Firehouse Subs vs Culver Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Firehouse Subs Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $57,502 - $868,696$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $20,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 6%4%
Advertising Fee 3-5%2.5%
Year Founded 19941984
Year Franchised 19951988
Term Of Agreement -15 years
Term Of Agreement -15 years
Renewal Fee -$30K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Firehouse Subs Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience 1. Minimum of $80k to invest 2. Credit score of 650+ 3. Strong inner drive for excellence 4. Devotion to your Firehouse Subs business 5. Motivated and community-minded 6. Must love subs!-

Financing Options

 
Firehouse Subs Franchise
Culver Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

Training & Support

 
Firehouse Subs Franchise
Culver Franchise
Training --
Support -Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing -Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations - 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

 
Firehouse Subs Franchise
Culver Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion YesNo
International Expansion YesNo

Company Overviews

About Firehouse Subs

Our extraordinary steaming procedure stirs our exceptional meats and cheeses. At the point when our sub sandwiches are served in eateries highlighting genuine firefighting stylistic layout, this is a blend people return for over and over.
Spreading Like Wildfire
Surpassing 1,000 establishment areas, our Firehouse Subs development is deliberately figured to improve potential, gain, speculation, and obviously, our franchisees' prosperity.
Operational Excellence

With an always developing history of inventive items, an emphasis on uncommon client benefit, and a stand-out brand character, Firehouse Subs is focused on building benefit for franchisees.

Enjoy More Subs Save More Lives

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a single Firehouse Subs Restaurant ranges from $57,502 to $862,591 for Traditional restaurants; $355,118 to $644,047 for End-Cap Strip Mall Restaurants w/ Drive Thru; and $868,696 for Free-Standing Restaurants w/ Drive Thru. These totals include the following amounts that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates: an initial franchise fee of $20,000; the fee for a mural ranges from $3,000 to $4,600; and the MIS System Fee ranges from $0 to $1,200.
If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you will also pay a Development Fee equal to $10,000 times the number of Restaurants to be developed. The portion of the Development Fee allocable to each Restaurant (which is $10,000 for each Restaurant) will be credited against the initial franchise fee for that Restaurant. The total investment necessary to develop from 2 to 5 Restaurants is $89,502 to 930,591 for Traditional Restaurants; $387,118 to $712,047 for End-Cap Strip Mall Restaurants / Drive Thru; $900,696 to $936,690 for Free-Standing Restaurants w/ Drive Thru.

Veteran Incentives  $2,000 off first-store franchise fee
"Entrepreneur
#59 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#78 in Franchise 500 for 2021.






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