Closed Monday

Closed Monday

By Kyle InserraBusiness
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Closed Monday episodes

  • Don't Sign That Franchise Agreement Until You Ask These 8 Questions!

    Ever wonder why some franchise locations crush it while others struggle from day one? In this no-nonsense episode, real estate veteran Kyle pulls back the curtain on the questions potential franchisees NEED to ask but often don't. Kyle shares the real talk on what makes or breaks franchise real estate support. Whether you're eyeing your first franchise or adding to your portfolio, this episode could save you from a six-figure mistake.


    Key Conversations:

    • Why some franchisors' "hands-off" approach to real estate could be a major red flag

    • The truth about territory protection (and why the old "mile radius" model is dying)

    • How modern franchisors are using AI to slash site selection timelines

    • The "Amazon Era" problem: When old-school real estate meets new-school expectations

    • Real stories of franchisee territory conflicts and how to avoid them


    💡 Actionable Takeaways:

    - The crucial documents every serious franchisor should provide (and what to do if they don't)

    - How to spot the difference between good and bad real estate support systems

    - Timeline realities: What "6 months to open" really means in today's market

    - Escape routes: What to negotiate when you can't find a site


    🔥 Notable Quote:

    "You do not want to be feeling like you're out there on your own. Something that's available today is not going to be available tomorrow. If you have to wait on somebody from the franchisor to get back to you... it's not going to cut it."


    🎯 Who This Episode Is For:

    - First-time franchise investors doing their due diligence

    - Multi-unit operators evaluating new brands

    - Franchise development teams looking to improve their real estate support

    - Anyone navigating franchise site selection and territory agreements


    MASTERMIND IS HERE!! SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CALL

    If your looking to grow this year, and are struggling to make sense of the the market, or if your stuck in endless negotiations - my weekly Real Estate Mastermind, might be for you -Schedule your FREE call today!


    Want more insider knowledge? Connect with Kyle on Instagram or shoot him an email at [email protected] for real-time advice on your franchise real estate journey.


    Next Week: Don't miss our deep dive into negotiation strategies - you won't want to miss this one! 🎯

    23 min
  • The 42 Square Feet That Can Make or Break Your Digital Sales

    Ever wonder why some restaurants handle mobile orders like a well-oiled machine while others feel like organized chaos? In this eye-opening episode, Kyle breaks down why your pickup area might be the hidden trouble spot you never knew you had. From delivery drivers blacklisting your restaurant to customers doing the awkward hover-dance by your counter, Kyle shares the real talk on fixing these common headaches.


    Key Topics:

    • The "million-dollar corner" - Why the 42 square feet by your front door could make or break your off-premise business
    • What Kyle learned from watching hundreds of confused DoorDash drivers (it's not pretty)
    • Simple fixes that turn pickup chaos into smooth operations
    • Why traditional restaurant design is failing in the digital order era
    • The surprising impact of pickup design on in-store sales

    • 💡 Actionable Takeaways:

      • Quick wins for improving your current pickup space without a major renovation
      • The ideal layout that works for both third-party drivers and customers
      • Tech solutions that actually help (and which ones to avoid)
      • How to calculate if your pickup area is costing you money

      • 🎯 Who This Episode Is For:

        • Multi-unit operators struggling with mobile order efficiency
        • Restaurant owners planning new locations or renovations
        • Operations teams looking to boost off-premise sales
        • Anyone dealing with pickup area bottlenecks

        • Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

          Connect with Closed Monday

          Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

          YouTube: Closed Monday

          Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

          Special Offers

          Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

          Subscribe & Share

          If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

          20 min
        • From Red Sauce to Green Juice: When a Brooklyn Restaurant Family Goes Franchise

          A lot of independent restaurant families look at franchising like it's the dark side. But what happens when a father-son team with 50 years of Italian restaurant experience decides to make the switch?

