Culver vs Chicken Kitchen Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Culver Franchise
Chicken Kitchen Franchise
Investment $2,349,000 - $5,356,000$300,000 - $500,000
Franchise Fee $55,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee 2.5%2%local+1%Nat'l
Year Founded 1984-
Year Franchised 1988-
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Renewal Fee $30K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Culver Franchise
Chicken Kitchen Franchise
Experience -Restaurant or hospitality experience is highly desirable, but not a pre-requisite to become a Chicken Kitchen franchisee. Chicken Kitchen is seeking highly motivated, energetic, hard working operators with an unrelenting commitment to serving quality food and total customer satisfaction

Financing Options

 
Culver Franchise
Chicken Kitchen 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
Chicken Kitchen 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)

Type of operator required: hands-on owner

Expansion Plans

 
Culver Franchise
Chicken Kitchen Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion No-

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 Chicken Kitchen

Chicken Kitchen is ready to offer a very select group of individuals and corporations the opportunity to expand our concept in other markets across the USA and internationally, thru Franchising, Partnerships and Joint Ventures. We are looking for strong hands-on or proven Operators to partner with. At Chicken Kitchen we strongly believe that the future success of our concept is tied to the quality of the Operators that we will select. It is their hard work, leadership, passion, skills, dedication, financial resources and approach to business that will make Chicken Kitchen a great success.

That’s why we take great care and time in selecting our Partners/Operators. We are just looking for the right fit. Please let us know what market(s) you are interested in and if you are interested in the Franchise, Partnership or Joint Venture program?