Franchising

Hello! We’re pleased that you are visiting our website and looking at our franchise offering!

Considering a franchise is an important career step. Maybe you’ve worked in the restaurant industry before and are thinking about striking out on your won. Or maybe your background is in business operations and you’re looking to make a change.

Sure, we believe that our restaurant franchising opportunity is “a little slice of Heaven,” with pun intended. We do see it as a strong, solid offering – one that will afford anyone interested in a career in the restaurant industry a first-rate opportunity to be part of a growing business.

In these pages you’ll learn more about us, what we do, and what our franchising program offers. We’re received rave reviews from our customers here in the Tuscaloosa area. With more than three decades of experience in the industry, we’re ready to take our Catfish Heaven™ concept onto a bigger stage.

Customers have been asking for a long time, “When are you going to open a location in our area?”

We’ve listened. We’re ready to expand. And if you are looking for a career change, maybe this is the opportunity for you. Please take a look at what we have to provide, and let’s talk.

Sincerely,

Andrew Robertson II

Franchise Team

The Catfish Heaven™ story: The best wings this side of Heaven!

In 1993, three men (including brothers Andrew and Wayne Robertson) joined forces to follow their dream and open a restaurant in Tuscaloosa, just a few minutes from the University of Alabama. The restaurant offered whiting fish, catfish fillets and catfish nuggets – although those menu offerings would expand over time. The founders chose Catfish Heaven™ as the new restaurant’s name.

It caught on! If your taste runs to catfish and hot wings (and you can choose from sauces including Parmesean, Honey Mustard, Hot Sauce, Teriyaki, Jalapeno Ranch and others), maybe you’ll join the chorus of diners who view this as “a slice of Heaven” right here on earth. Catfish Heaven™ has been ranked “#1 Catfish in Tuscaloosa,” and “#1 Wings in Tuscaloosa.” The restaurant is also included in the book 100 Things to do in Tuscaloosa before you die. With an overall rating of 4.6 and the recipient of reviews which include “Always a great experience,” “The food and hospitality is always top shelf!” and “Delicious food-hot and delivered in a timely manner,” the restaurant has expanded its offerings and its customer base – and is now ready to take that next step onto a bigger stage.

Brother Andrew and Wayne Robertson eventually bought the share of the business from their third partner, making it truly a family venture. The Catfish Heaven™ story now includes a second generation of family. Along the way, the restaurant expanded to include hot wings, a well-received addition to the menu. Cole slaw and fries top off the entrée choices, and a user-friendly online ordering option makes the Catfish Heaven™ experience even easier.

The restaurant consists of about 90% takeout and 10% dining in, and Andrew says that he and his uncle and father anticipate the same model for their franchisees. At their 1600 square foot location in Tuscaloosa, minutes away from the University of Alabama, they continue to perfect their unique recipes, which includes a proprietary fish batter. They will of course share the “secret sauce” with their franchisees.

Is franchising on the menu for you?

In the three decades we have served the Tuscaloosa area, we’ve had numerous people ask us “When will you open a location in our area?”

Often it’s from families of university students, and sometimes the question comes from people who are just traveling through.

We’re flattered by the question. We’ve listened. And we’re ready. Our first franchise locations will be regional – Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida – and then expand beyond that!

Research company Lightspeed reports that 60% of Americans order takeout at least once a week. As a franchisee, you have the opportunity to provide a needed service to a large segment of the population. And in addition to takeout, franchisees will also have the opportunity to provide catering services to families, businesses and civic organizations.

Catfish Heaven™ franchisees will follow our basic model: 1500-1600 square feet for restaurant space, majority being take-out, and following our tried and true recipes and menu offerings. Restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. which might vary somewhat by location.

“Secret sauce” is an expression that you hear frequently. For us, it’s literal. Catfish Heaven™ franchisees will have access to our proprietary fish batter and wing sauce recipes. We will share our fish farm source– all fresh, no steroids or anything artificial. We have built up strong relationships with providers for ingredients and will see that those who become Catfish Heaven™ franchisees have the same top quality. We will train franchisees on how to prepare the Catfish Heaven™ entrees – and possibly work with them to develop an additional local offering or two.

