Dining out is one of the favorite things of India. We simply enjoy spending time at the restaurants with family and friends. Whenever we consider a fun place to go with a lot of food, we think of Barbeque Nation. It is where they put a small grill on your table so that you can grill your own starters. It is all about the party, delicious food, and good mood.
The food and restaurant industry in India is expanding at a super speed. The entire food service sector, encompassing restaurants, cafes, street stalls, etc., will be valued at more than 79 billion by 2028, experts say. That demonstrates the extent to which people enjoy eating out. Barbeque Nation is a giant in that large market. Since they kicked off, they have served more than 100million customers! It has over 200 stores in India and even out of India, so it is a familiar and trusted brand. Due to its popularity, there are a lot of individuals who desire to open their own business and the question arises, How can I open a Barbeque Nation restaurant?
Now we are going to explore the Barbeque Nation franchise in this artwork. We will discuss the amount of cash you may require, the type of spot you will be required to choose and the procedure you would be following. We will simplify everything in a very easy manner so that you can have it.
Brief background of Barbeque Nation: Brand History, Current Statistics
The history of Barbeque Nation is a good example of how a simple idea can become an enormous success.
The Beginning
The journey kicked off in 2006. Barbeque Nation restaurant was launched in Mumbai. Kayum Dhanani initiated it. He desired a place not only with food but with the entire vibe. He saw that Indians enjoy grilled food–kebabs, tikkas–and experiential, entertaining food.
He came up with a nice concept: homemade food. He placed a live grill–filled with hot charcoal–in the center of the table! That was new and exciting. Visitors were allowed to grill their starters in the manner they desired, apply them with sauces, turn skewers and impress their palates on the spot. That live-grill-on-the-table idea was the most popular attraction.
What Made It Special?
There were a few things that Barbeque Nation did that were unique.
- Endless food: they had an all-you-can-eat menu at a fixed price. One payment, unlimited starters, main meals and desserts- great value.
- Partying special events: Barbeque Nation became the place to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. The crew would sing a birthday song, give out a small birthday cake, and applaud the birthday guest. It caused people to feel special and stirred up pleasant memories.
- No-tip policy: they were the first of the major chains of India to abandon tipping. The bill is all in the service charge and customers swipe it out of their card- no misunderstanding.
Growth and Current Numbers
Barbeque Nation has become colossal out of that one outlet in Mumbai in 2006.
- Number of stores: by 2025, they have over 200 stores. The majority of them are located in India, spread out among 80+ cities, with a few locations in the UAE, Malaysia, Oman.
- Public company: Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd. is traded in the Indian stock market (NSE/BSE), hence anybody may purchase shares. It demonstrates the extent to which the brand has grown large and successful.
- Customer base: they cater to millions of customers annually and have a huge loyal fan base. People keep coming back.
Barbeque Nation is not just a restaurant but it is a brand today that shouts of celebration, togetherness and mouth-watering foods. As its history illustrates, a new concept, combined with service that is killer, can create a business that millions will adore.
Note:
There is, however, one great thing to know before we go any deeper. Barbeque Nation is not a business in a standard franchise format. The company owns and operates most of their restaurants. It is referred to as a Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) model. They do it to ensure that all Barbeque Nation restaurants deliver the same great experience to the customers. But what about the possibility that they do offer franchises. We will examine the costs and procedure according to the working of other giant restaurant chains in India. That will provide you with a clear picture that it is like to operate a large enterprise such as Barbeque Nation.
Why Choose a Barbeque Nation Franchise?
Although Barbeque Nation operates primarily its restaurants, should it franchise its restaurants it would be a great opportunity to any business person. And now, we will find out why it may be a good idea to invest in such a brand like Barbeque Nation.
1. A Respected and Powerful Brand Name.
The name Barbeque Nation is familiar to every household in India. Human beings have an idea of what it is. The brand has a good reputation of good food, good service and fun atmosphere. When you start a restaurant under such a recognizable name, you will not need to spend a lot of time and money advertising it.
2. A Business Model That Works
The business model of Barbeque Nation is proven. You receive a fully worked out plan that has already proved successful in over 200 places. This reduces the chance of risking a new business that is being started afresh.
