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A Subway will be a lot easier to do than a restaurant from scratch.
That doesn't mean it'll be easy.
With a franchise, the more money you have upfront, the easier it is to get going. You need that cash flow.
Brand and location is everything. Money pulls money. Don't go for the cheaper, lesser known franchise unless you have a killer location.
I would pay more for the location. Location, location, location. It's everything.
Do your homework. Research. Sit outside a potential location and count cars all day everyday for a week. You'll get weekday and weekend traffic numbers.
Once you have those, see if they justify the rent on the place.
Fight for deals on all your equipment. Don't skimp on quality/service, but that's your biggest capital expenditure and also the stuff that loses value the most.
The freedom is an illusion. No one is going to work as hard for your business as you are. Find good people, and pay them well. Because one location isn't going to do it. You have to work your ass of at that first one and get it to a point where it can finance a second one and possibly a third.
I say possibly a third because past three, your expenses go up with management because you can only spread yourself so thin. Unless the wife starts to manage the books. That's your best asset.
Know that this is long term. It's hard as hell. Is it worth it? Hell yes!
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