Fuddruckers vs Checkers Drive-In Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Fuddruckers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Investment	$495,000 - $1,565,000	$259,000 - $1,431,000
Franchise Fee	$35,000	$30,000
Royalty Fee	5%	4%
Advertising Fee	.25%	4.5%
Year Founded	1980	1986
Year Franchised	1983	1989
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Renewal Fee	$25K	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Fuddruckers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Experience	Industry experience General business experience	Industry experience General business experience
Financing Options
	Fuddruckers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/No	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/No	No/Yes
Equipment	No/No	No/Yes
Inventory	No/No	No/Yes
Receivables	No/No	No/Yes
Payroll	No/No	No/Yes
Training & Support
	Fuddruckers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Training	6-week training program	On-The-Job Training: 160-220 hours Classroom Training: 32-40 hours Additional Training: In training restaurant
Support	Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations	Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
Marketing	Regional advertising	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations	53% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (99% of current franchisees are owner/operators)	-
Expansion Plans
	Fuddruckers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
US Expansion	-	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	Yes	Yes

Company Overviews

About Fuddruckers

The first Fuddruckers opened in San Antonio, Texas in 1980 with a classic American nostalgia theme. Fuddruckers operates and franchises more than 200 restaurants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Middle East. The emphasis today is the same as it was in 1980 - we use only the freshest ingredients. Our restaurants serve only the freshest beef and feature on-premise bakeries where bread and dessert items are baked fresh daily. It's truly a "build-your-own meal" experience.

About Checkers Drive-In

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. Checkers develops, produces, owns, operates, and franchises quick service “double drive-thru” restaurants under the two brand names “Checkers" and “Rally’s Hamburgers". The restaurants are designed to provide fast and efficient automobile-oriented service and appeal to guests of all ages. The double drive-thru concept allows Checkers' and Rally’s Hamburgers to capitalize on the fact that approximately fifty percent of all quick-service food business is drive-thru. Guests can also enjoy a 1950’s flashback with walk-up ordering and outdoor dining in the outside picnic area at most locations.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Checkers Restaurant (excluding real estate and related costs) is: $780,000 to $1,431,000 for a new modular design single drive-thru restaurant; $320,500 to $787,000 for a site built, conversion or used modular drive-thru restaurant; $259,700 to $648,000 for an endcap strip-center and gas/convenience restaurant; and $254,000 to $514,000 for a Non-Traditional, Walmart or in-line restaurant in a high-density market. This includes $10,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate, plus $10,000 for each additional restaurant that you agree to develop under a development agreement.