Menu Design for Restaurant Franchises

Not all restaurant franchises are created equal. The exact success rate of franchises is unclear, but here’s what is clear: those that do succeed have exceptional branding. Successful franchises have figured out how to distill the essence of their success into a marketing system that works just about anywhere. One critical element of restaurant brands like these is the design of their menus. In this post, we’ll cover the hallmarks of a great restaurant franchise menu.

Tell Your Story

Your brand is built around your story. Sharing your story allows your customers to connect with the people behind the brand. It helps your big franchise business feel small and personable. There are many ways to weave your story into your menu design. You could literally tell the story of how your restaurant was born (just a few sentences will do). You could include photos of your original location. You could even highlight special sauces and their creators—like the line of hot sauces created by the founder of Tijuana Flats, Brian Wheeler. Get creative!

Keep It Consistent

Successful franchises have turned the success of the original location into a formula; consistency is key to ensuring that the formula works each and every time. Customers will expect to see the same menu options at every franchise location, and your menu should not disappoint them. Consistency also removes some of the workload from individual franchise operators. After all, they are buying into the franchise model because they don’t want to reinvent the wheel.

Regional Dietary Accommodations

As a franchise founder, you’ll need to plan for dietary restrictions and preferences in certain locations. For example, franchisees in an area where customers require kosher options will need a way to designate kosher options on the menu. That doesn’t mean creating an entirely separate menu—it simply means designing an icon system that individual franchise owners can append to menu items, such as a capital letter K for kosher items or a carrot icon for vegetarian items. Also make sure to include images that represent the full range of items available (photos of meat-based meals, meatless options, dairy-free items, etc.).

Designing the menu for your franchise takes skill and experience. Although it requires a significant upfront investment, it pays off handsomely in the long run. If you need a menu that will appeal to customers far and wide, we can help. Tell us about your concept and we’ll show you how to turn it into a system for success.

About Kara Franco
Kara writes copy that speaks. She has a knack for creating clear, compelling messages without wasting words. She is passionate about digital marketing and believes that copy is the cornerstone of user experience.

Copywriter + Content Strategist
Kara@diacedesigns.com