BD's Mongolian Barbeque vs City Wok Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of BD's Mongolian Barbeque vs City Wok including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
BD's Mongolian Barbeque Franchise
City Wok Franchise
Investment $881,000 - $2,276,500$243,400 - $568,500
Franchise Fee $45,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19921990
Year Franchised 19962004
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee 50% of fee at time of renewal$5K


Business Experience Requirements
 
BD's Mongolian Barbeque Franchise
City Wok Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    BD's Mongolian Barbeque Franchise
    City Wok Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    BD's Mongolian Barbeque Franchise
    City Wok Franchise
    Training Company certified training restaurant-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsMeetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 75 - 100

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (65% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    BD's Mongolian Barbeque Franchise
    City Wok Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About BD's Mongolian Barbeque

    BD's Mongolian Barbeque is the world's number one Create Your Own Stir-Fry restaurant concept where the guests choose their own ingredients from a great variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, salads, sauces and spices. The food is then prepared by master grillers on a 600 degree 7-foot grill. Since 1992, has been delivering a unique, interactive dining experience that sets us apart from the competition. has created a growing band of loyal customers that believe passionately about their ability to take charge of their own dining event. We call this our "You Rule the Experience" philosophy. The guests don't just like bd's, they "love it" as they feel they can take ownership of their own dining experience.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a bd’s Mongolian Grill® Restaurant is $881,000 to $2,276,500. This includes $45,000 to $65,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    Development fees for Area Development Agreements are $45,000 for the first restaurant plus $10,000 for each additional restaurant that you agree to develop under the terms of the franchisor’s development schedule. These amounts will be credited against the payment of your initial franchise fees for each restaurant that you develop.

    About City Wok

    The dream was a contemporary yet casual restaurant offering authentic, upscale Asian cuisine. Today, City Wok is proud to be recognized by Restaurant Hospitality magazine as personifying the future of fast-casual dining.

    Stuart Davis opened his first City Wok in 1990, working extensively with Hing Fan Chan, an executive chef trained in Kowloon, China. While other restaurants may water down, Americanize or over-expand their menus to appeal to the masses, Davis created the City Wok concept from his desire to deliver authentic Chinese dishes in a style that appeals to Americans.