3. Very Large Loyal Customer Base.
Barbeque Nation lovers are the lovers of the real Barbeque Nation. They are also repeat customers who return every time there is a special occasion, be it a birthday, an anniversary or a team lunch.
4. High-Quality Food and Menu
The Barbeque Nation menu combines both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. They offer something to everybody. They maintain the same level of food quality in all their outlets. Being a franchise partner, you will have access to their secret recipes and their list of approved suppliers.
5. Good Marketing and Support
A large brand such as Barbeque Nation invests a lot of money in advertising and promotion. They advertise on television, in social networks, such as Instagram and Facebook, and also collaborate with other organizations. All this national marketing benefits your restaurant if you are a franchise owner.
Barbeque Nation Franchise Cost in India (2025)
We can decompose the estimated costs in various components. Imagine it as a house construction, you have to buy the land, the bricks, the paint, the furniture and so on.
Complete Estimated Investment: ₹ 2.5 Crores to ₹ 3.5 Crores.
This is a huge sum but we shall see where this money goes.
1. Franchise Fee (Approx: ₹25 Lakhs to ₹ 30 Lakhs)
This is the upfront charge that you would pay the brand in order to have the opportunity to utilize their name, recipes and business model. Consider it a membership fee to become a member of the Barbeque Nation family. This is a high price when it comes to a leading brand.
2. Cost of Restaurant Construction and Interior (Estimated: ₹80 Lakhs -1.2 Crores)
This is the largest portion of the investment. Barbeque Nation restaurants are of a certain appearance and feel. The atmosphere is cozy, friendly and contemporary. This price covers all that is required to establish the physical restaurant space:
- Civil Work -construction of walls, flooring, kitchen space, and rest rooms.
- Interior – furniture (tables, chairs), lighting, wall halls, air conditioning, and the special exhaust system that was required to remove smoke out of all the live grills.
- Grill Installation- all of the tables require a special designed space to install the live grill that needs to be designed and taken care of in terms of safety.
- Signage – the huge and bright Barbeque Nation board outside the restaurant.
3. Kitchen Equipment and Machinery (Estimated: ₹40 Lakhs -60 Lakhs)
Such a restaurant as Barbeque Nation requires an extremely large and modern kitchen. This expense is inclusive of all the equipment needed to cook hundreds of meals daily.
- Cooking Equipment: Large ovens, ranges, deep fryers and tandoors among others.
- Refrigeration: walk in freezers and refrigerators to store meat, vegetables and dairy products.
- Dishwashing Equipment: industrial dishwashers are used to wash hundreds of plates and cutlery in a short period of time.
- Preparation tools: food processors, mixers, cutting areas, and all the little tools that the chefs require.
- Bar Counter Equipment: in case the outlet will sell drinks, it will have ice machines, blenders and glass chillers.
4. Licenses and Permits (Approx: ₹5 Lakhs- 8 Lakhs)
In India, there are a number of government licenses required to operate a restaurant. The costs include getting:
- FSSAI License (food safety)
- GST Registration
- Trade License issued by the local municipality.
- Fire Safety Certificate
- Music License (in case of playing music)
- Liquor License (assuming you are going to serve alcohol, this can be extremely expensive)
5. Initial Stock and Raw Materials (Estimated: ₹10 Lakhs -15 Lakhs)
This is the cash required to purchase the initial lot of all food stuff. It consists of all the chicken, fish and prawns and also the vegetables, spices, flour and soft drinks. You should have sufficient inventory that will help you operate the restaurant in the initial weeks.
6. Working Capital (Estimated: 20 Lakhs- 30 lakhs)
This will be the money that you set aside to cover day to day expenses in the initial few months. A new restaurant does not begin to make a handsome profit at the very beginning. Money will be required to cover salaries of personnel, electricity, rent, and advertising until the restaurant will begin to generate sufficient income to cover these expenses independently.
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Space & Location Requirements
One of the most crucial decisions that are made in the success of any restaurant is the selection of the location. In case of a high-end brand such as Barbeque Nation, the location is even more important. Even a great brand may fail due to poor location.
These are the major considerations that the Barbeque Nation would consider when they want to locate their restaurant.
1. Type of Location
The right place to locate a Barbeque Nation store is where many people frequent it particularly families and young professionals with high purchasing power.
