Franchising: Safest way for startup entrepreneurs

CEBU, Philippines - A 22-year old business major graduate recently opened the Big Flat Bread (BFB) as his second business venture and the first local pizza franchise outlet in Cebu.

At his young age, Kevin Lance Lim considered franchising as a good start-up business with a well-established and safe company for aspiring entrepreneurs.

“There is no need for you to start from scratch since there is already a system for easier management. What you have to do is manage it well and know your product,” he said, motivating other business hopefuls to start as young as possible.

Lim graduated Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Entrepreneurship at the University of San Carlos.

He previously worked as a brand associate in International Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

He first ventured as a franchisee of Dong Juan at J Center Mall.

With an initial investment of P500,000, Lim pursued his second franchise outlet and formally opened BFB last January 18.

Situated at The Ridges, Mabolo, the first Cebu-based branch has a total capacity area of 55 square meters with a seating capacity of 30 persons.

“BFB is a pizza place where everyone can enjoy delicious and affordable food. The pizza is really good and I believe in the product,” he said in an interview.

As a foodie himself, he believed that thin crust pizzas offer higher appetite level to food lovers compared to stuffed crust pizzas.

By February, Lim plans to go full blast with its marketing strategies and will also cater to delivery orders. 

He considered the current location as a strategic venue with its growing market and high foot traffic.

Given the chance to expand, Lim is eyeing Ayala Center Cebu as another ideal location for the second BFB outlet in Cebu.

Asked if he would still stay in the food service industry once he finally decides to put up his own business in the future, Lim said that a hardware store for construction supplies would sound feasible taking into account the real estate boom in the province.

BFB is a local pizza chain that began in Cagayan de Oro in 2009.

Its mother company, Gruppo Del Sur, which is headed by Jim Anthony Uy grabbed the opportunity to be the first local pizza contender in the area since there were no existing local players yet.

Its first branch is located at Limketkai Mall in Cagayan and Uy cited that mall areas and the Cebu IT Park would be best considered for the expansion strategies of BFB in the province.

BFB gained popularity and quickly grew to five branches within three years of which two are in Cagayan, one in Palawan, one in Butuan and the newly-opened outlet in Cebu.

BFB boasts of its thin crust pizza baked in a brick oven that comes either in tomato sauce or white sauce with the cheese ingredient imported from Italy.

It varies in three sizes such as 12, 18 and 30 inches as the biggest.

Customers can also have a variety of up to four flavors in one pizza through the “create your own pizza” option for the 30-inch pizza.

Bestsellers include the Godfather Pizza loaded with vegetable and meat toppings, the Spudsters or potato mojos, Big Hot Fried Chicken, Buffalo Wings and the Cheesecake.

Its menu also offers Asian meals, chicken and pasta meals, appetizer, pasta and pasta platters, softdrinks and beer below zero at affordable prices.  (FREEMAN)