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Updated RecentlyFriendly's Restaurants vs Giorgio Restaurants Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Friendly's Restaurants vs Giorgio Restaurants including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $498,500 - $1,950,000 | $175,000 - $500,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $30,000 - $35,000 | $25,000 - $50,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% | 4.5%-7% |
| Advertising Fee | 3.5% | - |
| Year Founded | 1935 | - |
| Year Franchised | 1996 | - |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | - |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | - |
| Renewal Fee | $5K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/No | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| 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 |
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| US Expansion | Yes | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | No | - |
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 Giorgio Restaurants
The first GIORGIO restaurant opened on Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal
in December 1977. Between November 1979 and June 1984, the evolution of
the concept continued and GIORGIO acquired a solid reputation in a short
time. Over the past five years, GIORGIO has maintained a growth rate of
one branch per year in the regions of Montréal, Laval and the South
Shore. The chain now has 6 branches. With 40 years of experience, Giorgio Ristorante is a true institution of Italian catering. And that's not all, you can Bring Your own Wine!