The short answer
Stabilize economics, remove owner dependence, build leadership capacity and document the systems that create the concept before committing to another site.
Step by step
Work through the decision
- 01Verify normalized unit economics
- 02List owner-dependent decisions
- 03Develop replacement leadership
- 04Document critical standards and supply dependencies
- 05Model the second location as a standalone investment
Common mistakes
- Expanding after a short strong period
- Copying the floor plan instead of the operating system
- Assuming shared management is free
- Using expansion to motivate an unstable team
Working checklist