Golden Griddle vs Friendly's Restaurants Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Golden Griddle Franchise
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Investment $100,000 - $450,000$498,500 - $1,950,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$30,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee -3.5%
Year Founded 19641935
Year Franchised 19771996
Term Of Agreement 10 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years20 years
Renewal Fee -$5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Golden Griddle Franchise
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Golden Griddle Franchise
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Golden Griddle Franchise
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Training --
    Support Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingAd slicks, National media
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 - 30

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

    Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 62% of all franchisees own more than one unit

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    Golden Griddle Franchise
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Golden Griddle

    Golden Griddle was established in 1964, and started franchising in 1977. Their head office is located in Toronto, Ontario Canada, and the company is privately owned. Each Golden Griddle Family Restaurant is owned and operated by a franchisee in their local area, you can find many of these franchises open 24 hours. The Golden Griddle is famous for their great delicious pancakes and all day breakfast. They have a Kids menu, and serve a wide variety of meals for lunch and dinner, and are licensed to serve beer, wine and alcohol. There are Golden Griddle locations in the Greater Toronto area, South Western Ontario, Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario.

    About Friendly's Restaurants

    In Springfield, Massachusetts at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, 20 year-old Prestley Blake and his 18 year-old brother Curtis opened an ice cream shop called 'Friendly' that served double-dip cones for 5 cents. The brothers opened a second shop five years later in West Springfield, Massachusetts and added food to the menu. Within a decade, locations opened throughout western Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1988 Donald N. Smith, the company's current CEO, purchased the company and a year later added an 's' to the name, making it 'Friendly's.'

    In May 2000, Friendly's introduced a new food and dessert menu featuring colossal burgers, sandwich wraps, splits, sundaes and Cyclones. Friendly's produces 10 million snack cups and 230,000 gallons of fudge every year. In addition to its restaurants and cafes, Friendly's manufactures a complete line of frozen desserts.