Checkers Drive-In vs Windmill Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Checkers Drive-In vs Windmill including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$259,000 - $1,431,000 | $127,500 - $322,500 |
Franchise Fee |
$30,000 | $27,500 |
Royalty Fee |
4% | 5% |
Advertising Fee |
4.5% | 4% |
Year Founded |
1986 | - |
Year Franchised |
1989 | - |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
- | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
Industry experience General business experience | - |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/Yes | -/- |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | -/- |
Equipment |
No/Yes | -/- |
Inventory |
No/Yes | -/- |
Receivables |
No/Yes | -/- |
Payroll |
No/Yes | -/- |
Training & Support |
Training |
On-The-Job Training: 160-220 hours
Classroom Training: 32-40 hours
Additional Training: In training restaurant
| The WindMill training program is designed to take you from the ground up. Each individual franchisee will receive a hand-tailored program based upon their prior knowledge. Training is conducted in a corporate-owned restaurant and a minimum of eighty hours is required. |
Support |
Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection | - |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | - |
Operations |
- | - |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | - |
International Expansion |
Yes | - |
Company Overviews
About Checkers Drive-In
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. Checkers develops, produces, owns, operates, and franchises quick service “double drive-thru” restaurants under the two brand names “Checkers" and “Rally’s Hamburgers". The restaurants are designed to provide fast and efficient automobile-oriented service and appeal to guests of all ages. The double drive-thru concept allows Checkers' and Rally’s Hamburgers to capitalize on the fact that approximately fifty percent of all quick-service food business is drive-thru. Guests can also enjoy a 1950’s flashback with walk-up ordering and outdoor dining in the outside picnic area at most locations.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Checkers
Restaurant (excluding real estate and related
costs) is: $780,000 to $1,431,000 for a new modular design single
drive-thru restaurant; $320,500 to $787,000 for a site built, conversion
or used modular drive-thru restaurant; $259,700 to $648,000 for an
endcap strip-center and gas/convenience restaurant; and $254,000 to
$514,000 for a Non-Traditional, Walmart or in-line restaurant in a
high-density market. This includes $10,000 to $50,000 that must be paid
to the franchisor or an affiliate, plus $10,000 for each additional
restaurant that you agree to develop under a development agreement.
Veteran Incentives Franchise fee waived
#11 in Gator's Top franchises.
In Franchise Business Reviews Top 200.
#76 on Franchise Rankings.com
#198 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#162 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About Windmill
Your Own WindMill Franchise!
Call 800-558-3608 for Franchise Information
Nothing compares to the WindMill food experience and nothing will compare with the satisfaction that you will derive from being an owner of a WindMill franchise.
Totally Committed to YOUR Success...
The WindMill team is totally committed to your success and to the success of your restaurant. Our experts will be able to take you from beginner to expert in just thirty days! They will also be able to provide you with just the right amount of support during each phase of the opening. They are prepared to offer comprehensive support to those new to the industry, and to the more experienced franchisee, just the guidance and support unique to the WindMill operation.
WindMill Gourmet Fast Food is simply that; "food that is of the highest quality and perfectly prepared. "WindMill private label Bigger! Better! Hot Dogs are prepared in a northern New Jersey plant and shipped to the WindMill Distribution Center. WindMill Fresh Meat 100% Beef Burgers are ground by local butchers and delivered directly to the stores on a day-to-day basis. The entree menu is rounded out by Charbroiled Gourmet Chicken Breasts, second to none; custom-cut Rib-Eye Steak Sandwiches; a limited variety of other tasty entree sandwiches and in some locations, fresh salads.
Boasting almost as much popularity as the WindMill Hot Dogs are the WindMill French Fries. Our golden crinkle-cut fries smothered with savory cheese sauce (a tradition developed in the original WindMill over thirty years ago) has helped to put the WindMills in a fast food category all by themselves!