some companies are even going so far as to include outside quick service establishments into their organization in the form of cafeteria service.
College Campuses
While most educational institutions have their own cafeteria for faculty and students, colleges and universities are always expanding and adding remote campus locations. These make for excellent opportunities for quick service eateries. Quick service restaurants reduce the expense burden on the school, provide more options for faculty and students, and makes secondary campuses more desirable to students who may otherwise be reluctant to sign up for classes in multiple locations.
The general definition of a quicks service restaurant is one where you order in line and watch them prepare the food in front of you. While Subway and similar sandwich shops paved the way, quick service now includes everything from Italian and Mexican cuisine to sushi and more. With so many options and prime locations to consider, quicks service restaurants are a franchise option worth considering.
Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, finance, and travel.
