Franchise Strategies
Aug 12, 2025
Learn about the costs, training, and responsibilities of owning a franchise to make an informed investment decision.
Starting a Capriotti's franchise needs a lot of money and time. Here's what you should know:
First Costs: You need about $500,000 to start, with a $40,000 fee for the franchise. Veterans may get 15% off this fee.
Ongoing Costs: You must pay 7% of sales as monthly fees (6% if you own more than one), plus 2-4% for big ads and 2% for local ads.
Your Role: You must work full-time, mainly at first. You'll lead a team of 12-15 workers and run day-to-day work.
Training: You must take a four-week training that costs $15,000, with up to six more weeks of help when you open.
Big Challenges: Your success relies on how well you handle a team, keep up quality, and pick the right spot.
Before you dive in, look at the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), talk with other franchise owners, and think about your money and personal readiness. Owning a Capriotti's can be good but takes a lot of work and careful plans.
How Capriotti's Franchise Plan Works
Brand Info
Capriotti's has grown into a top sandwich shop by always picking high-quality stuff. They make each sandwich when asked, setting them apart in the quick, easy meal space. This push for the best also goes to their franchise owners, who must really get involved in running their places.
What Franchise Owners Do
Capriotti's franchise owners need to be there full time, right in the thick of things. As an owner, you look after a team of 12–15 people and run the day-to-day tasks. This means making sure the food is the best and that people love the service. These jobs fit with Capriotti's aims for the top.
For those with more than one spot, you start to lead more than do. Your tasks might include picking good spots, growing the brand, and looking at money matters. If you run a few spots, you might have someone else handle the daily stuff. Jason Cooper, who runs a few franchises, talks about this setup:
"I'm proud of my team for their amazing job getting Capriotti's started in Sarasota. I've partnered up with a great leader who knows how to properly run our restaurants"
Keep in mind that owning a Capriotti's franchise needs your full-time care. You can't mix this with other work or side tasks. Before you start, you'll go through a deep three-part training class. This contains online learning, teaching in a room, and real practice at a Capriotti's place.
Money Matters for Starting a Business
Owning a Capriotti's shop takes more than just the first fee - there are many costs to think about, both at the start and as you keep going. Knowing these costs well is key to plan your money and handle your money duties well.
First Costs to Open Up
The total money needed to start a Capriotti's shop can change, but some main costs are always there. These costs are buying gear, filling up on first stock, and keeping some money to help pay for first work costs. These parts make up the core of your first money spent.
Fees for the Franchise and Cuts in Cost
The first fee to join Capriotti's is $40,000. This one-time pay lets you use the Capriotti's name and gain from its set-up way of work.
Capriotti's also gives a 15% cut on the fee to vets that fit the rules.
"We offer a 15% discount off of the initial franchise fee to all qualified veterans." - Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Inc.
To help with money, Capriotti's works with lenders like BoeFly, FranFund, and Directed Equity. They help people starting a franchise get the cash they need for start and daily costs.
Monthly Fees and Royalties
Once your Capriotti's spot is open, you must pay fees each month based on your sales. If you own one place, you pay a 7% royalty fee on total sales. If you own many under a deal, you pay 6%.
You also pay for ads. You give 2% of your sales each month to a national ad fund, but this could go up to 4%. Local ad fees take another 2% of your sales. These costs help pay for ads both near and far.
Fees are based on total money made, not counting tax, staff discounts, and special deals. Note, no royalty fees on money saved from coupons.
For example, if a one-spot franchise makes $50,000 a month, the owner gives about $3,500 for royalties (7%) and $2,000 for ads. All monthly fees would be about $5,500.
Help and Learning for Owners
The right help and learning can make or break an owner of a franchise. Capriotti's gets this and has put up a strong plan to make sure you're set to do well right from the start and after.
Learning and Help with Work
Capriotti's helps new owners learn with a tough, real, 4-week learning plan that costs $15,000. This plan covers all parts of running the place.
The learning part is made to catch your interest and keep it, mixing online parts, class work, and real, hands-on work. You will look at how to make sales, know the products, handle money, get food ready, and how to handle day-to-day tasks.
"The training is very comprehensive and much more in-depth than before. We continue to improve on our existing programs and freshen them up, making them more fun and interactive."
Ron Martinez, Capriotti's Training Program Director
Here's a fast view of the set-up for training:
Type of Training | Time |
|---|---|
First Training Plan | 4 weeks |
Training in a Room | 195 hours |
Learning by Doing Work | 50 hours |
Extra Help After Startup (for the Boss & main workers) | Up to 6 weeks |
Two people, you as the boss, must finish the full training. Also, two other team members should take a program made just for hourly workers.
The help doesn’t stop when your shop starts. Capriotti's gives six weeks of on-site training for you and your main managers after opening. As of June 2025, Ron Martinez, head of training, said that you also get two more weeks of help when you start, and a third set of help if you need help with IT, high-end tech, and more trainer time.
After opening, you keep getting tips through weekly calls, group texts, and planned drop-ins. They even give you easy tools like a big marked calendar to help with tasks and planning.
