Culver vs Hero Certified Burgers Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Culver Franchise
Hero Certified Burgers Franchise
Investment $2,349,000 - $5,356,000$60,000 - $80,000
Franchise Fee $55,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 2.5%-
Year Founded 19842003
Year Franchised 19882003
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee $30K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Culver Franchise
Hero Certified Burgers Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Culver Franchise
Hero Certified Burgers Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
Equipment No/Yes-/-
Inventory No/Yes-/-
Receivables No/Yes-/-
Payroll No/Yes-/-

Training & Support

 
Culver Franchise
Hero Certified Burgers 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)

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Expansion Plans

 
Culver Franchise
Hero Certified Burgers Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
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 Hero Certified Burgers

When you buy a franchise, you take a leap of faith. You know that success depends on sacrifice, dedication and hard work, but you also know that it can be an exciting journey with many rewards.

You’ve considered HERO because our brand reputation is solid, our sustainable food is excellent, and our training and support exceptional.

We have remained focused to our commitment to our customers to make every visit to Hero Burgers a special one. Every time they think of having a freshly prepared, made to order, a better for you burger….
their first choice will be Hero Certified Burgers.

We’ve come a long way since we launched our first restaurant in 2003, with 50 locations now in operation in Ontario, Manhattan New York, and Montreal.

But success never sleeps.

Join the HERO family and be our partner on the next leg of the journey.

Our goal is to deliver the best tasting food and the highest quality service in a clean environment for a fair price. Our commitment to quality ensures that all our burgers are from natural free-range beef and hormone-free and antibiotic-free, cooked medium-well.