The Growth Path: Why PJ’s Coffee Franchisees Choose Multi-Unit Ownership

Many entrepreneurs find great fulfillment in owning and operating a single business. However, more than half of PJ’s Coffee franchisees, one shop isn’t enough — multi-unit ownership is the best choice for them. Franchisees across the board have discovered that owning multiple units can offer financial advantages, operational efficiencies, and growth opportunities.

The Decision to Expand

For many PJ’s Coffee franchisees, becoming a multi-unit operator is a natural progression after seeing the success of their first store. However, others open their first PJ’s with expansion in mind, like franchisee trio Teddy Amar, Andrew Jones, and Mateusz Dabrowski (TAM), who currently own and operate 10 PJ’s Coffee locations and have one more under development.

“We decided to look for a brand that was scalable,” said Jones. “Coffee is universally loved, and adding some New Orleans flair and exceptional customer service made it easy to grow in our current markets.”

Before joining PJ's, the TAM group had just opened their second fast-casual restaurant location with a different brand. They initially committed to three PJ’s locations and opened their first one in 2019 — but as they experienced success, the trio quickly decided to acquire several existing stores while developing new ones.

Jones explains, “Investment costs, flexible resources, market availability and brand recognition played a massive part in deciding to go with PJ’s.”

Advantages of Being a Multi-Unit Owner

Owning more than one PJ’s location brings a variety of benefits that go beyond revenue growth:

1. Shared Resources: Multi-unit franchisees can capitalize on economies of scale. For example, a general manager could oversee multiple locations, reducing overhead. Administrative tasks like accounting, HR and marketing can also be centralized for greater efficiency. By spreading these and other costs across multiple locations, they can reinvest their savings into further growth.
2. Discounts: Franchisees seeking to expand can take advantage of discounted franchise fees for additional locations. Multi-unit operators pay an initial franchise fee of $35,000, with an additional $10,000 upfront for each new license, making expansion with PJ's Coffee more cost-effective.
3. Flexibility and Growth: Multi-unit ownership provides flexibility — including expanding into new territories — and offers the potential for increased cash flow and profitability.

“We are constantly bucking the norm and trying to stay ahead of future issues that may arise with scaling,” says Jones. “Our operations team allows us to grow organically in a short period of time.”

How to Manage Multi-Unit Operations

Managing multiple PJ’s Coffee locations requires a more structured leadership approach than a single-store operation. Most PJ’s franchisees who manage multiple locations have an infrastructure in place to support continued growth, allowing them to step back from the daily grind and focus on the big picture.

As Jones puts it, “Going from store one to two is way harder than going from 10 to 11. Paving your road before you drive on it definitely allows for a smoother ride.”

Maintaining a consistent customer experience across multiple locations is likewise crucial to building a successful franchise. Managing multiple locations requires more than being business savvy. The most successful multi-unit owners are strong leaders with a clear vision for growth and are adept at:

• Servant Leadership: Leading by example and supporting your team at every level.
• Conflict Resolution: Addressing challenges head-on to maintain a positive workplace culture.
• Communication: Clear and consistent communication is critical to ensure multi-location teams are aligned with the brand’s vision and operational goals.
• Customer Service: Maintaining a consistent, exceptional PJ’s Coffee experience across all locations.

Multi-unit franchisees must also be able to create career paths and set goals for their teams, motivating them to grow within the company.

A Roadmap to Success

The journey from single-unit ownership to managing multiple PJ’s Coffee locations may seem intimidating, but with the right infrastructure, leadership, and vision, it can be an incredibly manageable and rewarding experience. Multi-unit ownership offers franchisees the ability to grow their businesses, support their communities and share PJ’s Coffee’s New Orleans spirit across an expanding network of stores.

Ready to explore the next step in your PJ’s Coffee journey? Whether you’re looking to open your first location or expand to your second or tenth, PJ’s is here to support your growth. Contact us today!