ABOUT SUNSHINE PLAZA
Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre is located in Maroochydore, QLD, a vibrant city in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. It is a growing commercial hub with a thriving tourism industry, a large population of young professionals and retirees, and an average household income above the state average. Its commercial profile continues to rise, with new developments and businesses strengthening its position as the region’s central business and lifestyle precinct.
Situated on Horton Parade, Sunshine Plaza sits at the core of this growth. It is the Sunshine Coast’s largest retail destination, featuring over 360 stores and services, including major retailers such as Myer, Big W, and Kmart. The centre attracts a broad customer base from across the region, from young families and retirees to domestic and international tourists. A wide array of dining options, from casual bites to full-service restaurants, makes it a popular food and leisure destination.
Our store within Sunshine Plaza is currently undergoing significant improvements and refurbishments, with some works scheduled for completion by the end of this year. These upgrades will enhance both its visual appeal and operational efficiency, aligning with the centre’s commitment to providing a modern, inviting environment for shoppers, and ensuring the store is well-positioned to capture customer interest and deliver an elevated brand experience.
We are excited to invite our potential franchise partners to submit their expressions of interest (EOI) for our franchise opportunity. The EOI period will end close of business on Monday 18th May 2025.
After expressing interest in the opportunity, we will look to send you our NDA and Information forms to complete, prior to scheduling an initial video call to discuss the opportunity and commercials further.
If you are interested in reviewing this opportunity in more detail, please contact Kevin Lacey – General Manager – Network Development, via email ([email protected]) or phone (0439 538 465).
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
The Franchise Council of Australia named us 2019 Winner of the Australian Established Franchisor of the Year.
“It (winning this award) means more for our franchise partners and all the hard work and millions of hours that’s gone into the concept over the last 13 years, and we stand on the shoulders of that” – Founder, Giro Maurici.
5-stars for Franchise Performance 2024
FRANdata - Australian Franchising Rating Scale2019 Australian Established Franchise of the Year!
Franchise Council of AustraliaBest Innovation Food & Beverage
QSR Media 2021 Awards2020 Top Franchise Rating
FRANdata's Australian Franchise Rating ScaleBest Vegan Menu
PETA Australia’s 2019 Vegan Food AwardsFinalist in the Field Manager of the Year Award
MYOB FCA Excellence in Franchising AwardsBest Innovation Food & Beverage
QSR Media 2019 AwardsFAQs
1. What is the initial investment when opening a traditional San Churro store?
The cost of opening a brand new San Churro store varies depending on the size, location and format of the site, however the average initial investment ranges from approximately 450k – 650k depending on the site. This cost includes start-up fees, training fees, and store design and build costs.
Occasionally there will be an opportunity to invest in an existing San Churro store.
2. How can I finance my business?
There are many ways you can fund a San Churro:
- From savings
- Borrowing against existing personal assets
- Borrowing a portion against the plant equipment purchased by the business
- Using ready cash from the sale of an existing business or property
- Borrow against the new San Churro business
San Churro currently has a preferred lending status with ANZ and CFI. Both specialise in franchise lending and have all the details of our franchise system.
3. How long has San Churro been in business?
San Churro commenced business in September 2004. The first store opened its doors in March 2006 in Fitzroy, Victoria.
4. Does San Churro help with location selection and the lease?
The San Churro Franchise Development team locates new potential San Churro store sites, however we are open to suggestions from prospective Franchise Partners who have a location of interest. The final decision on all new sites will be at San Churro’s discretion.
We then work closely with new Franchise Partners in negotiating with landlords to secure the best possible lease arrangement. The Franchise Partner will ultimately enter into the lease in their entity.
5. What is the average size of a San Churro store?
The ideal size of a San Churro store is approximately 60 – 175sqm, preferably with prominent frontage, highly visible signage opportunities and outdoor seating.
6. How long will it take to open a San Churro store?
It takes time to find the perfect San Churro site and work through the negotiation process. Once the site has been selected, designing and building a San Churro store takes approximately 12 – 18 weeks.
7. Am I required to work in the store?
Yes, we believe that it is vital that our Franchise Partners work in their stores. The best stores are those that the Franchise Partner operates as this ensures that they remain familiar with the store’s day-to-day operations and that their valued customers are experiencing the exceptional standards of service that they expect from a San Churro store.
8. What kind of training support is provided?
San Churro Chocolateria conducts a comprehensive 6-week Induction course for all Franchise Partners. Throughout this training, you will learn everything from how to make the perfect churros to how to manage a successful business.
In addition to the 6 weeks of Induction Training, the San Churro Support Office team will work with you to recruit your new team and provide initial training for your staff. The team will also be there to help set up your new store and work with you during your first week of trade.
9. What happens once my store opens?
Our dedicated San Churro Support Office team is always on call to provide ongoing support in all areas of your business including training, operations, marketing, finance, IT and more. There are also many opportunities to connect with the San Churro network with regional and national meetings. Our committed Business Development Managers will also conduct regular store visits to help your business be the best it can be.
10. What kind of return can I expect from the operation of a San Churro franchise?
When you submit an application and pay your application fee, we will provide you with a copy of our current Disclosure Document, which will give some historical financial information based on the performance of our actual stores. We recommend that you enlist the assistance of professional business, accounting and legal advisers to assess the viability of the business.
Due to the significant variables affecting the profitable performance of each franchise, it is inappropriate for us to make any representation to you on the potential level of sales and profitability of any existing or new store.