Joel Libava
The Brass Tap franchise just signed its first franchise agreement in Delaware. The new bar is planned for Middletown, at the Bayberry Town Center.
Key Takeaways
The Brass Tap signed its first Delaware franchise agreement, for Middletown. The lease is still being negotiated, so there’s no opening date yet.
In addition, the Delaware franchisee has no bar experience, so training and support matter are going to matter a lot.
The Newest Brass Tap Franchise Owner
The new franchisee is Ashil Patel.
He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and spent nearly three years in corporate pharma. He’s never worked in the bar space. And he plans to move from Pennsylvania to Middletown to run the place.
That said, it looks like Patel did some homework.
He visited a family friend who owns a Brass Tap in Marietta, Georgia. Then he spoke with several other franchisees across the country.
Tip: That’s what all aspiring franchisees interested in any franchise opportunity need to do. Here are 15+ powerful questions to ask existing franchisees.
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Patel said the corporate team guiding him “every step of the way” was critical because he lacked bar experience. That’s the part to test. Ask owners how training really went and how fast the franchisor answers the phone.
About The Brass Tap Franchise
The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based tavern concept known for local and regional craft beer, specialty cocktails and live entertainment.
It has 50-plus locations in 16 states and has franchised for more than 10 years. It belongs to FSC Franchise Co., which also owns Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and Newk’s Eatery. Together they have more than 250 locations.
Note: Signed Is Not Open
Read the fine print on this announcement. The lease is still under negotiation. The opening timeline is “to be announced.”
Fact: A signed franchise agreement is not an open restaurant.
Leases fall through. Build-outs slip. If you sign a deal, know what happens to your fees and your timeline when the site does not come together.
With that in mind, I’m pretty confident Patel’s franchise will open.
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The Bottom Line
The Brass Tap franchise is growing, and Patel’s story potentially shows that a first-timer can enter the restaurant business with franchisor support.
If you’re looking into a food-service franchise opportunity, your decision should rest on the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), a lawyer’s review and conversations with franchisees who have no reason to sell you anything.
Check out The Brass Tap franchise website. Maybe you’ll like what you see.
About the Author
Joel Libava is The Franchise King® — an independent franchise advisor with 25+ years in the industry, two published books on franchising, and his writing has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, Entrepreneur® Magazine and others. In addition, he wrote exclusively for the U.S. Small Business Administration blog for eight years. He doesn't sell franchises. Instead, Joel helps you figure out if franchise ownership is actually right for you — and if it is, teaches you his powerful, proven-to-work franchise research techniques, so you can make a smart, informed decision on a franchise to own and be your own boss.
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