Retail Food

Retail food can include anything from fast-food restaurants to gift foods to convenience stores.

7-Eleven Inc

The 7-eleven Inc has been in business since 1927 and began franchising in 1964. The name comes from the stores being open from 7a.m. to 11p.m. , but is now a 24-hour operation.

The company had 5,580 franchises in 2007, up from the 2006 figure of 3,998. Approximately six million customers visit 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and Canada each day, according to Entrepreneur.com.

If you want to buy a 7-Eleven store expect a total investment of $1million to $2million and expect to pay a $70,000 franchise fee. The unencumbered capital required is $89,000. Opening a store takes $159,000.

Training is six weeks long and there are no royalty fees. With the initial average cash investment of $159,000, (which covers initial inventory, supplies, licenses and other items), 7-Eleven will buy or lease the land where your store will be located and will pay the utilities and finance your continuing operating expenses. You will lease or sublease your convenience store from 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven isn't for anyone. They are looking for people with a strong sense of retailing and managerial experience.

Heavenly Ham

Heavenly Ham has more than 191 Heavenly Ham stores and they have recently changed its entire method of operation to support the belief that ham in not just for Easter anymore. It was just a few years ago that Heavenly Ham did almost 60 percent of their business during the Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving holiday. Then, a franchisee, Felix Mirando began testing a concept with the franchisor's assistance, known at the box lunch program.

At the time, stores were not selling many sandwiches, but when Mirando started offering a sandwich, a side dish, a big cookie and a can of soda for just under $7. America 's corporation responded.

Today, about 40 percent of the gross sales of any Heavenly Ham store comes from the box lunches, most being delivered to businesses in the surrounding areas. The chain's published earning claims show that average gross sales for 159 stores was $459,520 in 1999.

To buy a Heavenly Ham franchise, the initial cost to open a store is estimated at $184,900 to $289,000, which includes the $30,000 franchise fee, according to entrepreneur.com. Franchise candidates should have a net worth of $250,000, including liquid assets of about $180.000.