After 100 years of operation, a brand might be forgiven for playing it safe, but for heritage hot-dog house Nathan’s Famous, doing things differently is a way of life.

What started out as a humble hot dog stand New York’s famous Coney Island, has grown into one of the most successful fast-food chains in America.

A focus on fresh and flavoursome fare has built Nathan’s Famous a cult following, and now the brand is ready to take Australia by storm.

With its initial franchising announcement, Nathan’s Famous Australia revealed an innovative model that aimed to replicate the chain’s enormous US success Down Under. But it isn’t as simple as just duplicating the business across continents.

The Australian market presents its own set of challenges, and in order to help local franchisees navigate the industry, Nathan’s Famous has developed an Australian-specific model.

Unlike most franchise systems, the brand doesn’t take rebates from approved suppliers, meaning franchisees are free to source products that meet quality standards.

No rebates means that Nathan’s Famous wants franchisees to be able to source supplies from approved suppliers for the right reasons – quality, standards and profitability. If they can source non-bespoke quality supplies at a better price elsewhere, then it makes sense to do so.

Addressing the issue of high occupancy rates is another way Nathan’s Famous is future-proofing Australian franchisees.

The brand offers a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) model with minimal or no occupancy costs. With a typical QSR business costing between $250,000 and $400,000, a Nathan’s Famous franchisee can launch their operation from as little as $90,000 plus GST.

The low entry and investment cost system alleviates not only the stress of launching the business quickly, but also the need to acquire a hefty bank loan.

The innovative mobile business model also allows franchisees to be flexible in location. With much debate over the power imbalance between food-court landlords and operators, Nathan’s Famous Australia has decided to ditch the dilemma altogether.

Franchisees can move their business, attract new customers and utilise upcoming events to improve their profitability. The additional sales leveraged through delivery platforms such as UberEats and Deliveroo also maximises revenue even when the business is closed to the public.

The minimal staff operation is putting the power back into the hands of the operator, helping new franchisees launch a profitable and successful business.

If you want to get started in the fast-food game, join Nathan’s Famous, a brand with over 100 years’ experience helping new business owners boom. Visit franchisebusiness.com.au/brands/nathans-famous/ for more information or to make an enquiry.