Golden Corral vs Browns Socialhouse Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Golden Corral vs Browns Socialhouse including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$2,700,795 - $7,037,915 | $2,000,000 - $2,500,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$50,000 | $50,000 |
Royalty Fee |
4% | 6% |
Advertising Fee |
2.4% | - |
Year Founded |
1973 | - |
Year Franchised |
1986 | - |
Term Of Agreement |
15 years | - |
Term Of Agreement |
15 years | - |
Renewal Fee |
15 years (plus two, 5-year renewal options) | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
Industry experience (or must have partner with industry experience.) | A PROVEN TRACK RECORD + EXPERIENCE in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
Passionate + highly motivated about running a business.
That's how serious we are about partnering with only the best.
We don't compromise on this because it's what our guests deserve. |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | -/- |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | -/- |
Equipment |
No/Yes | -/- |
Inventory |
No/No | -/- |
Receivables |
No/No | -/- |
Payroll |
No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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 |
US Expansion |
Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion |
No | Yes |
International Expansion |
Yes | - |
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 Browns Socialhouse
Browns Restaurant Group offers a variety of partnership opportunities.
We are uniquely social.
Browns Socialhouse is designed to be highly competitive in smaller urban and suburban markets. We're big and aspirational enough to appeal to dedicated urbanites, yet small and "familiar" enough to ensure everyone feels welcome. We have a "secret formula" and below you'll get a sneak peek.
Our main competitive advantages include:
1. Site Placement: because of our smaller footprint, Browns Socialhouses can pop up in places where many other brands simply won't fit. Being smaller, we can target "A" locations without the burden of a huge rental factor.
For Guests, Browns' smaller footprint provides for a much warmer overall experience. How many people would rather see a band play in a stadium than a club? Exactly. At Browns, our Guests and team members come together and are all part of the action. This makes for a truly social eating, drinking and working experience!
2. Efficiency: building and up-keep costs stay relatively low because of Browns' smaller footprint, and Socialhouses are efficiently designed to require less staff (which lowers labour costs).
3. Kitchen + Menu: Regular menu updates keep our offerings fresh while ensuring solid margins for franchisees and excellent perceived value for Guests. Our Culinary Mission is to produce great-looking menu items with delicious, approachable flavour profiles that can be prepared consistently and cost-effectively across the system. Our Chefs embrace the role of "part menu developer" and "part quality controller," and they're constantly tasting, testing and re-evaluating current menu items for quality, consistency and Guest acceptance.
4. Bar + Lounge: Central to the Socialhouse concept is a signature bar that brings life and energy to the entire operation. Our great selection of drinks delivers great value to Guests. As with our Menu Program, drink pricing is set aggressively to enable financial targets.
5. Owner-Operator Focus: We ensure every Socialhouse we open is owned and operated by someone dedicated to the community it serves. We are able to deliver excellent product and service required to provide a "WOW Experience" to our Guests. Each and every time.
Using sophisticated systems and partnering with savvy Franchisees, Browns Restaurant Group successfully competes with independent restaurants and larger chains in local markets.