Culver vs Hot Dog On A Stick Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Culver Franchise
Hot Dog On A Stick Franchise
Investment $2,349,000 - $5,356,000$338,200 - $556,000
Franchise Fee $55,000$15,000 - $25,000
Royalty Fee 4%6%
Advertising Fee 2.5%2%
Year Founded 19841946
Year Franchised 19881995
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee $30K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Culver Franchise
Hot Dog On A Stick Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Culver Franchise
Hot Dog On A Stick 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
Hot Dog On A Stick Franchise
Training - On-The-Job Training: 32.5 hours Classroom Training: 35.5 hours Additional Training: At training store
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
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)

-

Expansion Plans

 
Culver Franchise
Hot Dog On A Stick Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion NoYes

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 Hot Dog On A Stick

Our first store opened at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California in 1946. Our founder, Dave Barham, was a charismatic and enlightened personality who understood the value of treating people to an experience as opposed to a service. In short, he built his business around the concepts of putting people first, and giving them a show. His approach was extremely successful. By 1990 Hot Dog on a Stick had become an icon in our primary venue, shopping malls, with 60 stores operating in 12 states.
After Dave passed away in 1991, we became an employee owned corporation (ESOP) led by a management team he had mentored over the years. This team has successfully overseen Hot Dog on a Stick's expansion to over 103 stores in 17 states.
Veteran Incentives  25% off franchise fee