Carl's Jr vs Bonchon Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Carl's Jr Franchise
Bonchon Franchise
Investment $1,603,000 - $2,168,000$503,879 - $1,099,004
Franchise Fee $25,000 - $35,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4%3.75%- 4.75%
Advertising Fee 6%-
Year Founded 19452002
Year Franchised 19842002
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years+5+5
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years+5+5
Renewal Fee Varies-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Carl's Jr Franchise
Bonchon 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
    Bonchon Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-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
    Bonchon Franchise
    Training Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand openingFour-week initial training at our headquarters in New York City and an intensive 5 days on-site training during the store opening
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    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
    Bonchon Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion YesYes

    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.


    ""  "Entrepreneur

    #100 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #202 in Franchise 500 for 2021.




    About Bonchon

    ""

    Bonchon Chicken is a global restaurant chain best known for its crunchy double-fried chicken, savory signature sauces, and unique pan-Asian menu.
    Founded in 2002 in South Korea, “Bonchon” means “my hometown” in Korean and represents the company’s mission and commitment to authentic, traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, ensuring the highest level of quality, flavor, and care with each dish.
    It is for these reasons, Bonchon was recognized by Business Insider in 2019 as “the gold standard for fried chicken,” beating out five major restaurant chains for “best chicken wings.” Bonchon was also recently named as a top-10 innovative restaurant in Fast Casual’s 2020 Top 100 Movers & Shakers,
    further solidifying Bonchon’s position as a leader within the industry.
    Today, Bonchon has over 340 locations worldwide, including more than 100 restaurants and franchise outposts across the United States.
    • Traditional sit-down: Restaurants provide a friendly, casual dining experience perfect for gathering with family or friends
    • Quick service / Fast Casual: Restaurants serve Bonchon to customers looking for express-style dining and to-go orders
    • Food Court Concept: Restaurants are streamlined and designed primarily for shopping malls and food courts
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of one Bonchon Business is from $503,879 to $1,099,004 (not including real property), including $55,754 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation as a franchisee under an Area Development Agreement is from $32,000 to $105,000 (assuming, for the low end of the range, 3 and, for the high end of the range, 10 Businesses, although this is not a maximum), including $30,000 to $100,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.

    #277 in Franchise 500 for 2021.  Not in Franchise 500 for 2020.