The future growth of Panera Bread will be based upon company bakery-cafe development as well as the continued sale of franchise area development agreements.
Panera Bread does not sell single-unit franchises, so it is not possible to open just one bakery-cafe. Rather, we have chosen to develop by selling market areas which require the franchise developer to open a number of units, typically 15 bakery-cafes in a period of 6 years.
Panera Bread franchisees must be well-capitalized to open great bakery-cafes and meet this aggressive development schedule. Additionally, they must have a proven track record as excellent multi-unit restaurant operators to operate great Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
Qualification Criteria
Applicants must meet these criteria to gain consideration for a Panera Bread franchise:
- Experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator
- Recognition as a top restaurant operator
- Net worth of $7.5 million
- Liquid assets of $3 million
- Infrastructure and resources to meet our development schedule
- Real estate experience in the market to be developed
- Total commitment to the development of the Panera Bread brand
- Cultural fit and a passion for fresh bread
Markets Available for Franchise Development
- Reno, Nevada
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Toronto, Canada
More Information
Additional information on franchising opportunities with Panera Bread can be found in our Franchise Information Overview, including details on franchise fees, initial investment, franchise support and more.
If you're interested in a Panera Bread franchise area development agreement, meet the qualification criteria stated above and have experience as a multi-unit restaurant owner in one of the markets available for franchise development, we would like to hear from you. Complete our Franchise Information Request Form and we'll get in touch with you.
If you do not meet the qualification criteria stated above but would be interested in investing in Panera Bread, we are a public company traded on the NASDAQ stock market. We invite you to review the information available in our Investor Relations section.
Note: None of the communications made through this web page should be construed as an offer to sell any Panera, LLC franchises in, nor is any such communication directed to, the residents of any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered and sold in that jurisdiction. No Panera, LLC franchises will be sold to any resident of such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (if any) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. If you have any questions concerning the registration status of franchises in your jurisdiction, please contact our Franchise Development department.