Q & A - Croissant Express

How would you define your Croissant Express brand?

Fast, fresh, friendly gourmet bakery franchise.

How old is the company and when did you start franchising?

The is 21 years old.

How many franchises do you have?

We have eight fast food franchises.

How are you going to grow the business in 2008?

We plan to open two or three metro franchises each year.

Where do you expect the business to be in 2010?

We have one very successful store already in Brisbane. The brand has some equity in this market and we would like to broaden the offering to customers in the Brisbane CBD. Our ideal would be to have four to six stores operating in the next two to four years.

What do you expect from a franchisee?

A love of serving customers! They need skills in staff management and leadership, strong business acumen and a love of food and food quality. But baking experience is not necessary.

What are the start-up costs for a franchisee and what working capital should they have?

The costs are $350,000 for fit out and $45,000 working capital.

What is the length of agreement?

A term of five years with one renewal option.

What sort of hours will the franchisee have to work to get the business established and how long should that take?

Franchisees will be working 10 hour days, five or six days a week, for six months.

What profit can a franchisee reasonably expect to make after two years?

Between 10 and 15 per cent of their sales.