Lettuce. Tomatoes. Onions. Peppers. Cheese. These are all choices anyone could ponder when placing an order at any Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas establishment. When Tony Rider was 26 years old, he had a choice to make for himself, a choice that went far beyond simple sandwich toppings.
"I had a job that had me working and traveling a lot," Rider said. "I began thinking to myself, if I’m going to be working this much, I want to be my own boss."
A Family Affair
In 1998, he, along with his wife, Tracy, opened a Mr. Goodcents in Kansas City, Kansas. The rest, as any hungry customer may say, has proven to be tastefully fulfilling for Rider and his family.
"My wife has been amazing, taking over for me twice as I was deployed overseas," Rider said. "And she did all that while raising our three daughters. In addition to that, her father was very instrumental in helping me get all the information I needed to start this business."
Rider was also quick to point out the importance of his father-in-law. In addition to business advice, Tracy’s father was gracious enough to loan Rider around $25,000 toward the $140,000 it took Rider to get his business off the ground.
"I had to come up with a business plan and make sure he knew this was going to be a good investment," Rider said. "There are so many financial risks you are taking when you start a small business, so I had to make sure I knew what I was doing."
The Company
Former McDonald’s executive Joe Bisogno founded the Mr. Goodcents chain. Having known Riders for years now, he quickly acknowledged the importance of Rider’s family and the influence they have had on his business.
"We all did whatever we could to help Tracy out when Tony was sent to Iraq," Bisogno said. "I’m a major-league supporter of our troops, and I thank anyone who has served this country. We took a lot of time to help her in any way we could whenever she needed it."
Many adjustments Rider has made would have never been possible had he not followed the direction of the Mr. Goodcents franchise before he began his business endeavor. Even now, after years of experience in the small business world, he credits the helpful nature of his franchisor as to why he was able to begin his business in the first place.
"They answered all of my questions," Rider explained when asked about the uncertainties starting up your own business can bring. "I had a ton of questions about compliance issues, permits, construction, everything. But they helped me so much. The corporate office walked me through everything I needed to know."
Powering through the Pressure
"It can be a stressful situation, but you have to remain calm," he said, adding that his experience in the Marine Corps helped him keep a level head when times became tough while starting up his business. "You have to take a bunch of risks, but at the same time, you have to make sure they are calculated. You need to be prepared for the unknown."
Rider’s business was named the 1999 New Small Business of the Year by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and in 2009, Rider’s Mr. Goodcents won the Pyramid Award for the most outstanding franchisee within the Mr. Goodcents Pasta & Subs system.
Change is Good
With his past successes behind him, Rider knows that to continue business prosperity, he needs to keep thinking outside the box whenever the time may arise. He credits his ability to expand his business to staying on top of keeping things current as the atmosphere around him may change.
"It got to the point where I had to either reinvest in my business or move to a different location," he explained. "I decided to move and it increased my sales by 40 percent. Change is inevitable, so don’t be afraid of it. Embrace it. Stay current with the trends and markets, and change with the trends and the economy. Don’t fight it. Always find ways to adapt."
Joe Bisogno, former McDonald’s executive and Mr. Goodcents founder, said he looks for three things in a franchisee.
"One, I look for someone who is a community leader," he explained. "Two, I look for someone who has the financial wherewithal. And three, I feel the individual has to be someone who is good within the community. I do find that a lot of individuals who were in the military seem to have these qualifications more often than not. But people don’t always succeed in small business. You have to know what you’re doing."
Rider’s business was named the 1999 New Small Business of the Year by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and in 2009, Rider’s Mr. Goodcents won the Pyramid Award for the most outstanding franchisee within the Mr. Goodcents Pasta & Subs system.
Info: Franchisee
Name: Tony Rider
Age: 40
Franchise: Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas
Locations: Kansas City, Kansas
Number of Employees: 11
Military Service: USMCR (1987-1993, 1996-present)
Highest Rank Attained: Gunnery Sergeant (E-7)
Info: Franchisor
Organization: Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas Franchise Inc.
Corporate Headquarters: DeSoto, Kansas
Established: March 1989
Number of Locations: 110
Franchise Web site: www.mrgoodcents.com
Franchise Fee: $20,000
Veteran Discount: $10,000
Total Start-up Costs: $163,150 to $274,200 including the franchise fee, architectural plans, equipment, signage, uniforms, first month's rent, initial inventory, insurance, security deposits, working capital, and restaurant buildout.
Royalty: 5 percent of monthly gross sales.
To learn more visit: www.mrgoodcents.com/investment.cfm