McDonald's vs Spicy Pickle Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
McDonald's Franchise
Spicy Pickle Franchise
Investment $1,314,500 - $2,306,500$300,000
Franchise Fee $45,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee 4%+-
Year Founded 19551999
Year Franchised 19552003
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Renewal Fee $45K20% of then-current fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
McDonald's Franchise
Spicy Pickle Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • People skills
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Spicy Pickle Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Spicy Pickle Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant -
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

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

    		 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 12 - 15

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Spicy Pickle Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About McDonald's

    Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, ventured to California in 1954 to visit McDonald's hamburger stand, where he heard they were running eight mixers at once. Kroc was impressed by how rapidly customers were served and, seeing an opportunity to sell many more milkshake machines, encouraged brothers Dick and Mac McDonald to open a chain of their restaurants. Kroc became their business partner and opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
    McDonald's brand is in 122 countries around the world. Thirty thousand locations serve 51 million customers each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent local business people. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.


    "Top   ""  "Entrepreneur

      "franchiserankingscom"                                                                                                                         
    #7 on Franchise Rankings.com                                                                                                                                                            
    #3 in Canada's top franchises.
    #3 in Franchise 500 for 2020
    #11 in Franchise 500 for 2021










    About Spicy Pickle

    Spicy Pickle is looking for experienced restaurant operators who also have the financial ability and marketing expertise to develop territory. Spicy Pickle restaurants are in relatively small footprints and can, when properly developed, operated and marketed, produce attractive returns for the investment. Spicy pickle has earned a reputation for serving delicious culinary inspired food that caters mostly to the daytime working populations in a fast casual atmosphere. We are looking for franchisees who have earned a similar reputation for success in their hometowns and are looking for this type of opportunity. If this describes you we encourage you make application and set up a visit to our Corporate headquarters. Be prepared to present a business plan for the roll out of Spicy Pickle restaurants in your chosen development area. We have in place the infrastructure to assist you from initial financial projections to site selection and lease negotiation to build-out assistance, training, grand opening and ongoing marketing and operational support. We are experienced franchisors and restaurant operators and are looking for franchisee partners to help expand the brand. What we need you to have: * Significant business experience and references, preferably in the retail environment and specifically in restaurant operations. * Sufficient financial strength to open several Spicy Pickle restaurants as locations become available (at least $1 Million dollars of liquidity). * Strong ties to the local community. * A desire to build, own and operate your own business, and entrepreneur. * Enthusiasm and the ability to wake up every day with an opportunistic attitude.