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Build My Burgers founder Aly Lalani always felt that a traditional desk job and steady paycheck wasn’t her calling. The 38-year-old with his 16 years of experience in the restaurant industry opened his Build My Burgers in Orlando, Florida in 2021 in search of a more challenging and unpredictable path.
The inspiration behind Lalani’s foray into the burger business comes from a simple love of burgers. A self-described foodie, he and his wife Zahra had considered opening a franchise, but affordability was an obstacle. Undeterred, they decided to start their own brand and gave birth to his Build My Burgers in Orlando.
The journey from Lalani’s initial idea in 2018 to the restaurant’s launch in 2021 faced unexpected challenges. The entrepreneur faced personal hardships, including the death of his father and financial constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused him to postpone the grand opening from April 2020 to January 2021.
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During the pandemic, Lalani chose to live on his wife’s salary to weather the economic storm, but continued to work full-time at the restaurant without even knowing when it would open. As his startup budget ballooned from his $200,000 to his $400,000, Lalani tapped into his personal savings, built up credit card debt and unsecured loans, and secured financial support from his landlord. I overcame this challenge by doing this.
Lalani’s venture uses an open design concept, allowing customers to see their meals freshly prepared, as opposed to the typical off-the-shelf fast food chain experience. The restaurant attracts around 400 customers every day to enjoy quality and freshness.
Since 2018, Lalani Duo has meticulously designed the restaurant’s logo, interior and color scheme, establishing itself as a thriving chain from the start. Despite challenges such as a failed deal with an existing Hamburger chain, they moved forward and made their vision a reality.
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The restaurant’s revenue trajectory tells a compelling story. In its first year, Build My Burgers made $584,000 in revenue, which jumped to $739,000 the following year, giving Lalani an $84,000 salary of her own.
Despite the sadness of losing her father in December 2019, Lalani drew strength from the memory of her father and the upcoming birth of her child. This challenge fueled his motivation and kept him positive, driven by the vision of realizing his dreams.
Build My Burgers opted for a low-key opening without a big ceremony. Lalani simply turned on the “open” sign and established connections with the local community through special deals and discounts for various groups. In 2022, Zahra Lalani joined as co-owner to manage marketing and accounting, while her husband continued to invest 50 hours a week into restaurant operations and social media.
Looking to the future, Lalani is franchising Build My Burgers with the goal of opening 51 locations across the United States within the next five years. His roadmap includes setting a minimum investment price close to the original budget and ensuring careful expansion without risking overextending the brand.
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This article, “Patty Perseverance: How An Entrepreneur Built A Burger Sensation While COVID And Now Generates More Than $700,000 Per Year” originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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