---
title: "Multi-Unit Franchisee Insight - Best Decision & Lessons Learned"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/a7becbbf-61c8-43fa-abca-16a5045deeee
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/multiunit_franchisee_insight__best_decision__lessons_learned.html
author: "Multi-Unit Franchisee"
category: "Franchise Industry"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2019-12-23T09:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:11:24.803Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/5031_plate.jpg
---

# Multi-Unit Franchisee Insight - Best Decision & Lessons Learned

**TL;DR:** Multi-unit franchisees share their best business decisions and lessons learned, including joining partners to acquire Captain D's restaurants. Chris Benner, a multi-unit franchisee of Captain D's and Grandy's, shares his experiences and insights.

*By Multi-Unit Franchisee, originally published in Franchising.com on 2019-12-23. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/multiunit_franchisee_insight__best_decision__lessons_learned.html).*

## Story

We talk to successful multi-unit operators regularly here at Franchise Update Media. These busy on-the-go people share great insight and wisdom with us through our profile stories in Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine. Here, from our archives, are some insightful responses from some of these franchisees.

**First turning point in your career:** I was recruited and hired by Brinker International as a manager for its Grady's American Grill concept. It was like making it to the big leagues. **Best business decision:** Joining my partners Tim and Ed Stokes to acquire our first four Captain D's restaurants.

**Hardest lesson learned:** I've worked every part of the restaurant business, so my career has had many transitions, from employee to manager to executive, and finally, to owner. With each transition there was a new set of ground rules I needed to learn and adapt to. One of the biggest lessons for me was learning to find the balance between being an effective manager and being someone's friend.

***Chris Benner**, multi-unit franchisee of Captain D's and Grandy's* **First turning point in your career:** When I was elected to the McAlister's Deli franchise advisory council and then had the honor of serving as president, it was definitely a turning point. I have learned that the best franchise systems are those with a healthy and active dialogue between franchisor and franchisee. One can't be successful without the success of the other.

**Best business decision:** Our belief in operating in territories where we are the only McAlister's franchisee has served us well. It's allowed us to set the standard and create a brand of McAlister's that has a distinctive "Saxton Group" touch. **Hardest lesson learned:** Growing through times of adversity.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Franchise Industry (sector)
- Multi-Unit Franchisee (person)
- multi-unit franchisees (topic)
- Captain D's (company)
- McAlister's Deli (company)
- franchise acquisition (topic)
- Brinker International (company)
- business decisions (topic)
- lessons learned (topic)

---
Originally reported by Multi-Unit Franchisee, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/multiunit_franchisee_insight__best_decision__lessons_learned.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/a7becbbf-61c8-43fa-abca-16a5045deeee).