Is this a good business to get into?
This is truly a unique business that is loved by both the restaurants and customers.
It can be as big or as small as you wish, and you can operate from your home or
call center. This business can be operated part time with you as the managing owner
or it can be operated by your general manager while you track reports and orders
from your laptop on the beach.
Bottom line is, this is a GREAT business, but only if you know what you're doing...or
know someone who does (hint, hint).
What can kind of investment am I looking at to get started?
I like to use the analogy of a start up restaurant. If you asked me how much it
would take to start a restaurant, I would ask, “how big do you want to be?”. If
you want to be small you can purchase a hot dog stand, put a chair and an umbrella
outside a supermarket, and PRESTO you’re in business for less than $10,000. The
only problem with that is your income is limited, your clients are limited and your
job will require a lot of your own time to operate it.
For those of you who do not have access to those kind of funds (keep in mind we
can help with financing), let’s talk about the hot dog stand. Some people are very
happy being in the driver’s seat of a small business that they’ve built from the
ground up using more sweat that money. We understand those people because we’ve
started businesses the same way. Keep in mind that Tom started out of his Dorm room
with very little money. We can provide you with many of the same resources, software,
documents and online training, but you will just have to do all of the work. If
you do everything yourself, your minimal initial investment can run less than $10,000.
Keep in mind that success rates doing it this way are much less, and the time it
will take you to get the word out and get sales up is going to be much longer.
How can I become part of the BIG PICTURE?
Be a good owner. Now that we have the formula for success, there is only one important
ingredient stopping us from launching 100’s of these. Its competent owner/operators.
Like many medium sized restaurant chains, this business requires some one with an
owner mentality to nurture local relationships, motivate & manage drivers and continually
manage the marketing machine for each area. Like we tell every new owner, first
become a good operator, once the cream rises to the top there will be plenty of
opportunity for RDUSA Area Developers. You can still own your local RDS, but also
own a part of many others.
Can you guarantee my success?
Absolutely not! The success of an RDS counts at least 50% on the ongoing work of
the owner. Our system has worked and is currently working on multiple locations,
with different owners in different demographic markets. Getting you set up correctly
and giving you an opportunity to succeed is our job. Getting out there marketing,
hiring drivers, keeping delivery times down and building sales for restaurants is
your job. You do your job correctly and you will determine your own success.
Do you work existing RDS’s?
Absolutely! Give us a call. Let’s talk shop and see where we can help you. We’re
trying to build network within our industry and we welcome experienced RDS operators.
Why call now?
You can set up a conference call now and I'll give you 60 minutes of free consulting
that will open your eyes to some of the obstacles that you face, and perhaps I can
provide you with some insight into in this business that you can't find readily
available on the internet. Or, you can call me in a couple of years like many other
RDS owners do. Confused and frustrated, many RDS owners tell me that they can't
get restaurants to give them a good discount, they can't hire or keep good drivers,
they can't find affordable insurance (large chain restaurants want a $1 million
liability policy), and they are considering giving up. What do I tell them? I tell
them that you typically have one chance to sell a restaurant and you better bring
a good presentation. I tell them that a successful RDS business has profit that
does not come from the delivery charge, and that you have to get a good discount
from the restaurant and operate your business with a marketing revenue model. I
tell them that you shouldn't hire your typical courier drivers, but hire mobile
waiters with waiter experience, and then train and pay them well so that you can
keep them. I tell them I know the insurance company that understands what our business
is about and sells RDS's insurance at good rates. And, I tell them I wish they would
have called me two years ago, because it is extremely hard (not impossible) to fix
an RDS that has been set up to fail.