Fresh City Kitchen vs McDonald's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Fresh City Kitchen vs McDonald's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Investment $726,000 - $1,140,000$1,314,500 - $2,306,500
Franchise Fee $35,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee -4%+
Year Founded 19971955
Year Franchised 20031955
Term Of Agreement 10 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years20 years
Renewal Fee 25% of then-current fee$45K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant
    Support

    A Fresh City consultant will be on location at your restaurant prior to the soft opening, to guide you through the first few days of business, and to assist in planning your grand opening. The Fresh City Franchise team will offer ongoing business consultation, and will share best practices as well as manuals and other training materials, as you grow your business.

    Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing Fresh City will assist you in growing your business through the strategic and tactical implementation of Fresh City branding, marketing, and promotions. You will be provided with materials and programs to help you begin positioning your Fresh City restaurant in your community. Additionally, the Fresh City community support and service program -"Thinking Fresh" - will help make your franchise the neighborhood restaurant of choice.Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Fresh City Kitchen

    Fresh City restaurants are meccas for guests seeking alternatives to fast food. We are pleased to invite you to join their innovative franchise concept. With cutting edge locations in multiple states, Fresh City is growing to meet the needs of today's consumers seeking lifestyle alternatives. Fresh City is actively seeking experienced multi-unit operators with proven expertise in the food service industry. Fresh City franchisees must be experts in their markets, be willing to work diligently and commit to leading a team that will execute a dynamic restaurant. We seek franchisees who possess integrity, are respected amongst peers and colleagues, and share Fresh City's core business values and commitment to give back to their communities. Fresh City franchisees must have sufficient liquid net worth and demonstrate the ability to raise capital adequately to fund their development

    About McDonald's

    Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, ventured to California in 1954 to visit McDonald's hamburger stand, where he heard they were running eight mixers at once. Kroc was impressed by how rapidly customers were served and, seeing an opportunity to sell many more milkshake machines, encouraged brothers Dick and Mac McDonald to open a chain of their restaurants. Kroc became their business partner and opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
    McDonald's brand is in 122 countries around the world. Thirty thousand locations serve 51 million customers each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent local business people. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.


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