Golden Corral vs Perkins Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Golden Corral vs Perkins including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Golden Corral Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Investment $2,700,795 - $7,037,915$1,557,975 - $2,742,975
Franchise Fee $50,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4%4%
Advertising Fee 2.4%-
Year Founded 19731958
Year Franchised 19861958
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Renewal Fee 15 years (plus two, 5-year renewal options)$5000-$7500


Business Experience Requirements
 
Golden Corral Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • (or must have partner with industry experience.)
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Golden Corral Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Golden Corral Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location-
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform-
    Marketing National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 80% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 100

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Golden Corral Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Golden Corral

    Golden Corral restaurants began as budget steakhouses located principally in small cities from Virginia to Texas. In the mid-1980s, guest requests prompted Golden Corral to reinvent itself by introducing the Buffet & Grill Metro unit that features 160 hot and cold items, a carving station, and the Brass Bell Bakery, which offers rolls, muffins, cookies, pies and pizza made from scratch. The buffet was expanded in 2001 to include cooked-to-order sirloin steaks.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a restaurant ranges from $2,700,795 to $5,340,215 for the less expensive restaurant design, and from $3,453,379 to $7,037,915 for the more expensive restaurant design. This amount includes $51,400 to $4,482,285 that must or may be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

    #90 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

    About Perkins

    In today’s market, the opportunity to buy a Perkins® restaurant franchise business couldn’t be better for experienced restaurateurs interested in aligning with a concept that has withstood the test of time. Now more than ever, restaurant customers are looking for value without sacrificing selection and taste. A top leader in the family restaurant dining segment since 1958, Perkins offers high quality, flavorful and affordable menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snack. With more than 440 units across the U.S. and Canada, the heritage of the Perkins brand and the ability to adapt to current consumer trends have placed it among the top performing companies in the family restaurant franchise segment.

    It’s time to take a fresh look at Perkins Restaurants. Find out how you can own one of the best family restaurant franchises in the business, and deliver the Perkins experience to loyal diners, through single-unit operations and multi-unit ownership franchise opportunities. Perkins gives you the chance to bring comfort, value, and great taste to your community - not to mention solid growth potential to your own career in foodservice.

    Perkins has a vision for the future, and wants you to be part of it: our goal is to continue to offer great food and memorable dining experiences to guests across the continent!

    Join Perkins and leverage our name, our established systems, and our special recipes - all while pleasing your guests and charting your future in the industry.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Perkins Restaurant and Bakery franchise is $1,557,975 - $2,742,975. This includes the $50,000 initial fee paid to the franchisor (unless you are participating in the Refranchising Program). Under the Company Restaurant Refranchising Program, in which an existing company-owned restaurant is transferred to a franchisee, the initial franchise fee is negotiable and will vary in amount depending on, among other things, the length of the franchise term and the profitability of the restaurant (additional information about the Refranchising Program is provided in the Disclosure Document).
    In addition, if you sign a Development Agreement for three or more restaurants, the initial franchise fee is $40,000 for the first restaurant, $35,000 for the second restaurant and $30,000 for the third and any subsequent restaurant(s).