Carl's Jr vs Char-Hut Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Carl's Jr vs Char-Hut including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Char-Hut Franchise
Investment	$1,603,000 - $2,168,000	$250,000 - $500,000
Franchise Fee	$25,000 - $35,000	$30,000
Royalty Fee	4%	-
Advertising Fee	6%	-
Year Founded	1945	1976
Year Franchised	1984	1976
Term Of Agreement	20 years	-
Term Of Agreement	20 years	-
Renewal Fee	Varies	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Char-Hut Franchise
Experience	Industry experience General business experience Preferable operational experience in a restaurant, but will consider people who have owned their own business	-
Financing Options
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Char-Hut Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/No	-/-
Start-up Costs	No/No	-/-
Equipment	No/No	-/-
Inventory	No/No	-/-
Receivables	No/No	-/-
Payroll	No/No	-/-
Training & Support
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Char-Hut Franchise
Training	Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand opening	Our development program begins at Char-Hut headquarters in South Florida where we train you on everything you'll need to build a solid foundation in the specialty burger business using the proven-successful methods that have made Char-Hut prosper for over 30 years. Additionally, we give you extensive ongoing training in your own location and market on effective and precise operational procedures. Most importantly, our senior staff will personally stand by your side to assist you in implementing our proven methods for operations management, hiring procedures and regional business development through networking and direct interaction with community leadership and influential consumer groups in your area. We will teach you all the skills you need to build a strong regional and local presence for your business which translates to more business for your Char-Hut!
Support	Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives	*Operations management and support *Senior staff onsite support *Direct business management *Corporate website management *SEO for your territory and location *Toll-free technical support *Networking with other system owners *Co-op marketing *Operations manuals *Technical data and forms *New prospect leads *Strategic vendor relationships
Marketing	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising	*Char-Hut has defined and developed a proven local, community-oriented marketing and business development systems. *Our web marketing and local advertising campaigns create loyal customers that produce high margin, repeat business. *Our brand, business model and community-oriented approach will help you develop your local market presence and community relationships that will support and build your business.
Operations	Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.	-
Expansion Plans
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Char-Hut Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	-
International Expansion	Yes	-

Company Overviews

About Carl's Jr

Carl's Jr. is known all through the Western U.S. as the place to go for premium quality burgers, specifically its 100% Angus hamburger Six Dollar Burger line.

At Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® our brand sets us apart from the competition. Our advertisements are created to be so bold and memorable that they've been known to crash internet video servers. Our taglines deliver bold statements and our visuals are designed to keep viewers wanting more. EAT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.

Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® have a strong track record of successfully developing new premium products to lead the category in taste, quality, and innovation. As an industry leader, we have consistently out-delivered all other quick-service restaurants in product development since our founding. Staying on top requires that we continue to lead the way in the products we serve through taste, quality, and innovation.

#202 in Franchise 500 for 2021.

About Char-Hut

Char-Hut is a recognized regional innovator in the specialty burger industry throughout Southern Florida. Our reputation has been built on our service, amazing product quality, the customer experience and commitment to creating a truly memorable experience for every customer who visits a Char-Hut location. We do this by striving to provide the best customer service in the specialty burger industry and treating our customers like we would our own family members when they come to see us. Char-Hut has built the company based on focusing on the specialty burger market in addition to differentiating itself as a true, family-based burger restaurant using natural, genuine specialty burger meat and products that are chosen to offer only the best tastes, smells and experience for the customer.Char-Hut provides highly successful business opportunities for QSR high-end burger operations and food service entrepreneurs and business professionals who would like to start a business in this thriving industry. We are looking for motivated individuals interested in owning and operating a high volume, high margin specialty burger restaurant operation in their market. Once a Char-Hut franchise is located, our senior staff becomes 100% committed to that individual location and store's success. When you join the Char-Hut family, we consider our senior staff's accessibility and directly accountability to be good business for us simply because it is the only way we derive revenues, financial growth and overall success for the brand. We MUST make you successful as part of the Char-Hut family.Char-Hut products and specialty cooking process are in very high demand as more Specialty Burger Franchisepeople are choosing to spend the extra dollars on higher quality food products and want more from their burgers than ever before. According to US Foods, "Burger consumption up considerably since 2009, with nearly half of today's consumers saying they eat a burger at least once a week, compared with fewer than four out of 10 two years ago. This growth is seen across all restaurant segments. Out of all of the top entree categories, burgers were represented by the greatest number of new items. Quick-service value menus are certainly a big part of this increase in burger consumption. But the specialty burger craze has also driven growth despite - or perhaps even because of - the higher prices these burgers command. Quick-service chains have begun to respond to the growing demand for premium burgers." We provide customers with a comfortable and inviting environment along with menu items and product lines to create the perfect specialty burger experience. Our franchisees will be successful due to our proven operational methods and effective marketing models. Through superior training, technical guidance and in-territory support, we will help you in building your own Char-Hut business.