Chad Fulkerson contacted the Abilene SBDC in October 2012. He had investigated the franchise, Firehouse Subs and had information regarding the requirements.  He had compiled a notebook with information about the franchise requirements.  He was working with the district manager from Lubbock, TX and he needed to know how to apply for an SBA loan.  The first step was to prepare a business plan which would meet the SBA and banking requirements. There was a long delay in finding a location that would meet the stipulations of the franchise. He finally found a property to buy and build the restaurant.

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Firehouse Subs was opened in December 2014. It was one of the top producers in the first year of operation and still remains in the top twenty.  Chad has bought the right to have another location in Abilene and also in San Angelo.