Friendly's Restaurants vs I Dream of Falafel Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
Investment $498,500 - $1,950,000$337,811 - $470,302
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $35,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee 3.5%3%
Year Founded 19352009
Year Franchised 19962011
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years +5+5
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years +5+5
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • Prior experience in foodservice is a plus but not required to join the I Dream of Falafel system. We look for franchise owners who have solid staff management and customer service skills. We are also seeking franchise owners who will be directly involved in the operations and growth of their I Dream of Falafel businesses, unless they have an operating partner with a minimum equity in the business. In turn, we'll provide the support franchisees need to run their I Dream of Falafel operations. We do, of course, also expect that franchisees have the right amount of capital to invest in the franchise.

    Financing Options

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    I Dream of Falafel Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-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

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    I Dream of Falafel Franchise
    Training -We will provide pre-opening franchisee training to up to three individuals for up to 28 days at our corporate support center, plus up to ten days of onsite assistance and training around the time of your restaurant's Grand Opening.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsWe will provide pre-opening franchisee training to up to three individuals for up to 28 days at our corporate support center, plus up to ten days of onsite assistance and training around the time of your restaurant's Grand Opening. As a franchise owner, you will have access to all I Dream of Falafel trademarks, recipes and procedures. We'll also present you with a copy of our confidential operations manual to help you run your restaurant properly on a day-to-day basis.
    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
    I Dream of Falafel Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    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 I Dream of Falafel

    A Flavorful Opportunity with the I Dream of Falafel Mediterranean Restaurant Franchise Consumers are not only looking for great taste and affordability but also varied, healthier menu options. The I Dream of Falafel Mediterranean restaurant franchise fulfills their wishes! According to a number of media sources, the popularity of Mediterranean cuisine1 (including hummus, chickpeas, yogurt, olive oil, and other items deemed healthful by consumers), continue to grow year over year, as does revenue from sales of Mediterranean-inspired menu selections That's why I Dream of Falafel is appealing to so many different types of customers: from younger students to older professionals, from families to singles, plus vegetarians and vegans, and more - just about everyone can find something to love. The I Dream of Falafel menu is streamlined, yet amazingly diverse, with a nearly limitless number of possible meal combinations and fresh options for all our guests.