Culver vs Cousins Subs Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Culver Franchise
Cousins Subs Franchise
Investment $2,349,000 - $5,356,000$119,200 - $300,800
Franchise Fee $55,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4%6%
Advertising Fee 2.5%2%
Year Founded 19841972
Year Franchised 19881985
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years +10
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years +10
Renewal Fee $30K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Culver Franchise
Cousins Subs Franchise
Experience -
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Culver Franchise
    Cousins Subs 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/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Culver Franchise
    Cousins Subs Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 185 hours Classroom Training: 53 hours Additional Training: 21 days training total
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    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)

    		 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.


    Expansion Plans
     
    Culver Franchise
    Cousins Subs Franchise
    US Expansion YesNo
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    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






    About Cousins Subs

    Great food. High quality. Good value. Committed. These are the words our guests and franchisees use to describe the Cousins Subs opportunity. Our guests love our food, and our franchisees respect our organization. Our vision of excellence is what keeps us growing and keeps our guests coming back on a regular basis. We are Cousins Subs , a leader in the growing QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) segment of the restaurant industry. Cousins Subs  competitive advantages include:
     - Being a cash business with low receivables and little inventory.
     - Having a multi-unit market penetration strategy.
     - Possessing an in-depth understanding of the future of our business and industry
     - Offering innovative and automated business systems.
     We invite you to visit several of our locations, and contact us to learn more. Whether you are interested in developing an entire market or to begin with a single unit franchise, Cousins Subs  is your franchise of choice!

    Seeking new franchisees in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin

    Veteran Incentives  $5,000 off franchise fee