Why PJ’s Coffee Franchisees Choose Multi-Unit Ownership

Originally Published: September 30, 2024 | Audited: September 2026

Key Takeaway: Multi-unit ownership allows PJ’s Coffee franchisees opportunities to share resources across locations, create additional operational efficiencies and expand their businesses into adjacent markets.

Many entrepreneurs find fulfillment in owning and operating a single business, while others see their first location as the beginning of a larger portfolio. That has been the path for more than half of PJ’s Coffee franchisees, who have pursued multi-unit ownership to continue building their businesses. With multiple locations, franchisees can streamline their existing operations as they pursue new audiences in their market.

The Decision to Expand

Multi-unit ownership can follow different paths. Some PJ’s Coffee franchisees expand after seeing success with their first location, while others open their first PJ’s with expansion already in mind. Teddy Amar and Andrew Jones took the latter approach, committing to three PJ’s Coffee locations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette in December 2017.

“We decided to look for a brand that was scalable,” said Jones. “Coffee is universally loved, and adding some New Orleans flair and exceptional customer service made it easy to grow in our current markets.”

Before joining PJ’s, Amar and Jones had already begun building a portfolio with another franchise brand. While waiting for construction on what was intended to be their first PJ’s location, they partnered with existing franchisees to open in the West Houma market. Shortly after, they partnered with Mateusz Dabrowski to acquire an existing New Orleans-area location and continued expanding their portfolio.

Jones explains, “Investment costs, flexible resources, market availability, and brand recognition played a massive part in deciding to go with PJ’s.”

Advantages of Being a Multi-Unit Owner

Owning more than one PJ’s location brings a variety of benefits that go beyond revenue growth:

1. Shared Resources: Multi-unit franchisees can capitalize on economies of scale by sharing resources across locations. A general manager, for example, could oversee multiple cafés, while administrative functions such as accounting, HR and marketing can be centralized. These efficiencies can reduce overhead and allow franchisees to reinvest the extra dollars back into their businesses.
2. Discounts: Franchisees expanding to additional locations can take advantage of discounted franchise fees. Multi-unit operators pay an initial franchise fee of $40,000, with an additional $15,000 upfront for each new license.
3. Flexibility and Growth: Operating multiple locations can give franchisees opportunities to enter new territories while increasing their potential for cash flow and profitability.

“We are constantly bucking the norm and trying to stay ahead of future issues that may arise with scaling,” says Jones. “Our operations team allows us to grow organically in a short period of time.”

How to Manage Multi-Unit Operations

Managing multiple PJ’s Coffee locations requires franchisees to have the leadership experience and infrastructure needed to oversee several cafés. A strong team can help multi-unit operators spend less time managing the day-to-day responsibilities of each location and focus on the bigger picture.

As Jones puts it, “Going from store one to two is way harder than going from 10 to 11. Paving your road before you drive on it allows for a smoother ride.”

Maintaining a consistent guest experience also becomes increasingly important as franchisees expand. Multi-unit operators need strong management skills to guide teams across locations while maintaining PJ’s Coffee’s standards. Key skills include:

• Servant Leadership: Leading by example and supporting team members at every level.
• Conflict Resolution: Addressing challenges directly to maintain a positive workplace culture.
• Communication: Clear and consistent communication is critical to ensure teams aligned with the brand’s operational goals and expectations.
• Guest Experience: Maintaining a consistent, exceptional PJ’s Coffee experience across all their locations.

Multi-unit franchisees must also be able to create career paths and set goals for team members, giving them opportunities to take on greater responsibilities as the business expands.

A Roadmap to Success

Expanding from one PJ’s Coffee location to several requires strong leadership and an infrastructure that can support a larger operation. Multi-unit ownership gives franchisees opportunities to expand their businesses, support their communities, and bring PJ’s Coffee’s distinctive New Orleans spirit to additional markets.

Ready to take the next step in your PJ’s Coffee journey? Learn more about multi-unit ownership and the PJ’s Coffee franchise opportunity. Contact us today!

FAQs

Why do PJ’s Coffee franchisees choose multi-unit ownership?

PJ’s Coffee franchisees may choose multi-unit ownership because it allows them to pool resources across locations, create operational efficiencies and expand their businesses into adjacent markets.

What are the benefits of owning multiple PJ’s Coffee locations?

As multi-unit operators, PJ’s Coffee franchisees can centralize their resources across locations, take advantage of discounted franchise fees for additional locations and pursue opportunities to expand into new territories.

What skills are important for managing multiple franchise locations?

Successful multi-unit ownership requires strong leadership, communication and conflict-resolution skills. Franchisees also need to be able to support their teams and maintain a consistent PJ’s Coffee guest experience across locations.

How do PJ’s Coffee franchisees manage multiple locations?

Multi-unit franchisees can establish an infrastructure that allows them to oversee several locations while still also focusing on their broader business goals. This can look like sharing management resources, centralizing administrative functions, and/or developing team members to take on greater responsibilities.