Marketing and Tech Tools
Capriotti's gives more than just basic training. They offer a pack of marketing and tech tools to help grow. Since 2017, the CAPAddicts app program has been key, helping you keep customers and know what they like to give better service.
The brand also helps you with online ads to meet local people. This means social media help, local ads, and plans to hold onto customers, all tested across the brand.
In tech, you get cool sale systems and tools to make work smooth, track stuff, and look at what customers do.
Capriotti's even helps pick the best spot. David Bloom, the big boss of growth, tells us:
"We don't just want a location; we want the right location. Getting that foundation right is critical to building a thriving restaurant."
From the start, in deep, clear training to always giving help with how to run it and ways to tell more people about it, Capriotti's makes sure you have all you need to make and grow a good business.
How to See if Capriotti's is Good for You
Taking on a franchise is a big move. It needs deep digs into details and a real look at your own life. Before you dive in, check if Capriotti's work, money needs, and help meets what you want in life and work. This means you need to look at what you have, dig into the business bits, and learn from those who own Capriotti's spots.
Look at Your Time and How Much You Can Give
Having a Capriotti's spot means you are all in. It needs you to be there, more so at the start. The hours - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. - point to an 11-hour day. Plus, you need to set the work time for about 12 to 15 folks.
You need enough money too, for the start since it may take time to see profit.
Think on your boss skills as well. Even though Capriotti's trains well, having past work in food, retail, or leading teams can help you run your team and do day-to-day tasks.
Check Money Papers and Look at the Market
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is key to get the money side of things. Look hard at Item 19, which tells how well other spots do.
Here are points to watch:
Average unit money: This shows what a common Capriotti's spot earns.
Money split: Look at costs like staff pay, goods, rent, royalties, and ads to see where your money goes.
Market look: Check local rivals, who lives there, and how many people come by to see if it could work in your area.
Don't just look at common numbers - ask for info on the best and not-so-good spots. Knowing what works and what doesn't can help you see if this setup could do well for you. These points also get you ready to talk to current franchise owners about their own stories.
Chat with Current Franchise Owners
After you have gone through the money data, talking to people who already own a spot gives you real stories. The FDD should have ways to talk to them.
Start with how they do against the numbers in Item 19 and what changes their money the most. See how long it was before they saw some profit.
Then, ask about the help they get. Find out if the first training and the help from Capriotti's team after that has been good, mainly when they were getting their spot ready and opening it.
Dive into daily issues. How do they deal with long work hours, and what is it like to lead a team of 12 to 15 people? Also, ask about their tie with the main office team - do they think their ideas are heard and does the company build a clear, trust-filled space?
Next, look forward. Ask how the brand is changing with new market trends like ghost kitchens and fresh tech, and if these shifts have helped their work. Maybe the key thing you can ask is, “Knowing what you know now, would you buy into a Capriotti's franchise again?”
Write down everything from these talks and try to chat with many owners across different places. Seeing common points in their stories can help you decide if Capriotti's is a good choice for you.
Is a Capriotti's Franchise Good for You?
When you think about getting a Capriotti's franchise, you must see if you have the funds, will, and long-view plan to make it work. This choice isn't just about the first cash you put in - it's about matching your money strength, deep care, and leader skills to your business dreams.
Key Points to Remember
Money Ready. To start a Capriotti's, you often need about $500,000. You should have six months of funds saved to cover both work and home costs. The Franchise Papers may say save three months' money, but many find making money takes longer. So, plan for more.
Being There Is Key. Running a Capriotti's isn't a step-back job. Right from the start, you'll need to be all in, handling the day-to-day. If you want a money spot you don't have to look over much, this may not suit you.
Lead to Win. While Capriotti's gives training and help always, how well you do will lean on your lead and manage skills. Knowing things like food sales, store work, or team lead can help you with the tough parts of owning a franchise.
Know Your Area. How well you do will lean a lot on where you are. Take time to look at local rivals and who lives there. The money stats in Item 19 of the Franchise Papers show differences between top and okay spots. This shows why knowing your area’s state well matters.
What to Do Next if You're Eyeing a Capriotti's Franchise
If the points above fit what you aim for in business, here’s what you can do to be sure of your choice.
Look Deep Into the Franchise Papers. Check Items 7, 19, and 21 for a good look at the money side of things. This will help you see what’s coming and how to get ready.
Check Your Money. Look hard at what you earn, what you've saved, and ways to get more money. Think of the franchise costs as putting cash into your business's future rise, not just as a first outlay. Be sure you can manage the first cost and ongoing fees without hurting your money health.
Getting a franchise means a big, long promise. Take your time, look into it well, and choose what fits your money and life aims.
FAQs
What should I check in a place to help my Capriotti's franchise do well?
To help your Capriotti's franchise do well, look for places that many people can see and that many people walk by. Good spots are busy city parts, places near schools, or places near office blocks. These spots are good for bringing in the type of people who like what you offer.
Take time to learn about the people who live in the area to make sure they fit who you want to come to your place. Look at how many people live there, the shops around, and what the people there like to do. It's also key to see how many similar shops are nearby. If there are too many, it might hurt your earnings. Picking the right spot after careful study can help your shop a lot.