- High-street Areas: These are the main streets of a city that have numerous shops, offices, and restaurants.
- Shopping Malls: Malls are an excellent place. Individuals visit malls to shop, watch films, and have fu,n and they will never fail to find a decent place to dine.
- Commercial Hubs: It is also great in areas where there are numerous big offices. Barbeque Nation is highly favored as a corporate lunch and team dinner.
- Posh Residential Areas: Areas near where affluent families reside are also a good option because they are the ones who will purchase the brand.
2. Space Requirement
Barbeque Nation restaurants are no small cafes. They are big, roomy dining areas, which can accommodate large numbers of people simultaneously.
- Area: It would require a total area of 4,000 to 5,000 square feet. This is a big area, which is comparable to approximately 4-5 large apartments.
- Area Breakdown: There are various activities conducted in this space:
- Dining Area: It occupies the largest area (approximately 60 per cent of the total area). It should be large to accommodate tables, chairs and people to move freely.
- Kitchen: This must be a very large kitchen, approximately 25-30 percent of the area. It will include cutting, cooking, grilling and washing sections.
- Storage and Other Areas: The remaining areas are occupied by storage rooms (dry goods and cold storage), staff changing rooms and customer toilets.
3. Other Significant Location Factors.
- Visibility: The restaurant must have visibility on the main road. Clear signage and high profile storefront are very crucial. It should be easily visible to people.
- Parking: This is a must‑have. A Barbeque Nation restaurant will serve families that typically use cars as a means of transportation. You should have a parking space or a big parking lot which is open to all. Lack of parking may force customers to opt to go to a different restaurant.
- Accessibility: The restaurant must be accessible. It must be on a first or ground floor. In case it is on a high-rise, there should be good lifts.
- Competition: This is to make sure that the competition is checked around. Some competition is good but it may not be the best idea to open a Barbeque Nation next to any other buffet restaurant of similar business.
Barbeque Nation Profit Margin and ROI of Franchises.
Once the subject of the huge investment is discussed, the second biggest question in the mind of anyone is, How much money can I make? Now, we will discuss the possible profit and the return of your investment (ROI). These figures are approximations according to the performance of other restaurants of the same industry.
Average Profit Margin
To begin with, we will see what is meant by profit margin. It’s very simple. The profit margin is how much money you are left with after covering all of your expenses, every 100 sales that you make. Average profit margin ranges from 15% to 25%.
The cost of a restaurant is:
- Price of food (raw materials such as chicken, vegetables, spices)
- Salaries of the staff (chefs, waiters, managers, cleaners)
- Rent for the location
- Electricity and water bills
- Advertising and marketing expenses.
- Royalty payment to the brand (usually a percentage of the sales)
Estimated Profit Margin: 15% to 20%
Return on Investment (ROI) and Breakeven Period
Return on Investment (ROI) informs you of the amount of profit you get on an investment. Breakeven Period is that period in which you recoup the money invested.
Let’s continue our example.
- Start up Capital: Let us assume that you invest 2.5 Crores.
- Annual Profit: In case you make 10 Lakhs per month, then your annual profit would be 10 Lakhs 12 = 1.2 Crores. That is high, however first year profit is normally lower as the business is new.
- Annual Profit (after taxes and deductions): We shall assume that it is between 60 to 80 Lakhs.
At this point we can determine the breakeven period.
- Breakeven Period: total investment/average annual profit.
- Calculation: 2,50,00,000/ 70,00,000 (average annual profit) 1/3.57 years = 3.57 years.
- The breakeven period of a Barbeque Nation franchise is therefore in the range of 3.5 to 5 years.
How to Apply for Barbeque Nation Franchise
The application process in Barbeque Nation will be professional and clear if it opens its franchise model to the masses. It seeks partners who are passionate about the food business and have the resources to operate a big restaurant.
This is one of the probable steps that you would go through step by step.
Step 1: Preliminary Research and Contact.
The initial thing is always to do your homework. Go to their site and seek a section of Franchise or partnerships. You will probably see information on their franchise model and a first call form. Enter your details here: name, phone number, email, and a city, where you would like to open.
Step 2: Complete the Detailed Application Form.
In case what you ask as your first question is acceptable, the company forwards a comprehensive franchise application form. The following form requires additional information:
- Your Financial Background: You have to demonstrate evidence of the amount of money that you need, including bank statements, assets and liabilities.
