Culver vs WingHouse Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Culver Franchise
WingHouse Franchise
Investment $2,349,000 - $5,356,000$928,000 - $1,926,000
Franchise Fee $55,000$50,000 - $135,000
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 2.5%-
Year Founded 1984-
Year Franchised 1988-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee $30K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Culver Franchise
WingHouse Franchise
Experience -To be successful as an owner of a WingHouse Restaurant, you need to be passionate about the WingHouse concept; you must embrace the WingHouse Culture & Mission Statement; yourself or your operating partner must have previous full service restaurant operations and ownership experience. At least one of the owners of the WingHouse restaurant must have prior experience operating full service restaurants. The minimum ownership of the operating partner must be at least 10% of the business.

Financing Options

 
Culver Franchise
WingHouse 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
WingHouse Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesRestaurant Operations - Benchmarking and Key Operating Metrics; Cost Controls and Operating Manuals Restaurant Technology & Information Systems - Point-of-Sale; Back-of-House Reporting; Remote Access & Monitoring Training - Opening; Staffing; Food Preparation; Policy & Procedures Restaurant Development - Market Planning; Site Selection and Negotiation; Concept Plans; Project Scheduling
Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingExtensive media library using multiple formats to drive guest traffic, average check and repeat guests
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
WingHouse Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
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 WingHouse

WingHouse is a full-service, casual dining restaurant. Founded in 1994, the keys to our success have been a focus on excellence in restaurant operations and customer service. Each successful WingHouse location will have the following attributes: Brilliant on the Basics - Highly-Satisfied Repeat Guests The WingHouse Girl - Attractive, Polite and a Big Smile "The Girl Next Door" The Food - High-Quality, Oversized Portions at a Great Value The Atmosphere - Fun, casual, friendly environment The Management - Hands-on Managers that interact with guests and staff. The "mayor" of their market. Our company’s mission statement is to be brilliant on the basics. In our business that means highly satisfied guests. We believe in repeat customers that frequent our establishment often. We emphasize over-sized entrees and a great value. We provide a very casual and relaxed atmosphere, with continuous music throughout our establishment. We operate in a clean and safe environment with strict adherence to our policies and procedures. A main attraction to our store is the "World Famous WingHouse Girl." "The Girl Next Door" that is always polite and always smiling with a great positive outlook on life. If we execute all these ingredients and are "Brilliant on the Basics," we feel that the WingHouse will be a success in any neighborhood.