          James and Mike Simone had a beloved Brooklyn spot for 20 years. Good sauce, cold drinks, and most importantly - great neighborhood vibes. Then COVID hit. After losing everything, they had a choice: rebuild their independent empire, or try something completely different.

          In this episode, we sit down with James and Mike to talk about their surprising journey from classic Italian restaurateurs to health-focused franchise operators. We get into:

          • Why they chose franchising over another independent spot (hint: it wasn't just about the money)
          • How they picked their concept and territory
          • The real differences between running your own joint vs. being part of a system
          • Their ambitious plans for Westchester
          • What it's like working with dad/son when everything's on the line
          • Plus, some wild stories about their Brooklyn days, including how they turned their restaurant into the unofficial staff cafeteria for Barclays Center (and scored some amazing concert tickets along the way).

            Come for the business insights, stay for the family dynamics and real industry talk. This one's for anyone who's ever thought about making a major pivot in the restaurant world.

            Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            YouTube: Closed Monday

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            58 min
          • Looking Beyond the AUV : Smarter Systems For Franchise Growth w/ Jeff Fenster | Founder & CEO of everbowl

            Just when we think we understand how to scale a franchise, someone comes along and completely flips the playbook on its head. Enter Jeff Fenster, Founder & CEO of everbowl who looked at the traditional franchise model and said... checks notes... "Nah, I'm just going to build everything myself"?

            Excuse me? A franchise founder who manufactures their own equipment, runs their own construction company, AND imports their own ingredients?

            That's exactly what happened at Ever Bowl, and the results are kind of mind-blowing. We're talking 60% lower build-out costs, two-year payback periods, and franchisees actually making money (imagine that!).

            But here's the real kicker - while everyone's chasing fancy AUVs and store count milestones, Jeff's over here focusing on something revolutionary in franchising: actual profitability. Wild concept, right?

            In this episode, we dive into how Jeff built this vertically integrated franchise powerhouse, why he thinks AI is about to turn site selection on its head, and what it really takes to hit that elusive 100-unit milestone that only 4% of franchises ever reach. Plus, he shares some brutally honest advice about what you should be asking (but probably aren't) before signing that franchise agreement.


            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            YouTube: Closed Monday

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            51 min
          • Never Get Burned Again: A Guide to Site Selection Red Flags

            In this episode, Kyle discusses essential strategies for evaluating shopping centers before signing a lease. He shares real-life experiences and emphasizes the importance of due diligence to avoid costly mistakes. Get your pen and paper or your Ipad - this conversation will equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and protect your investment.

            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            YouTube: Closed Monday

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            21 min
          • How to Evaluate and Scale Your Business in 4 Weeks

            In this episode, Kyle discusses the importance of evaluating past performance and setting new goals for growth as we enter 2025. He introduces the 3M framework, which focuses on Money, Management, and Market, to help operators assess their business effectively, and plan for growth.


            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            YouTube: Closed Monday

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            23 min
          • Southern Hospitality and Some Next Level Tech | Mike Ball, VP of Operations, Vicious Biscuit

            In this episode, Kyle sits down with and Michael Ball discuss the challenges and experiences in the restaurant industry, the importance of technology integration, and the balance between hospitality and technology. Michael shares his journey from pizza delivery to leadership roles, emphasizing the significance of creating a positive customer experience and adapting to changing circumstances in the industry. The discussion also covers the significance of digital presence, training technology, and the challenges of staffing in the restaurant industry. Looking ahead, Ball outlines ambitious growth plans and the unique franchising opportunities available at Vicious Biscuit.

            Exclusive Partner

            Want to learn more about Marqii? Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and instantly level up your digital presence.

            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!