Our franchisees will benefit from an intensive training program at our Tuscaloosa facility, and our training may also include site visits at franchisee locations. We’ll help franchisees select the optimum marketing strategies too - important for any restaurant. If you’re curious about what we do, it includes geofencing, local marketing, social media, local news stations and news threads. We’ll share our specific marketing strategies as part of the training we provide.

We’ll help our franchisees identify their target market and plan their outreach based on those findings. Our markets here include blue collar workers, factory workers, government officials and people from educational institutions. Our guidance on location selection and marketing, coupled with operations and our unique recipes, will stand you in good stead, as a Catfish Heaven™ franchisee.

Who would make an ideal Catfish Heaven™ franchisee?

Having some restaurant and/or business background is a big plus for a prospective franchisee. Ideally, the people we invite to join us will have some experience in business operations. We also recognize the importance of talent and enthusiasm, though, even without specific restaurant background. We’re interested in talking with people who have vision, an entrepreneurial spirit, and aren’t afraid of hard work. We want people who have the desire to build their Catfish Heaven™ restaurant as part of the community.

Having an owner/operator is an ideal way to begin as a Catfish Heaven™ franchisee. Startup models should expect to have five or six employees, ideally they will all be trained in every aspect of running a Catfish Heaven™ restaurant so that they can rotate from, for example, the kitchen to the front end of the business.

Our franchisees will run their restaurant from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., from a visible storefront location, and will receive extensive training and support from us.

If you’ve ever thought about a restaurant franchising opportunity, one where you offer unique and popular menu items, let’s have a conversation!

About franchising and how it works

People considering investing in a franchising opportunity may initially wonder “Why should I buy a franchise? Couldn’t I simply go out and start my own business?”

The quick answer is “yes.” Some people do enter the business world in that manner. So what is the real value of purchasing a franchise rather than “going it alone”?

Here’s one big advantage. As a franchisee, you can avoid that large “learning curve” that you might experience on your own. Think of the many questions that could arise in those first days and months. What are the right types of ways to market? What social media platforms work best? How important are reviews? What type of insurance should you carry? Are there collateral materials that would best market the business? What kinds of recipes work best? What should I look for in hiring an employee?

Without the professional training, business experience, or connections it takes to succeed, it can be difficult to get off the ground. Many small business owners begin by hiring outside individuals with experience just for advice.

As a franchisee, you enjoy a number of advantages that a stand-alone, independent start-up does not. You begin with the accumulated experience, know-how, business practices and operating plan that come with a franchise. In our case, it’s over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry that we will share with our franchisees.

As a franchisee, you enjoy name-brand recognition and a network of support provides an immediate and distinct competitive edge over the independent, stand-alone business. You can avoid that costly trial-and-error period that causes so many problems for start-up businesses. As a franchisee, you’ll “hit the ground running.”

If this is an opportunity that interests you enough to learn more, please contact us!

Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior experience to become a Catfish Heaven™ franchisee?
Prior business experience and restaurant experience is helpful. We are looking for people who are passionate and energetic with a desire to succeed. Ideal candidates are people with the entrepreneurial spirit who believe in hard work.

Where should I locate my business?
We will discuss available territories with individuals interested in potentially becoming a Catfish Heaven™ franchisee. Our understanding of the market enables us to evaluate the kinds of locations that might work best for a Catfish Heaven™ franchise location. We will work with our franchisees to help select a location for their franchise operation.

What will my Catfish Heaven™ franchise look like?
We will provide guidance on the size of the location, number of employees you’ll need to start, training methods, proprietary recipes, marketing strategies, and guidance on operations.

How will I market my franchise?
We have developed strong and effective marketing strategies to help you promote your business. We have experience with what types of campaigns (including social media) may be helpful and we will share our strategies with our franchisees.

How does a Catfish Heaven™ franchise differ from other business opportunities?
We understand that investigating a franchising opportunity is a big step, and individuals considering this option may look at a number of different opportunities. What sets us apart is that in the restaurant industry our model is simpler than many. With an emphasis on take-out and limited dining in, the model requires fewer employees and a smaller location, both of which should be financially advantageous to the franchisee. Additionally, we have over 30 years’ experience in the industry to share with our franchisees.

What do I do next?
Please take a few minutes and complete the information on the “Preliminary Information Questionnaire” which you will find in this document. We will review it and, if it looks like we would be a good fit together, will contact you to set up a meeting. Thank you very much for reviewing our franchising information!