Great Steak Franchise Makes ‘Franchise Times’ Top 200+ List

The premier cheesesteak franchise is named to national publication’s prestigious annual list of best-bet investment opportunities

Franchise Times, a national publication dedicated to helping entrepreneurs connect with franchise systems, recently named Great Steak to their prestigious annual Top 200+ list. The list compiles the franchise systems that Franchise Times has deemed best-bet investments across all segments of the industry for 2016.

Great Steak’s inclusion on the Top 200+ list is the result of a stellar year for the premier cheesesteak franchise. Driven by the support of franchising giant Kahala Brands™, Great Steak is a world class franchise system, whose proven model has grown to over 70 locations across the country. In 2016, Great Steak launched a brand new franchise recruitment website to help reach savvy entrepreneurs who are passionate about cheesesteaks, as Great Steak rapidly expands across the country.

“We’re very honored to be included as part of the Franchise Times Top 200+ list,” says John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Kahala Brands. “People who love cheesesteaks really love Great Steak. 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 through the doors. We can help first-time restaurant owners grow in the underserved market of cheesesteak lovers in America and beyond.”

Great Steak is a low-cost opportunity with a proven business model. Our franchise owners produce average revenues in excess of $466,000 a year, according to Item 19 disclosures in our latest FDD.

We offer two unique franchise models for the savvy entrepreneur or the aspiring restaurateur. For those individuals seeking to bring cheesesteak sandwiches to their neighborhood, we offer the in-line restaurant model with an initial investment beginning at $129,200.

No mall food court is complete without an authentic cheesesteak sandwich shop, and Great Steak is the best choice for shopping malls and strip centers from coast to coast with our food court franchise model. Initial investment for the food court model begins at $146,600.

“Great Steak is unique in that our quality products and fresh ingredients make it very easy to establish lifelong relationships with our customers,” says Nidal al-Farah, owner of three Great Steak cheesesteak franchises in Indiana. “From a franchisee’s perspective, the support that the executive team gives us is second-to-none. I have never felt like I was just a number. If I have any questions at all, I know they will help me find a solution. It’s a low-cost investment; but more importantly, it has a relatively quick return on that investment. I would open more locations in a heartbeat.”

Great Steak takes cheesesteak very seriously. Founded by two Ohio brothers who fell in love with the sandwich on a trip to Philadelphia in 1982, Great Steak grew to more than 100 locations across the nation. Our simple menu focuses on cheesesteaks, both classic and innovative, and our specialization is appealing to not only cheesesteak purists, but also to the largest demographic in the United States: millennials.

“Great Steak appeals to a wide variety of people, but we are especially appealing to the millennial demographic,” says Walter Mejia, Vice President of Operations for Great Steak. “Our food is affordable, with an average ticket of $8-$10. And our use of high-quality ingredients is evident the moment a customer steps up to the counter. We don’t prepare meals in advance. Our customers tell us how they want their food, and then we cook their meal in front of them. It’s dinner and a show!”

Bring the classic American cheesesteak experience to your community today

Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity; the startup costs for traditional stores range from $146,600 to $511,050. Having sold millions of cheesesteaks since our founding in 1982, Great Steak has an experienced business model for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing the classic American cheesesteak experience to their communities. The franchise fee for your first traditional Great Steak franchise is $30,000, and the franchise fee for multiple units may be discounted if certain conditions and criteria are met.