- Your Business Experience: They would like to know whether you have experience of managing a business, especially in restaurants or hospitality.
- Your Proposed Location: You might be requested to propose some possible locations in your city.
Step 3: The Interview or Discussion
Once you have placed an application, the franchise team goes through it. When your profile appears to be good, they contact you and invite you to an interview, which can be a phone call or video call or face-to-face meeting. They will seek your interest in the brand, your business spirit and long term intentions. It is a two way dialogue in which you are allowed to ask questions as well.
Step 4: Site Selection and Approval.
This is critical. In case you succeed in the interview, the real-estate team assists you in identifying the correct location. You could suggest properties, the team goes and inspects them and puts them up against a checklist (visibility, parking, footfall, etc.). The ultimate approval is by the head office of the brand which does not compromise on location quality.
Step 5: Signing Franchise Agreement.
After the approval of the location, the legal process starts. You are provided with the Franchise Agreement, which is one of the most important documents that enumerates the rules, duties, franchise fee, royalty fees, duration (typically 5-10 years) and other provisions. It is strongly advised that one should get a lawyer to look at the contract and then sign it.
Step 6: Restaurant Establishment and Training.
Upon signing, the restaurant build-out begins. The company offers the design plans and interior guidelines to ensure that your outlet looks like a typical Barbeque Nation. You and some of the key personnel, including a manager and head chef, will undergo massive training in recipes, day to day operations, customer service and use of software.
Step 7: Grand Opening
Once the restaurant is equipped, employees have been trained and all the licenses have been obtained it is time to have a grand opening. The marketing department will assist in hosting an opening ceremony to generate hype in your city. And now, you have started as a Barbeque Nation franchise owner!
Final Verdict: Should You Invest in a Barbeque Nation Franchise?
We shall consider both advantages and disadvantages so as to come up with a final decision.
Pros:
- Incredibly Strong Brand: You have the privilege of having one of the most adored and popular restaurant brands in India.
- Tested and time-tested Model: Their business model has had a successful history of over two decades in hundreds of locations.
- Extensive Support: This kind of a brand would offer superior training and continuous support.
- High Profit Potential: There is a high potential of high revenue and good profit margins.
Cons:
- The Model is Not Available: This is the largest and most significant aspect. Barbeque Nation does not provide a franchise at the moment. They expand via company-owned stores.
- Very High Investment: In the event that they did provide a franchise, the cost would be very high (approximately 2-3 Crores), and only a limited number of investors would be able to afford it.
- High Operational Complexity: Managing a big restaurant with more than 50 employees is not an easy task. It needs good managerial skills.
The Verdict:
Assuming Barbeque Nation franchise proposes a franchise, it would be a perfect investment to a person with the appropriate financial support and business experience. The brand strength would virtually assure a high number of customers on the very first day.
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Conclusion
Barbeque Nation franchise has indeed transformed Indian cuisine. It made a meal look like fun. Its history is a lesson about the importance of understanding customer requirements and providing a product of high quality and high value. Having more than 200 stores and millions of satisfied customers, the brand is a dream investment to any aspiring restaurateur.
The high investment of 2-3 Crores and the operating problem are massive but the reward in terms of profit and brand association is also enormous. The greatest challenge, naturally, is the fact that Barbeque Nation is not a franchisee at present. But now you are well-prepared by having in mind the estimated costs, requirements, and processes.
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FAQs
1. Does Barbeque Nation franchise in India?
No, at present, Barbeque Nation does not provide a franchise model in India. The company owns and operates most of its restaurants.
2. How much do you think it will cost to start a restaurant such as Barbeque Nation?
Had they provided a franchise, the approximate total investment would be extremely high, probably between 2 Crores and 3 Crores, which includes the franchise fee, restaurant establishment, equipment, and other initial costs.
3. What will be the profitability of a Barbeque Nation franchise?
A properly operated outlet may have a profit margin of 15-20 percent of the overall sales in a month. This may amount to a huge monthly profit of a successful outlet.
4. What is the space required of a Barbeque Nation restaurant?
It would require a large business space of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 square feet, in an excellent location such as a high street or a shopping mall with plenty of parking.
