Many different types of restaurant franchises are to be found on our high streets and in our shopping malls. There are fast-casual outlets, where made-to-order sandwiches, panini, salads and desserts are prepared, catering for the busy office, factory or construction worker or shopper. Cheap and cheerful fast food outlets are always plentiful, offering burgers, kebabs, fried chicken or pizza for those on a budget or in a rush. There are specialist coffee houses, offering an array of freshly brewed coffees from around the world, along with a tempting selection of muffins, cookies and cakes. Then there are restaurant franchises offering more substantial and up-market cuisine, often specialising in food from a particular country such as China, Italy or Japan. Although still reasonably priced, a meal at such an outlet will cost more than at other restaurant franchises, with marketing strategies directed principally at white collar workers and premises often sited near government complexes, universities and hospitals.
Restaurant franchisors enter into franchise agreements, which grant franchisees the exclusive right to develop and operate businesses at certain locations. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when all material services and conditions required to be performed by the head office have been substantially completed, which is generally when the restaurant franchise opens. Franchisees are required to pay royalties to the head office, based on a percentage of gross sales as reported through the franchisees’ point of sales systems. The royalties are recognized as revenue in the period corresponding to the sales reporting period. Typically, weekly reports on sales at each franchise location are received by the head office and revenue is calculated directly from those reports. Franchisees are usually required to contribute to an advertising fund, typically at a rate of up to 2% of total franchisee gross sales.