The restaurant industry can be a cut throat business with a lot of competition in the field. It is a billion dollar industry responsible for countless jobs. To be successful, you must differentiate yourself from the competition. The Chili's franchise understands this concept. The brand focuses on “Making People Feel Special” to set set themselves apart from the rest and is the way it establishes emotional connections with its guests and team members. Additionally, the brand offers franchisees flexible business models, including traditional and non-traditional restaurants, that can have full or limited menus. The brand credits leading-edge digital technology to enhance its service. And innovative food concepts that keeps its guests coming back for more. To become a Chili's franchise owner, the brand wants you to have at least five years of previous restaurant experience; you have to want to be a multi-unit owner, as they want franchisees to own at least five units; and the prospective franchisee must be philosophically aligned with the company to make sure the brand has good standing and is represented to the best of its ability.
There are two restaurant formats to choose from. One format is the Chili's Grill and Bar, which is the standard format. These restaurants offer full-service dinning and a bar. The space is usually 5,000 square feet and has approximately 134 seats in the restaurant area and 30 seats in the bar area. The other format option is a special venue, which vary in size depending on the location. These locations can include a free-standing unit, a food court, or customer service interior finish-outs.