Checkers Drive-In vs Hot Fries Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Checkers Drive-In vs Hot Fries including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Hot Fries Franchise
Investment $259,000 - $1,431,000$166,997 - $374,900
Franchise Fee $30,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 4.5%-
Year Founded 1986-
Year Franchised 1989-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Hot Fries Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
    		• Strong Sales and Client Service Abilities • Good with Timing and Schedule Management • High Personal Standards • Able to Meet Initial Investment Requirements • Strong Sense of Integrity in Corporate and Client Relationships • A Willingness and Commitment to Excellent Service Targeted experiences for potential franchise owners may include: • Franchise Operations or Hospitality Service Industry Experience • Business Owner and/or Managerial Experience • Entrepreneurial team who wants to start a business

    Financing Options
     
    Checkers Drive-In Franchise
    Hot Fries Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-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
     
    Checkers Drive-In Franchise
    Hot Fries Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 160-220 hours Classroom Training: 32-40 hours Additional Training: In training restaurant 2-3 Weeks of training at Hot Fries HQ in Southern California beginning approximately 8 weeks before the franchise is scheduled to open for business • 1 week of training at your location to get your business started • 2 sessions per year, which can be up to 2 days of refresher/update training or meetings in each session • Ongoing support and guidance in building and operating your business
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site SelectionWhen you join the Hot Fries team as a franchise owner, you will receive outstanding support in a number of different exciting areas: • Operational Support • Marketing Support • Purchasing Support • Accounting and Legal Support • Ongoing Research and Development
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations --

    Expansion Plans
     
    Checkers Drive-In Franchise
    Hot Fries Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    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
    ""     "Top     "Entrepreneur
    #11 in Gator's Top franchises.
    In Franchise Business Reviews Top 200.

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #76 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #198 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #162 in Franchise 500 for 2021.






    About Hot Fries

    Never heard “gooder” before? That’s okay, you’ve never seen an opportunity like this before, either. Maybe we’ve let all that seasonings go to our heads, but we like to stay on top of the trends by offering an extensive menu with a local edge that includes regionalized fries, chicken and drinks. Hot Fries is hot because we’re everything that mega corporations aren’t. Passionate people instead of cold-hearted committees. Cooked-with-care instead of made-by-
    machine. Got-your-back instead of stab-in-the-back. If this sounds like your kind of business, we’ll be proud to have you.

    We start with the finest potatoes, slice them for maximum crispiness, flash-fry them to a perfect golden brown, and hand-season them while they’re hot.
    That’s what turns regular fries into Hot Fries!

    Hot Fries came into existence in order to offer to the world the best potatoes ever. Beside the fries, we have formulated a variety of special seasonings to enhance your experience when enjoying our fries. Our packaging, in which we serve the fries, has been designed so that you can eat the fries while walking around or enjoy them while sitting. It is our goal that you enjoy the tastes offered by Hot Fries as well as the experience of choosing, ordering and consuming our specialties that feature no trans fat oils & support sustainable farming!