Frequently Asked Questions

We greatly appreciate your interest and are excited to be able to introduce you to Richard’s Foodporium™! If you will fill out and submit the Get Acquainted form on this website, you will be contacted promptly by our Franchise Department so that we can answer your questions. If preferred, you can also call Richard’s Foodporium™ Franchising directly at (941) 485-3972.

Opening a Richard’s Foodporium™ franchise requires a strong personal commitment and active involvement in the store. Awarding franchises is based on a number of factors including prior experience, integrity, work ethic, as well as other personal and financial qualifications. To ensure that our franchise operators will be able to qualify with lenders and landlords, and are able to comfortably invest, build out and manage through the initial startup phase, we prefer that potential franchise operators have $200,000 or more in liquid capital and a net worth of at least $750,000.

The investment in a franchise will vary depending on many factors including size, locating, existing retail space availability and current economic conditions to name a few. You will need approximately $284,900 to $435,050* to open your Richard's Foodporium™ franchise location. The range of estimates are based on factors such as square footage, location, build-out requirements and franchise owner preferences. Most projects will fall in the middle averages. This estimated investment is broken by category as follows:

Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000	-	$35,000
Real Estate / Rent	$9,000	-	$20,000
Utility Deposits	$1,200	-	$4,000
License and Permits	$2,000	-	$4,000
Leasehold Improvements	$52,000	-	$84,900
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment	$69,300	-	$105,650
POS, Network Equipment	$31,800	-	$36,000
Initial Inventory	$55,000	-	$80,000
Insurance	$4,000	-	$10,000
Signage	$3,000	-	$11,000
Office Equipment and Supplies	$1,600	-	$2,000
Training Expense	$0	-	$2,500
First 4-6 months advertising including pre-marketing & Grand Opening	$15,000	-	$25,000
Professional Fees (Legal / Accounting)	$2,000	-	$5,000
Working Capital	$5,000	-	$10,000
Total	$284,900	-	$435,050
Estimates are from figures current as of September 2010. Low and high ranges are based on 1800 sq ft and 3000 sq ft floor plans, respectively. No shipping or taxes are included in estimates as this will vary by location. All estimates are subject to change and may, based on the uniqueness of the franchise's location.

The Initial Franchise Fee is $35,000. It is payable in full when you execute the Franchise Agreement. It gives you the "right of entry" into our system (the blueprint to build your business). It also entitles you to use our brand including the valuable logos and trademarks. In addition you gain access to our vendors, training and support from our team of professionals. You receive ongoing improvements to the system throughout your 10-year term.

The Royalty Fee is 6% of the gross revenue of your store(s), paid monthly, exclusive of any sales tax.

You will also contribute 1% of your gross monthly sales to a Regional Marketing Fund. This money is not for the Franchisor, but the Franchisees in each region, to be spent on marketing for their collective stores.

Included in your franchise fee is a 10-Day Initial Training Program, performed in our Franchise Training facilities in Venice and Sarasota, Florida. This training will cover everything from store operations, management procedures, basic accounting and marketing, to nutritional education. Franchise operators are required to pay only for the cost of transportation, lodging and meals. A franchise support staff member will also be on site for an additional week of training around the opening of your store, to assure a smooth and efficient launch of your new enterprise. Once opening, further training is available through various sources including conference calls, meetings, bi-annual trainings, vendor trainings, trade shows, seminars and various education supplements from our directors.

In addition to the initial 10-Day franchise training program, the Team at Richard's Foodporium™ helps plan and manages every aspect of your store setup. After you first day of opening, a Richard's support person will remain with you for seven days to make sure that you are supported full-time. Richard’s Foodporium™ places great importance on continuing franchise training and support. Our support staff will periodically visit stores to assist in new product education, ongoing merchandising guidance, review of store operations and market conditions, and keeping you on the cutting edge of a growing industry. Richard’s Foodporium™ has a committed and qualified team of experts to support you in the areas of: Marketing, Retail Operations, Information Systems, Human Resources, Purchasing, and Sales and Training.

The initial Franchise Agreement is for a 10-year period, after which the agreement may be renewed for another ten-year term. Renewal will be subject to our approval and will be at the then current franchise terms, conditions and renewal fees.

At this time, the Franchisor does not have a financing program in place. We do, however, work with the potential Franchisees with various resources to assist in exploring options to help fund their investment.

Yes, you can sell your franchise. Richard’s Foodporium™ must approve the purchaser before any transfer can occur and there is a transfer fee to cover administrative, legal and training expenses for the new buyer.

Fill out and submit the Get Acquainted form or call Richard’s Foodporium™ Franchising at (941) 485-3972

Your gross earnings and ROI will depend greatly on your ability to follow the system as well as a number of factors that include the store location, your business acumen, the time that you invest in your business, retail conditions in your area and others. We cannot make claims as to your earnings or guarantee your success. As a Richard’s Foodporium™ independent owner, however, we will supply you with the tools and the system of 30 years of successful retailing. You will find an earnings claim in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) based on our average, mature store operations.

We do disclose our Earnings Claim in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) which is based on our average mature store operations. This will be shared with interested parties at the appropriate time.

It may take up to nine months to research, choose a site and negotiate and sign a lease. This will vary based on details of the lease negotiations and obtaining financing. We will help facilitate and approve your location. Build out and set up of the store will also vary based on the site, but typically 3-6 months is average to become fully operational. We are there every step of the way from planning to execution.

"Recent statistics report that a franchise business is likely to be up to 90% more successful due the proven system already in place. Smaller private businesses fail within the first five years as owners struggle and make mistakes (trial and error). Smaller, private businesses do not have the negotiating power that a franchisee does. On your own, is “uncharted territory” without support or mentoring, whereas, a Franchisor has "been there and done that". The marketing benefit alone for a franchised business is worth the value of the purchase. In addition, buying power and established vendor relations entitles a Franchisee to discounts. The use of a Regional Marketing Fund allows a franchise owner to share costs and negotiate marketing discounts as well. The Franchisor is your greatest supporter as your success is truly their success.