Woody's Chicago Style vs Checkers Drive-In Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Woody's Chicago Style vs Checkers Drive-In including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Woody's Chicago Style Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Investment	$58,600 - $394,000	$259,000 - $1,431,000
Franchise Fee	N/A	$30,000
Royalty Fee	6%	4%
Advertising Fee	-	4.5%
Year Founded	1990	1986
Year Franchised	1991	1989
Term Of Agreement	5 years	20 years
Term Of Agreement	5 years	20 years
Renewal Fee	$2K	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Woody's Chicago Style Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Experience	General business experience	Industry experience General business experience
Financing Options
	Woody's Chicago Style Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/Yes	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/Yes	No/Yes
Equipment	No/Yes	No/Yes
Inventory	No/Yes	No/Yes
Receivables	No/Yes	No/Yes
Payroll	No/Yes	No/Yes
Training & Support
	Woody's Chicago Style Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Training	-	On-The-Job Training: 160-220 hours Classroom Training: 32-40 hours Additional Training: In training restaurant
Support	Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations	Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
Marketing	-	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations	6% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)	-
Expansion Plans
	Woody's Chicago Style Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	No	Yes

Company Overviews

About Woody's Chicago Style

Woody's has many types of operation: Class A Franchise *Propane or electric format *Highly mobile *Operates without on-site utilities *Moderate to high volume *Trailer included Class B Franchise *High volume capacity *Greater presence *Propane or electric format *Limited Mobility *Trailer included Class C Franchise *Limited mobile format *220V, 40 amp power requirement *Fully self-contained *Established product line *Fully automatic equipment Class D Franchise: In-Line Store. Class D Twin Carts. Class D Kiosk. Class D Stand Alone. Class E Franchise: *Class A cart package included *Operates without on-site utilities *High volume capabilities *Additional specialized training included *Cart transport trailer included *Additional optional equipment available. Class K Kiosk Franchise was developed to accommodate the ever evolving mobile food service industry. This program enables a Franchisee to be open year round during some of the most extreme weather. This fully enclosed, self-contained kiosk unit is still considered a mobile unit, but is adaptable to municipalities that are looking for more of a permanent structure and less mobile. It can be customized to fit many code directed specifications of various deemed health departments or local code enforcement agencies. The kiosk allows vendors to offer a broader menu, and can accommodate more storage and cooking space than the traditional class A, B and C franchises, which in turn allows access to locations where foot traffic is more prevalent.

About Checkers Drive-In

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. Checkers develops, produces, owns, operates, and franchises quick service “double drive-thru” restaurants under the two brand names “Checkers" and “Rally’s Hamburgers". The restaurants are designed to provide fast and efficient automobile-oriented service and appeal to guests of all ages. The double drive-thru concept allows Checkers' and Rally’s Hamburgers to capitalize on the fact that approximately fifty percent of all quick-service food business is drive-thru. Guests can also enjoy a 1950’s flashback with walk-up ordering and outdoor dining in the outside picnic area at most locations.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Checkers Restaurant (excluding real estate and related costs) is: $780,000 to $1,431,000 for a new modular design single drive-thru restaurant; $320,500 to $787,000 for a site built, conversion or used modular drive-thru restaurant; $259,700 to $648,000 for an endcap strip-center and gas/convenience restaurant; and $254,000 to $514,000 for a Non-Traditional, Walmart or in-line restaurant in a high-density market. This includes $10,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate, plus $10,000 for each additional restaurant that you agree to develop under a development agreement.