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My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

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Scale a food business through minimal-investment franchise model

Food entrepreneurs targeting underserved markets with established supply chain capabilities

2-5 years to establish regional presence

What Success Looks Like

Thousands of small-footprint locations generating steady ingredient sales with minimal ongoing support required

Steps to Execute

1

Develop food product that works in minimal space with simple equipment

2

Create standardized 50-100 sq ft setup requiring only $10K investment

3

Build regional distribution centers for ingredient supply

4

Target partnership locations (gas stations, convenience stores) in underserved areas

5

Eliminate traditional franchise fees - make money only on ingredient markup

6

Focus on locations where you become the only restaurant option within miles

Checklist

Product works with simple heating/preparation
Equipment setup under $10K total
No ongoing royalties or complex contracts
Supply chain can reach rural/remote locations
Host locations have complementary customer base
Unit economics work at lower volume than traditional restaurants

Inputs Needed

  • Scalable food product recipe
  • Equipment supplier relationships
  • Distribution center network
  • Target location database
  • Simple training materials

Outputs

  • Network of small franchise locations
  • Recurring ingredient revenue stream
  • Market penetration in underserved areas
  • Low-maintenance business model

Example

“Hunt Brothers places pizza equipment in gas stations for $10K, no ongoing fees, makes money selling ingredients to 9,000+ locations generating $540M annually”