This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q
Food & Beverage · BBQ
Description
What is This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q?
The restaurant's menu showcases an impressive array of Southern classics, from perfectly smoked BBQ rib tips and tender smothered pork chops to their famous fried chicken that customers willingly wait extra time to ensure its fresh-made perfection. Their sides are equally celebrated, with their mac and cheese, collard greens, and sweet potato soufflé frequently praised as 'just like grandma's.'
What sets This Is It! apart is their unwavering commitment to fresh, made-from-scratch cooking and generous portions that provide excellent value. The franchise has built a reputation for maintaining exceptionally clean establishments and delivering outstanding customer service, creating an environment where guests feel like family.
The restaurant's business model successfully bridges quick-service convenience with the quality of home-style cooking, offering both dine-in and drive-thru options. Their catering services have become a go-to choice for family reunions, corporate events, and special occasions, demonstrating the brand's versatility and broad appeal.
For potential franchisees, This Is It! represents an opportunity to join a well-established brand that maintains high standards while delivering the authentic taste of the South. Their proven operational systems and dedicated support structure help ensure consistency across all locations, while still allowing each restaurant to maintain strong community connections.
- 40+ Years Proven BBQ Heritage Since 1982
- Exceptional Revenue Performance - 130% Above Industry Average
- Authentic Southern Kitchen & Soul Food Concept
- Low & Slow Smoking Expertise
- Real Southern Hospitality & Heritage Focus
- Diversified Menu Beyond Traditional BBQ
Location Analysis
Where This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q wins
The franchise's geographic footprint suggests a strategic focus on the Southeast, with a notable concentration in Georgia's suburban and urban markets. This concentrated presence has allowed the brand to build strong local recognition and optimize operations within its core territory over its 40-year history. Strong performance metrics in key locations like Douglasville demonstrate the potential for above-average success in well-selected markets.
Ideal locations for This is It! typically feature high-visibility sites in middle-income suburban areas with strong daytime population and family demographics. Success factors include proximity to commercial districts, accessibility from major thoroughfares, and adequate parking. The brand's Southern BBQ concept particularly resonates in markets with established BBQ culture.
Expansion opportunities exist in underserved markets throughout the Southeast, particularly in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida, where similar demographic profiles and food preferences align with the brand's core offering. New franchisees should focus on locations with median household incomes above $50,000 and daily traffic counts exceeding 20,000 vehicles.
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Financial Analysis
The numbers behind This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q
The franchise demonstrates exceptional financial performance with gross revenue of $2,267,119, significantly outperforming the BBQ sub-sector average of $985,804 by 130%. This remarkable revenue achievement showcases the brand's strong market appeal and operational effectiveness.
With 11 units currently operating and a 40+ year operational history since 1982, This Is It! represents a proven franchise system with demonstrated concept viability and recipe refinement. The boutique scale may offer more personalized franchisor support while maintaining focus on quality over rapid expansion.
The BBQ restaurant segment benefits from Americans' enduring appetite for comfort food and authentic regional cuisine. Southern BBQ concepts particularly resonate with consumers seeking experiential dining that combines heritage with hospitality.
Key considerations include labor-intensive smoking operations, food cost management, and competition from both independent BBQ joints and national chains. The concept requires hands-on leadership and understanding of Southern hospitality standards, with multi-unit development potential for qualified operators in underserved markets.
Financing partners
Vetted partners, tailored to franchisees
Your Franzy advisor can connect you with these partners later in the process — competitive rates, specialized in franchise financing.
FranFund
CRF USA
Nonprofit SBA lender; provides financing for franchise acquisitions, startups, and expansion.
First Bank of the Lake
Pension Pros
FDD Item 7
Initial investment range
Per FDD Item 7, total initial investment ranges from $413,754 to $840,205. The midpoint $626,980 is what most franchisees report at signing — financing typically reduces cash-at-close by 80–90%. Knowing the investment range helps you plan confidently and ensure you're fully prepared to make the leap.
FDD Item 19
Average gross sales
According to Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q has an average gross revenue of $2M. (Note: This information is based on the latest FDD in our records. Please review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and confirm this information directly with the brand. We make no claims of accuracy for the information presented.)
Growth over time
Franchise footprint
Buyer FAQs
Frequently asked questions
The initial investment for a This is It! Southern Kitchen Bar-B-Q franchise typically ranges between $413,754.00 and $840,205.00. This includes the franchise fee, equipment, real estate, and other startup costs. To get a detailed breakdown and better understand the financial requirements, we recommend scheduling a call with the Franzy team. We'll walk you through the specifics and answer any questions you might have. For more detailed information, refer to the financial sections of the FDD.
Disclaimer. The information provided on this page is based on the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that is publicly available and that we have on record. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or business advice. We make no guarantees or claims regarding the completeness or accuracy. For the most current and detailed information, we recommend consulting the franchisor directly for the most recent FDD and regarding any questions that you may have about the information provided.
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