Episode 129: Kendall Ware a Restaurant Franchise Specialist

In this episode of Corner Booth, Chris Tripoli interviews Kendall Ware, a seasoned restaurant industry leader and franchise consultant. Kendall shares his journey from bussing tables at age 16 to becoming CEO of major brands like Cinnabon and Orange Leaf. His experience spans opening nearly 100 restaurants and leading six national brands, giving him unique insights into the franchising process. For restaurant owners exploring growth, Kendall emphasizes the importance of understanding why you want to franchise and ensuring your concept is scalable before taking the leap.

Kendall outlines the critical steps for turning a profitable restaurant into a franchise brand. These include trademarking your name, drafting a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), and creating a comprehensive operations manual tailored for franchisees. He explains why legal compliance, operational systems, and supply chain strategy are essential for sustainable growth. Kendall also warns against common pitfalls, such as overspending on initial setup or expanding too quickly without regional support. His advice focuses on building a strong foundation that protects both franchisor and franchisee while maintaining brand standards.

Beyond legal and operational preparation, Kendall stresses the importance of fostering trust and collaboration between franchisor and franchisee. He introduces the concept of “Friendship”—a blend of partnership and relationship—to replace the outdated “us vs. them” mindset. According to Kendall, healthy franchise relationships drive faster adoption, stronger brand consistency, and higher profitability. For emerging brands, his consulting approach offers affordable, practical solutions to scale nationally while avoiding costly mistakes.