Cousins Subs vs Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cousins Subs vs Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Cousins Subs Franchise
Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise
Investment $119,200 - $300,800$338,050 - $610,000
Franchise Fee $25,000N/A
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 2%2%
Year Founded 19722005
Year Franchised 19852008
Term Of Agreement 10 years +10-
Term Of Agreement 10 years +10-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Cousins Subs Franchise
Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Cousins Subs Franchise
    Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe 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/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Cousins Subs Franchise
    Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 185 hours Classroom Training: 53 hours Additional Training: 21 days training total Training is about 6 weeks long at a Pickleman's Corporate Location. Pickleman’s does not charge for the initial training program for you and 1 designated manager. You are responsible for wages, travel, and living expenses for the duration of training.
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform -
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app -
    Operations 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Cousins Subs Franchise
    Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise
    US Expansion NoYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Cousins Subs

    Great food. High quality. Good value. Committed. These are the words our guests and franchisees use to describe the Cousins Subs opportunity. Our guests love our food, and our franchisees respect our organization. Our vision of excellence is what keeps us growing and keeps our guests coming back on a regular basis. We are Cousins Subs , a leader in the growing QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) segment of the restaurant industry. Cousins Subs  competitive advantages include:
     - Being a cash business with low receivables and little inventory.
     - Having a multi-unit market penetration strategy.
     - Possessing an in-depth understanding of the future of our business and industry
     - Offering innovative and automated business systems.
     We invite you to visit several of our locations, and contact us to learn more. Whether you are interested in developing an entire market or to begin with a single unit franchise, Cousins Subs  is your franchise of choice!

    Seeking new franchisees in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin

    Veteran Incentives  $5,000 off franchise fee

    About Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe

    After working in the franchise and restaurant industry for 16 years Doug Stritzel, founder and owner of Pickleman’s, began his quest to realize his longtime dream of building a distinct new dining concept.
    In October 2005 Doug opened the first Pickleman’s in Columbia, MO. In January 2008 the second Pickleman’s was opened. Today, Pickleman’s has 22 locations and counting, three in Columbia, MO, two in Springfield, MO, six in St Louis, MO, one in Lincoln, NE, one in Lawrence, KS, four in Kansas City, two in Omaha, NE, and one in Norman, OK.

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    Pickleman’s focuses above all on using the highest quality product and creating profound and unique flavor profiles people love. Offering a wide array of all natural products with the freshest ingredients gives our Toasted Sandwiches, Pizzas, Soups, Salads and Desserts a quality that sets us apart. Our Delivery and Catering services allow us to serve large groups, cater events, and provide you with our superior service at your door.
    Doug has plans to expand the Pickleman’s franchise and share his passion for high quality food with the world. His goal is to establish and continue to develop his own brand and someday be successful enough to spend lots of time with two wonderful children, Jack and Audrey.

    At Pickleman's, we are committed to helping aspiring entrepreneurs make their dreams a reality. We believe that franchising benefits our company, entrepreneurs like you, and our customers. Combining our proven business model with your drive and ambition can produce an excellent experience for our customers, which in turn leads to more business and greater profits for everyone involved.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe is from $338,050 to $610,000. This includes the $30,415 to $31,400 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates. If you want to obtain area development rights pursuant to an Area Development Agreement, you will pay a Development Fee of ½ of the Initial Franchise Fee for each proposed Unit when you sign the Area Development Agreement.