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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much money do I need to open my own Voodoo Brewing Co. brewpub franchise location?
A: Our initial financial investment ranges from $331,750-$2,192,500, which includes a $75,000 franchise fee. We ask that our candidates have at least $400,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of $800,000 or higher.
Q: I have no idea how to brew craft beer. Can I still own a brewery franchise like Voodoo Brewing Co.?
A: Short answer: YES. Long answer: We brew all our craft beer at our 30,000-square-foot taproom in Meadville, PA, and then deliver it right to the doorstep of each brewpub franchise location. We are equipped to keep doing this no matter how many brewery franchise locations we acquire, so there’s no danger of you ever having to brew craft beer on your own.
Q: Do you sell anything besides craft beer?
A: We sure do — glad you asked! In addition to our award-winning craft beer, we also sell barrel-aged mixed drinks for those non-beer types, as well as nitro coffee and nitro teas for customers looking for a caffeine boost. Then there’s our eclectic, localized pub menu created by our Executive Chef, Nate Cillo and individually crafted for each brewpub so that no two menus are alike. Oh, and we didn’t even talk about the merchandise! Baseball caps, t-shirts, scarves, you name it — all for our rabid Voodoo fans who love us so much they want to WEAR us!
Q: I love the idea of owning a brewpub... but I’m not the “pub franchise” type. Can I make the space my own?
A: Absolutely…within reason. Though we have some guidelines, we love to let our Beer Franchise Partners off-leash in terms of creative pub décor. Also, we make it a point to welcome input and suggestions from the whole Voodoo clan, to see where we can make a good thing even better!
Q: Are there really enough craft beer fans in my community to make a Voodoo brewpub franchise a success?
A: According to our research, American craft breweries have a 24.2% share of the $114.2 billion beer market and the number of craft beer drinkers in the U.S. is expected to increase by 15.8% over the next five years. So, yeah, we’re expecting some serious craft beer fans at every brewpub franchise we open. But the best thing about Voodoo is that even if you don’t like craft beer for some reason, you’re still going to love Voodoo for its food, atmosphere, and vibe. So far, we’ve been a big hit everywhere we’ve opened, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Q: How long will it take for my Voodoo Brewing Co. brewpub franchise location to open?
A: Once you’ve gone through our education process and signed the Franchise Agreement, you can expect a ramp-up time of about 9 months before you get to open the doors and welcome your first customers.
Q: How many staff members do I need to run a Voodoo Brewing Co. brewery franchise?
A: Minimal — we recommend at least 6 staff members per pub franchise location, including a Kitchen Manager, at least 2 front-of-house staff, 2 full-time line cooks, and you (or another General Manager if you’re in a Semi-Absentee Franchise Ownership role)! That’s a lot less staff than a typical bar or restaurant needs, mainly because our European-style beer hall concept eliminates the need for a robust wait staff.
Fewer staff = fewer headaches (and more revenue)!
Q: Does size matter? (Um, for a Voodoo Brewing Co. craft beer franchise location, I mean?)
A: We love old buildings that have been part of the community for a while and look like they belong there. We’re also huge fans of balconies, small bedrooms, and any other characteristic that gives a Voodoo Brewing Co. brewpub franchise location a distinctive vibe of industrial quirk. Our ideal brewery franchise locations are somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 square feet, and we try to look for places that previously housed restaurants so we can keep buildout costs low.
Q: What kind of neighborhood does Voodoo Brewing Co. craft beer franchise work best in?
A: Voodoo Brewing Co. thrives in post-industrial, modern communities with high foot traffic — usually communities where the nightlife is flourishing. We are not a brewery business concept that would do well in a strip mall. Mainly because strip malls are lame.