Tubby's Sub Shops vs Culver Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Tubby's Sub Shops Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $112,900 - $293,500$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $17,500 - $20,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 4%-6%4%
Advertising Fee 4%2.5%
Year Founded 19681984
Year Franchised 19781988
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Renewal Fee -$30K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Tubby's Sub Shops Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Tubby's Sub Shops Franchise
Culver Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

Training & Support

 
Tubby's Sub Shops Franchise
Culver Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 92 hours Classroom Training: 28 hours Additional Training: Company store -
Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing National Media Social media Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 - 50

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


Expansion Plans

 
Tubby's Sub Shops Franchise
Culver Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion NoNo

Company Overviews

About Tubby's Sub Shops

Founder Richard Paganes opened the first Tubby's Sub Shop in 1968 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. The company began franchising in 1978 and has locations in the Midwest and southeastern United States. Tubby's Sub Shop, which began as a family-owned and -operated business, is now public and is based in Roseville, Michigan.

About Culver

After working with his parents in their restaurants, Craig Culver decided it was time to open one for himself. In 1984 Culver, with the help of his wife Lea and parents George and Ruth, transformed the A&W his parents owned since the sixties into Culver's Frozen Custard. Its founder's family inspired the menu for the initial Sauk City, Wisconsin, restaurant. When Culver's mother made hamburgers, she would put a dab of butter on the crown of the hamburger buns before toasting them; something her children felt made them taste better. Today, employees at each Culver's location use the same technique when making their ButterBurgers. There are Culver's locations in twelve states. All Culver's franchisees are owner/operators.
 
We’re looking for leaders with the initiative and skills to take a team of people and operate a Culver’s according to our high standards. You need energy and enthusiasm. You have to be willing to work hard. You have to love people and believe, as we do, that having a great heart is also good business.

Culver’s has grown to over 500 restaurants in 22 states.

Culver's is leading the way in the industry and in our communities. If you are craving a restaurant business made to order for you, where your financial success is directly related to how well you and your team execute against Culver’s mission that every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy, we invite you to consider becoming a Culver’s franchisee.

Seeking new franchise units in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming

"Entrepreneur


#9 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#5 in Franchise 500 for 2021