Q&A: Does Las Iguanas Franchise in the UK?
Becky Martin, writer
Published at 26/03/2018, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
Interested in setting up your own restaurant business? Passionate about international cuisine? Then find out if you can set up your own Las Iguanas franchise and bring the flavours of South America to the UK.
Celebrating the vibrant cuisine of Brazil and other Latin American countries, Las Iguanas is one of the UK’s most successful restaurant brands. Its elegant and contemporary restaurants serve authentic, delicious dishes and a fantastic choice of cocktails that are inspired by the Latin world. If you’re a foodie at heart and have an entrepreneurial mindset, you might be eager to start a Las Iguanas franchise. We now investigate if you can make this dream a reality.
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Does Las Iguanas franchise in the UK?
Yes! Las Iguanas is currently looking to expand its franchise network in the UK. Before we break the opportunity down in detail, let’s find out a bit more about the brand and where it first opened its doors.
History of Las Iguanas
Founded in Bristol in 1991, Las Iguanas is passionate about offering authentic South American cuisine to hungry customers in the UK. Every franchise of this brand uses the freshest, highest quality ingredients, all of which are sourced from quality suppliers and are GM free wherever possible.
Las Iguanas has won many prestigious accolades over the years. Perhaps the most notable award is the Investors in People Champion status, which shows how this brand is committed to getting the best out of its people and creating a great working environment.
Starting a Las Iguanas franchise unit
Each Iguanas restaurant is typically between 300 and 500 m2 and is based in prime locations with high footfall. Examples include London's Royal Festival Hall, Birmingham Temple Street, Bristol Harbourside and London Brunswick Square.
This franchisor has a strong track record of selecting the best people to run its restaurants and motivating its teams. For example, 100 percent of all customers' tips go to team members, as this incentivises staff to provide outstanding customer service every time. In fact, one of the reasons why Las Iguanas has become one of the most profitable franchises in the food & beverages sector is that it employs a Motivation Manager. This person is responsible for arranging competitions, engaging with employees, and providing incentives to motivate them to achieve their potential.
Now, this franchisor is looking to expand in other prime locations across the UK to raise its brand visibility and become one of the most profitable franchises in the food & beverages sector.
Becoming a Las Iguanas franchisee
To be considered for a Las Iguanas franchise, you’ll need to be an ambitious well-funded individual with good contacts and significant experience in the food & beverages sector. Ideally, this will include experience in casual dining or a similar Western brand and an ability to create a secure supply chain. You'll also need to be passionate about providing consistent customer experience and have the ability to expand the brand into nearby regions.
You can register your interest on the Las Iguanas profile page right here on Point Franchise.
How much you need to invest
To open your own Las Iguanas franchise, you’ll need a minimum investment of £350,000 + VAT. The total cost is £700,000 + VAT, and franchisee fees are £25,000 + VAT. However, if you don't have enough capital, some funding support is available. Please note, you'll need to have the willingness and ability to invest for periods of between 3 and 5 years.
Before you become a franchisee at Las Iguanas, you’ll also need enough money to cover the following:
- Legal advice from a solicitor with expertise in franchising
- The cost of setting up your business
- Moving costs, if applicable
What you get for your investment
This is a franchisor that believes training is a right, not a luxury. Therefore, Las Iguanas’ goal is to get people where they want to go, whether they become a franchisee or a head chef. You'll receive comprehensive training before and after you set up your franchise to help you get your new business off the ground as quickly as possible.
Las Iguanas truly cares about your professional development
Las Iguanas’ head office in Bristol also provides professional development training to help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the food & beverages industry and stay ahead of your local competition. You’ll have the opportunity to attend management development workshop days and development sessions with an experienced operations manager. All front of house management training provided by Las Iguanas is endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management, a professional membership body for managers and leaders based all over the world.
You can benefit from world-class business systems
When you become a franchisee of Las Iguanas, you’ll have access to an operations portal, which will give you all the guidance you need to set up your business. You'll also benefit from a dedicated team with significant brand experience to help you learn about the brand, recruit the best staff and provide outstanding food and customer service in your territory. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art business systems and learn about tried-and-tested working methods with the CG Way operating system, which covers 300 Las Iguanas restaurants.
There is plenty of marketing support
All franchisees receive marketing support, which will include branded collateral and a unique online marketing toolkit to help you build your brand visibility in your area. Every three months, you'll also receive a restaurant visit and a business review, which will include coaching from your business development manager and an evaluation of your franchise's performance.
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Start a Las Iguanas franchise today
So, if owning your own Las Iguanas Franchise unit sounds like the perfect opportunity, find out more by viewing its client page. If you have any questions, we recommend getting in touch with the franchise directly. Or, you can browse our full list of restaurant franchises.
Becky Martin, writer