Burger 21 Ready for Big Franchise Business Growth

"Beyond the better burger" fast-casual franchise Burger 21 recently announced its growth results for 2015. Six new franchise agreements were signed over the year, including the award-winning burger chain’s first stores in Texas, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. 

In 2016, Burger 21 will also debut its initial hybrid free-standing location, which is part of the first phase of its brand refresh plan. In January of this year, the chain opened its 21st location, and Burger 21 now has more than 20 franchise locations in development across 11 states.

Burger 21 President and Founder Mark Johnston says the 21st restaurant, located in Orland Park, Illinois, is a huge milestone for the brand. In the last five years, the franchise business has grown from just four units to a nationally-recognized franchise brand with 21 locations in eight states. Johnston also noted that the extensive experience of the local Orland Park franchisees should help further position the brand as an industry innovator.

2015 marked the fifth year of Burger 21, and it was a year of planning for the future and growth. The chain announced six new franchise location openings and executed eight leases in seven different states. This growth trend is expected to continue strong in 2016, with ten additional locations in the works, including the brand’s first entries into Michigan, Texas and Illinois, and the development of its first location in an airport, the recently remodeled Tampa International.

Johnston says the Burger 21 team is proud of its tremendous growth in the start of its sixth year in operation and that the brand will continue to expand with a focus on quality and innovation that helps it stand out from the competition. 

In 2015, one major Burger 21 announcement involved the enlisting of design and brand consultants Brand Architecture. The firm was engaged by the burger chain in rebranding the customer experience and overhauling its visual identity to better reflect Burger 21’s culture, customers and aspirations. Burger 21 underwent an overhaul that included new chairs, a new logo, new employee uniforms and even new packaging. 

Burger 21, Johnston says, was thrilled to partner with the award-winning Brand Architecture to update its image and better reflect its customers. The president feels the brand refresh will help position Burger 21 for growth across the U.S. 

Throughout 2016, the brand will have many new location openings, including restaurants in in Novi, Michigan; Raleigh, North Carolina; Sterling, Virginia; and McAllen, Texas. The new location planned for Ocala, Florida will be the first restaurant with the chain’s full bar. Burger 21 is also looking for new franchisees nationwide, with franchise opportunities available in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and other major markets.

If you're interested in the franchise opportunities available from Burger 21, check out the brand's franchisee requirements. The initial franchisee fee for Burger 21 is $40,000, with discounts available for qualified veterans and multi-unit developers. The initial agreement term for a franchise is ten years, and the total investment ranges from $422,083 to $974,395.