Golden Corral vs Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Golden Corral vs Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants 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 | $49,789,087 - $70,127,050 |
Franchise Fee |
$50,000 | $75,000 |
Royalty Fee |
4% | 5% |
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.) | - |
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 | - |
International Expansion |
Yes | 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 Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
At Kimpton, it’s always personal. We focus on what it means to be human and an individual. You’ll quickly learn Kimpton’s not just a hospitality job. Here, you’ll join a mission to make lives better. No biggie.
The real you is a job requirement; your diverse background, talents, and quirks are what help our company connect meaningfully with our guests. You’ll lead your own personal career path while you help make each guest’s journey feel more personal. You won’t just punch a clock and count the hours; you’ll make it count.
That’s why FORTUNE magazine has put Kimpton on its “Best Companies To Work For” list nine times. It’s why we score 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index every year. Our guests feel it too - it’s why we’re consistently ranked as a best-loved hospitality company.
Our thriving company culture, numerous hospitality career tracks, and rich benefits and perks also make us one of the best places to work. We take care of all of our people with great benefits, like paid time off; medical, dental, and vision plans; life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance; 401(k) with employer matching; 6 weeks paid paternity/maternity leave; back-up child and elder care; robust professional and personal development through our own Kimpton University; and employee discounts at our 60+ hotels nationwide.
Plus, we throw in some extra Kimpton-style perks, like wellness programs and, of course, pet insurance.
We’re a best place to work because we’re driven by our passion for unscripted, heartfelt care. From the first whirl of a hula hoop at your employee orientation (yes, it happens) to every Kimpton Moment thereafter, you’re going to love it here as much as our guests do.