            36 min
          • Building A Brand Centric Restaurant | Sebastian Stahl, Founder & CEO, Breadth - Strategic Restaurant Marketing

            In this weeks episode Kyle sits down with Sebastian Stahl - the visionary CEO and founder of Breadth, a strategic restaurant marketing agency. With over 17 years of unwavering dedication to the hospitality industry,Sebastian's journey has been characterized by a fervent passion for helping transform restaurants with a focus on long-term success. His extensive experience includes owning and operating multiple restaurant concepts and serving as the esteemed Head of Marketing and Partner at an award-winning restaurant group in South Florida. Sebastian's illustrious trackrecord speaks volumes about his expertise, as he has played a pivotal role in transformingnumerous restaurants across the country, driving remarkable revenue growth.and delve into the complexities of the restaurant industry. Sebastian shares valuable insights from his journey as a restaurant owner and marketing agency founder, emphasizing the importance of systems, scaling strategies, and the challenges of franchise marketing. They discuss the role of technology and AI in enhancing restaurant operations while maintaining a human touch. Sebastian is also the author of The Restaurant Marketing Insider and the host of the podcast Restaurant Leaders Unplugged.


            Exclusive Partner

            Want to learn more about Marqii? Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and instantly level up your digital presence.

            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            44 min
          • Your Restaurant Staff Doesn't Want More Money -They Want These 3 Things Instead

            In this weeks episode, Kyle sits down with D.J. Costantino to discuss insights from the 7Shifts 2025 Restaurant Workforce Report. D.J. Costantino is a writer, marketer, and podcast host based in Atlanta, Georgia. D.J. is currently a content marketer for 7shifts, a restaurant software company, where he writes for the company blog and hosts the in-house Pre-Shift Podcast. The Pre-Shift features guests from all across the restaurant industry and has been streamed more than 60,000 times since 2021. DJ is a journalist by trade, and has written extensively about the restaurant industry for a decade.They explore the challenges faced by restaurant managers, the importance of flexible scheduling, and the impact of wage differences across regions. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of tipping and how restaurants are adapting to changing consumer preferences. In this conversation, Kyle Inserra and D.J. Costantino discuss the evolving landscape of the restaurant industry, focusing on the impact of rising costs, the shift towards smaller restaurant footprints, and the critical importance of employee benefits and retention strategies. They emphasize the need for restaurant owners to engage with their staff, understand their needs, and adapt to changing market dynamics to thrive in the future.

            Exclusive Partner

            Want to learn more about Marqii? Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and instantly level up your digital presence.

            Connect with Closed Monday

            Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

            Special Offers

            Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

            Subscribe & Share

            If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!

            36 min
          • Rich Restaurant Owners All Use These 3 Formulas - And Now You Will Too

            In this episode, Kyle discusses three critical financial formulas essential for restaurant success: the Sales to Investment Ratio, Payback Period, and Rent Factor. The importance of these metrics in making informed decisions, attracting investors, and ensuring sustainable growth - can not be overstate The conversation provides practical insights into calculating these formulas and highlights common pitfalls to avoid in restaurant site selection


            Free Restaurant Financial Formula Calculator Pack - Click here!


            Takeaways

            • Operators who track these formulas make better decisions and make more money.
            • Sales to investment ratio is crucial for evaluating new locations.
            • Payback period indicates how quickly an investment can be recovered.
            • Rent factor should ideally be under 10% for sustainability.
            • Realistic sales projections are essential to avoid financial pitfalls.
            • Understanding total investment costs is critical for accurate calculations.
            • Site inspections are necessary for due diligence before investment.
            • Investors prioritize these three metrics when considering funding.

            • Exclusive Partner

              Want to learn more about Marqii? Check them out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and instantly level up your digital presence.

              Connect with Closed Monday

              Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@closedmondaypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

              Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

              Special Offers

              Take a screenshot of you listening to the show, and tag @closedmondaypodcast, and I'll send you a FREE Closed Monday t-shirt.

              Subscribe & Share

              If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and share it with your friends and network. Your support helps us bring you more actionable insights every week!



              53 min

            About Closed Monday

            From the publisher's feed

            Ever wonder what it really takes to go from one location to ten? Every Monday, top restaurant operators share their actual playbooks for scaling - from site selection and systems to funding and team…

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