Friendly's Restaurants vs Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
Investment $498,500 - $1,950,000$250,001 - $450,000
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $35,000N/A
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 3.5%-
Year Founded 19351975
Year Franchised 19962009
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • Previous experience in operating a cafe is an advantage, but not a necessity in owning a Shingle Inn Cafe. Our experienced personnel will provide comprehensive training in cafe management, ordering, rostering, customer service and marketing during our six week pre-opening training program. You will also receive ongoing support and regular visits from your assigned Area Manager.

    Financing Options

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Shingle Inn Cafes 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
    Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
    Training -6 week pre-opening franchisee training program. The initial weeks will consist of meeting key personnel and undertaking training across all facets of the business, including business management, customer service and sales, health and safety, and marketing. Training will also include planning your opening marketing promotions with the help of our experienced marketing team. Following this you'll undertake a minimum of four weeks training in-store. In this environment you will gain essential experience in the hands-on operation of a Shingle Inn cafe. In-store training provides you with a comprehensive insight into all facets of the business, including product knowledge, customer service skills, food and beverage preparation, store presentation, as well as in-store systems and training. You will also complete our Barista Training Program during this time.
    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)

    The average cafe has two full time Supervisors, up to 3 casual barista's (working different times), and 2 casual Kitchen Specialists. Further to this approximately 7 wait (table) staff, all casual , in a mix of seniors and juniors. Normally you would establish a pool of 10 to 12 casual wait staff to choose from for any given shift.

    Expansion Plans

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion NoYes

    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 Shingle Inn Cafes

    Shingle Inn offers aspiring franchisees with a passion for hospitality the opportunity to own an exceptional boutique cafe and be part of a network that has been delighting generations of customers since 1936. The Shingle Inn experience starts the moment customers enter our cafes. Luxurious high-back chairs, warm rich colours and decorative lamps together with our signature range of decadent cakes, coffee and delicious menu choices has helped us establish a renowned boutique cafe brand that is well-known for its exceptional customer service. Supported by our proven business system, these elements provide a strong foundation for your success. Our menu is regularly updated to ensure we are delighting our customers with an exceptional dining experience. Our products are baked and delivered daily to each cafe to ensure freshness and continuity and most importantly, allowing you to concentrate on creating memorable customer experiences in-store. If you share our passion for exceptional customer experiences, join the Shingle Inn family and embrace the tradition that has become part of the quintessential Shingle Inn Cafe experience - it's the reason a special occasion shared at a Shingle Inn Cafe is carried through from one generation to the next.Shingle Inn currently operates across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, ACT and Western Australia with expansion plans for New Zealand.Shingle Inn is unsurpassed in today's cafe culture for a number of reasons: 1. Brand Our iconic brand has a unique identity within the cafe market. 2. Systems and support Our long history and reputable store network is evidence of our established support and systems 3. Products Our superior quality products and delicious coffee made by expertly trained baristas is unrivalled. 4. Family culture Our ongoing commitment to exceeding customers expectations in-store extends to the relationships we like to cultivate with all our stakeholders.