Friendly's Restaurants vs Shoney's Restaurants Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Shoney's Restaurants Franchise
Investment $498,500 - $1,950,000$568,000 - $2,800,000
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $35,000$25,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 4%2.5-3.5%
Advertising Fee 3.5%-
Year Founded 19351968
Year Franchised 19961971
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Shoney's Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • Solid business experience Multi-unit management Proven expertise in retail (food and beverage a plus) Previous franchise experience advantageous


    Financing Options

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Shoney's Restaurants Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Shoney's Restaurants Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media-
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 62% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Shoney's Restaurants Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Friendly's Restaurants

    In Springfield, Massachusetts at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, 20 year-old Prestley Blake and his 18 year-old brother Curtis opened an ice cream shop called 'Friendly' that served double-dip cones for 5 cents. The brothers opened a second shop five years later in West Springfield, Massachusetts and added food to the menu. Within a decade, locations opened throughout western Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1988 Donald N. Smith, the company's current CEO, purchased the company and a year later added an 's' to the name, making it 'Friendly's.'

    In May 2000, Friendly's introduced a new food and dessert menu featuring colossal burgers, sandwich wraps, splits, sundaes and Cyclones. Friendly's produces 10 million snack cups and 230,000 gallons of fudge every year. In addition to its restaurants and cafes, Friendly's manufactures a complete line of frozen desserts.

    About Shoney's Restaurants

    Since 1947, Shoney’s has been known for authentic southern dishes that are available for breakfast, lunch, supper and to-go.
    Today, after completing an extensive revitalization program that includes a focus on freshly prepared, innovative menu items, beautifully redesigned restaurants with flat screen TV’s and modern furnishings and the commitment to give back to the communities we serve, Shoney’s truly is better than ever.
    Shoney’s is a Nashville-based company with more than 140 restaurants located in 16 states. Each restaurant strives to give back and be a pillar to the community, which is the hallmark of Shoney’s culture. We support local schools, sports teams, the military, firefighters, police, EMTs and more.
    From San Antonio, Texas to Dover, Ohio and every location in between, our restaurants are committed to partner with the communities we serve.

    Grow with us! Make Shoney’s a part of your future and invest in a business you’ll be proud to own.