Franchise Owner Claims It’s "Impossible to Make Money" With Quiznos

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• Quiznos franchisee Rich Piotrowski and his wife Ellen Blickman have just won a two-year battle with Quiznos.  Interesting story.  Check it out:
  QUIZNOS: Quiznos Franchisees Celebrate Legal Victory

  Judge Hoffman’s Ruling Against Quiznos Franchising II LLC (PDF)

• I have seen many Quizno's deals in the past. The best deals are today on the resale market as sellers are fed up and want to leave the system. Making way for a new franchisee could be the best thing for both buyer and seller. Don't get me wrong , I am not for seller losing money, but when your back is up against the wall, better to take some money and leave with your dignity in tact and let the new buyer succeed at the lower entry price where the ROI gets more palatable. So regrettably it is the second or third owner who will make it with zero bank financing. Want some hints at proper deal structure for a graceful departure?

  mrfranchiseman.com

• I have a good employee who owned a Quiznos franchise in Tempe , Az . Approx eight years ago , he hired on with my company and approx 1 year later he advised me that he owned a Quiznos and was having to leave work to work at his shop at night and weekends . His investment was approx 250K and after 2years in business he was losing 2K per month . I considered buying the business from him at a very attractive price . Before making my decision I investigated two other Quiznos franchisees who were in the same situation and were trying to "unload" also . I thoroughly read the "franchise agreement" - it basically is all in favor of the "franchisor" for sure ! Long story but the net result of my investigation was that a Quiznos franchise is at best just buying yourself a low paying job and this is totally dependent on having one of the better locations . The management of Quiznos corporate demonstrated to most I talked to thta they were totally "self serving" towards corporate profits not matter what expense and frustration they put their franchisees thru . Additionally , the franchise agreement I read gave "zero" boundary protection which I found very surprising . Fortunately for me I chose not to get involved - my employee filed for bankruptcy , now makes a 100K plus income working for my company and is very happy to be out of Quiznos . Further , a majority of these franchisees in Arizona are unprofitable and many locations have closed for good (corporate could not sell them to another sucker ! The word is out !

• Why is the investment in Quiznos so high? I would expect them to cost about the same as 'the sub' to open. What about the latest Quiznos offerings to let people in for $12,000? I was thinking of Quiznos for my son.

• In response to Bean and anyone else who may be thinking about buying a Quiznos. DON'T DO IT!!!!! Do some research and you will get a good picture of how bad a business this is. I speak from experience. I just closed my money pit nightmare of a business, if you want to call it a business. the only one who made money was Quiznos Corporation. They have very high food prices, make you give discounts and coupons. Promise you royalty and coupon rebates, then they find a way not to give them to you by finding something that you defaulted on, so as to disqualify your rebate participation. J.ust to give you an idea, in my area there were 17 Quiznos's two years ago. Of those 5 have completely closed down, 7 have been sold at dirt cheap prices, and the other 5 are trying to sell and a couple of those will probably close down if they cant sell soon. None of them are making a profit as a matter of fact most are losing money. Last year they forced everyone to remodel the interior at an avg cost of $6,000 and it was mandatory or else you get fined evry month until you do it. that was not the first mandatory upgrade in the last couple years. we were also made to change all signs to the new logos 2 years ago, once again an avg of $7000. The corporation keeps trying out new salesevents just about every quarter and you get automatic shipments of the new product regardless if you want it or not, its mandatory and with it comes promotional stuff that gets auto billed to you. they just can't figure out what they are doing and its always at our expense and their profit because you are forced to pay for it or you get fined. They do store inspections and if you dont get a certain score, guess what you get fined, and they always find something wrong. instead of helping the franchise fix the problems they find, they just stick it to you in form of fines, so once again there go your profits and into their pockets. I seriously think that quzinos is doing a strong effort to force Franchises to close and avoid any litigation of how they do business. SO DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS FRANCHISE, DON'T! I wish someone would have warned me before we bought this nighmare of a business. By the way, I am only describing the quiznos corporation, the independent franchise ownwers are good honest hardworking people who are trying their best to make these franchises work but it is impossible and I truly feel sorry for all of them because all will lose alot of money and maybe their business as did I.

• I must admit I have never heard so much negative news on a company that actually has a great product. I have followed Quiznos for several years and I am currently serious considering investing into several available units in my area. Im thinking with a lower cost to entry I could make a few bucks with a product I actually believe in. Am I as dumb as I sound? Somebody enlighten me.

• I was also considering it because the cost is manageable . But in my area they are still dropping like flies.... Even at a low cost I'm afraid I won't get my money back. Stores that were open for years are now closed.

• Store 8558 Quiznos liars and thieves

• STAY AWAY FROM QUIZNOS. That low buy-in fee ($5000) comes with a harsh price. Your interest rate will be 15% AND you give up 20% of the store profits to Quiznos corporate for giving you the loan. This corporation is bad, bad bad and corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. They own the food and paper supply contracts and will charge you above market prices for your stock. There is no way to be a happy owner working 80 hours a week and making less than $25,000.00 a year. Put your money in a low interest Money Market. You will be waaaaaaaaaay better off than owning a Quiznos store.

• I am amazed there are still people who believe in this folks. Franchise Curious, you can hear the death knells for the last standing stores. You have heard from first hand victims; you read all any prospective buyer can ever learn about the kind of money pit this quirk coy is, but you are still hoping for something convincing. Humn! pardon my sloppy sarcasm here - the dog that'll go astray turns its deaf ears to the owner's beckoning - Well, I suggest you need to visit one Quiznos in your area and discuss a purchase plan with the owner. If you show some seriousness and probably the low 12.5k deposit, the monthly sales figures will be made available. Take a good look way back into about 9 months. That ought to help your decision or just reread what Marda, Ken P. and the rest have said. My over excited friend bought her store for 75k last year, she said all she'd possibly loose was her 75k. Turns our she has lost over that already. She threw in the towel a month ago. She still doesn't want to talk about it - Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones.