Hardee's vs Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Hardee's vs Red Robin Gourmet Burgers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$1,454,000 - $2,046,000 | $1,865,000 - $4,115,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$25,000 - $35,000 | $35,000 |
Royalty Fee |
4% | 4% |
Advertising Fee |
5.5% | - |
Year Founded |
1961 | 1969 |
Year Franchised |
1962 | 0 |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | - |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | - |
Renewal Fee |
Varies | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
Industry experience General business experience Preferable operational experience in a restaurant, but will consider people who have owned their own business | - |
Financing Options |
|
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 |
Training |
Available at franchisee's location, 8 weeks management training & at grand 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 |
US Expansion |
Yes | No |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
Yes | No |
Company Overviews
About Hardee's
Hardee's was founded in 1960 by Wilbur Hardee and has grown to more
than 2,000 restaurants around the world. CKE Restaurants acquired
Hardee's in 1997 and now, along side Carl's Jr., Hardee's is part of one
powerful concept with two global banners. Hardee's is a platform for
success for operators around the world.
Over the years, Hardee's has continued its growth
with an emphasis on quality, service, and cleanliness, pioneering
concepts such as partial table service and self-serve beverage bars. The
introduction of our Fresh Baked Buns™ in 2013 and our All Natural
Burger™ in 2015 confirm our constant emphasis on product innovation and
represent our focus on satisfying the tastes of young, hungry consumers.
#74 on Franchise Rankings.com
#79 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#269 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers was founded in 1969. It is a casual dining restaurant chain that serves up wholesome, fun, feel-good experiences in a family-friendly environment. Red Robin restaurants are famous for serving more than 22 high-quality gourmet burgers in a variety of recipes with Bottomless Steak Fries, as well as salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology Beverages. There are more than 360 Red Robin restaurants located across the United States and Canada, which include both corporate-owned locations and those operating under franchise or license agreements.
The initial franchise fee is $35,000. The total investment necessary
to begin operation of a RED ROBIN® RESTAURANT ranges from $2,220,000 to
$4,115,000 for a freestanding prototype building, or $1,865,000 to
$3,635,000 for a standard-size, in-line space prototype or for a
mid-size, in-line space prototype.
These ranges include the initial
franchise fee of $35,000 that you must pay to the franchisor but does
not include the cost of buying, building or renting the restaurant
location and the cost to obtain a liquor license.