36-year-old CEO took Philly cheesesteaks to Atlanta, sold over $2.3 million at one store in the last year—now he wants to help others do the same

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks founder and CEO Derrick Hayes is cooking up what he hopes will be his most delicious offering yet: a chance to own a franchise.

“I think entrepreneurs are going to eat it up,” 36-year old Hayes says, “pun intended” with a big smile. “I already know that we have the No. 1 cheesesteak in the country!”

On Thursday, Hayes will begin accepting official applications to purchase a Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks franchise. The West Philadelphia native is planning to take the iconic Philly sandwich national with a goal of opening 100 franchise locations by the end of 2025.

“I’m a visionary, I’m a dreamer.” Hayes says. “Franchising is something that I thought about years ago, but I didn’t have the experience or the team to do it.”

Hayes is beginning the franchise process in August in honor of Black Business Month, he says, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of Black entrepreneurs and acknowledge their challenges.

When a business owner franchises, the franchisees purchase the right to do business under the franchisor’s name and may gain access to proprietary systems. In theory, it’s a mutually beneficial exchange: the owner earns money and the franchisee is able to immediately run their own business, ideally building off of an already successful brand.

Only 8% of franchise owners are Black, according to data from the International Franchise Association. However, Black franchisees have revenues 220% higher than independent Black-owned businesses on average, the data finds.

Hayes is seeking franchisees currently in the food business, but eventually hopes to inspire people who have faced legal troubles, do not have a college degree or lack experience to follow their dreams of owning a business.

“I wasn’t an entrepreneur, I wasn’t a businessman. I’m making it for the people. If they want to get involved with what we’re building, we are going to help them up,” Hayes says.

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks started as Big Dave’s…