Choose from a food court counter concept or an in-line restaurant

Becoming a Great Steak™ franchise owner means that your community will never have to travel to Philadelphia to fulfill its craving for authentic American cheesesteaks. With our three decades in business, the Great Steak brand has grown to have many locations across the U.S. and around the world.

Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity with potential for high returns. Start-up costs range from $155,900 to $615,050 for the traditional business model and $132,500 to $411,300 for the nontraditional. The food court counter and the in-line restaurant were designed to be easy to operate and to maximize sales. Here is what you need to know about our two franchise concepts:

Food Court Mall Based Franchise Model

This is the perfect option for a savvy entrepreneur who wants to run a simple business with a small staff, low overhead and few moving parts. Our food court counters are custom-designed to showcase the theatricality of cooking a cheesesteak: when a customer walks up to a Great Steak in a food court, they get a perfect view of their cheesesteak being cooked. Our strong presence in malls across America for more than 30 years demonstrates that this model can generate a rapid return on investment. In our three decades in business, Great Steak has developed relationships with several of the largest mall companies in America, and they cannot wait for Great Steak to enter their marketplaces.

“I always wanted to own my own restaurant, but I realized that a franchise would give me the proven business model that would enable me to be successful,” says Moe Elhindi, owner of two Great Steak franchise locations in northern California. “This has been the case with Great Steak; it’s a very simple operation. It doesn’t require a lot of employees, the menu is simple and the day-to-day managing of this business is easy to understand. Of course, the product is exceptional. Once people see our cheesesteaks, the product sells itself. Great Steak has made managing the inventory, the training, and maintaining the quality of the product very straightforward. Everyone who wants to go into business thinks about the bottom line, and with Great Steak, the bottom line is very good. I want to open another location, perhaps in an airport or Las Vegas.”

In-Line Restaurant

This model is for savvy entrepreneurs who want to bring the classic American cheesesteak experience to the heart of their communities. Our restaurants require a small footprint, a small staff and low overhead, and the Great Steak executive team will actively work with you to find the best location for your business. In addition, initial training will be extensive, and the Great Steak team will assist you in growing your business as you become a premier cheesesteak restaurant in your community.

“We are very excited about our Great Steak in-line restaurant model,” Combs says. “After opening in Ohio in 2015, we have won an incredibly loyal and devoted customer base. That speaks volumes about the public’s love for cheesesteaks and how underserved this segment of the market really is. According to Forbes, Americans spend an average of $3,000 on lunch every year¹, and considering the market for high-quality and locally made sandwiches is through the roof, Great Steak is primed to capture a significant share of the market.”

Who are we looking for?

Great Steak is actively seeking savvy entrepreneurs and investors who are excited by the prospect of bringing the classic American cheesesteak to their communities. While we don’t require restaurant experience, we do actively seek people who have managerial experience and an entrepreneurial spirit. We want people who will follow Great Steak’s experienced business model, who want to grow their businesses, who love serving people and want to support their communities while creating a great life for themselves and their families.

“People who love cheesesteaks really love Great Steak,” says John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Kahala Brands, which is the parent company of the Great Steak cheesesteak franchise. “If a franchisee brings the confidence and enthusiasm for great tasting cheesesteaks, we can teach them the cheesesteak business. Our training process maps out our simple in-store operations — they rely on attention to detail, which makes for great-tasting cheesesteaks every time a customer walks in through the doors. We can help first-time restaurant owners develop in the underserved market of cheesesteak lovers in America and beyond.”