What Makes Great Steak the Premier Cheesesteak Franchise?

The premier cheesesteak franchise seeks passionate entrepreneurs as it ramps up for a nationwide expansion

As the nation’s premier cheesesteak franchise, Great Steak has grown to over 70 locations since our founding in 1982. Ramping up for a nationwide expansion, we seek savvy entrepreneurs with a passion for the classic American cheesesteak experience to bring our proven business model to their communities.

In recent years, the cheesesteak’s popularity has skyrocketed. The Internet allows millions of cheesesteak devotees to express their enthusiasm for the classic American sandwich — fueling demand for more cheesesteaks. National print, broadcast and online publications have devoted time to spotlight the cheesesteak. The growing demand for cheesesteaks has caught the attention of other national brands who now feature versions of the cheesesteak on their menus. One pizza chain is even offering a cheesesteak pizza — but there’s no substitution for the real thing.

Great Steak takes the 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 appeals to not only cheesesteak purists, but to the largest demographic in the United States: millennials. According to Gordon Food Service®, 49% of millennials say that sandwiches other than burgers are ordered regularly. GFS reports that restaurants “don’t need to be the flashy gastro hotspot to be appealing” to millennials because what they want is a brand with a voice, food with flavor and the ability for customization — all of which they can find at Great Steak.

“Our significant process over the three decades we’ve been in business comes down to our unwavering commitment to the cheesesteak,” says Walter Mejia, Vice President of Operations of Great Steak. “When it comes to cheesesteak, if you don’t do it right and authentic, you will hear about it from your customers. Our brand’s customers are very passionate: the cheesesteak is not just a sandwich; it’s a category all its own. Customers will drive miles and miles just to get a good cheesesteak. The Great Steak cheesesteak has won a rapidly growing base of customers who are loyal, excited and find enormous enjoyment in our commitment to the cheesesteak.”

Great Steak franchise owners are running great businesses. With two unique franchise models, we are positioned to produce decades of success for the savvy entrepreneur or the aspiring restaurateur. Our franchise owners produce average revenues in excess of $466,000 a year, according to Item 19 disclosures in our latest FDD.

“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,” 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.”

With more than 30 years of success behind us, Great Steak is looking to the future. A Great Steak franchise offers a proven business model, an iconic brand and a sustainable, scalable business with the low startup costs that make it a worthwhile investment for entrepreneurs of any stripe. There has never been a better time to join Great Steak.

“People who love cheesesteaks really love Great Steak,” says John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development for 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 grow in the underserved market of cheesesteak lovers in America and beyond.”

Bring the classic American cheesesteak experience to your community today

Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity with high potential returns; 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.