How I Built a 14-Unit Zaxby's Franchise Doing $50M in Revenue | Ben Little Interview

Ben Little runs the #1 Zaxby’s franchise in the U.S. His company owns 14 locations, employs over 800 people, and generates more than $50M in annual revenue.

Ben didn’t just buy into a franchise—he built a powerhouse.

In this episode, we dive into what makes a top-performing franchisee, Ben’s approach to scaling, and how he structures deals and financing. We also cover the challenges of managing a large team, the importance of strong leadership, and why he believes that “people don’t quit jobs, they quit managers.”

Please enjoy this conversation with Ben Little.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:29 - What am I good at, what am I bad at and why franchising?

00:06:59 - Early days: work as a cook and cashier

00:14:23 - Going from being independently successful all the way to starting again from the bottom

00:24:32 - Finding the best operators with the highest standards

00:27:41 - The daily pressure of proving to others that he is the best at what he does

00:29:42 - Where does his drive come from?

00:32:11 - Competitors visit their stores and leave feeling very disappointed

00:35:37 - 4 stores hit $100,000 in weekly sales for the first time

00:40:42 - Expanding the business while owning 100% of the real estate

00:47:31 - People and companies fail because of undercapitalization

00:50:06 - The biggest challenges Ben is facing today while running 14 locations

00:56:39 - Going all-in to the operating partner model has been the best decision

01:04:40 - "Don't go to zero"

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.