A: Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc., actively seeks highly qualified individuals to become licensees. Previous restaurant experience is ideal, but is not required. Prior business experience, financial qualifications, motivation, team spirit and a track record of personal success are all important factors in our review process. Prospective licensees will need a collective net worth of greater than $650,000 ($300,000 liquid) and must have satisfactory credit ratings and a clean criminal background report.

A: It depends on a number of factors, such as the availability of real estate, build-out requirements, zoning and permitting, and training. The typical time frame is six to 18 months after signing a license agreement.

A: The initial term of the license agreement is 10 years, with two five-year options.

A: The one-time initial franchise fee due to ZFI is $35,000 per unit. We direct you to Item 7 of our Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) for information regarding other initial costs, including the real estate, construction, furniture, fixtures and equipment, initial inventory, training and payroll, and additional start-up costs involved in opening a Zaxby’s restaurant.

A: Like all companies that franchise, ZFI is restricted by the Federal Trade Commission from making claims regarding potential earnings or profits. However, we direct you to Item 19 of our UFOC for the earnings information we can report. We also encourage you to contact existing licensees to conduct your due diligence. The names, locations and phone numbers of our existing licensees are also included in the UFOC.

A: No. However, each licensee must appoint one individual who owns at least 25 percent ownership interest in the licensee entity to serve as Designated Principal of the restaurant. The Designated Principal selected must complete the initial training program and attend semiannual conferences of all licensees. While the Designated Principal is not required to work in the restaurant, he or she should be prepared to monitor the business on a daily basis. Each restaurant must also be under the direct, on-premises supervision of management who have completed our required management certification program.

A: The initial training program is eight weeks long, consisting of a one-week orientation phase at Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.’s training center, three two-week phases at a training restaurant and the final one-week phase back at ZFI’s training center. Ongoing support and training updates, in addition to other business development practices — including onsite inspections — are conducted regularly throughout the franchise system.

A: You will receive support that includes real estate guidelines, architectural, construction and engineering assistance.

A: As a Zaxby’s licensee, you will be operating an independent franchised business, but you will benefit from being a part of a brand that has exhibited steady growth and success in a wide range of markets across the Southeast. You will be provided with a detailed set of operations manuals, as well as extensive marketing materials. ZFI currently holds semiannual conferences of all licensees, and assigns to each licensee an operations consultant who will make periodic visits to each restaurant to evaluate its operations and make recommendations for improvement.

A: No. ZFI and its affiliates are privately held companies and are not publicly traded.