Chester's vs Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Chester's vs Buffalo's Southwest Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Chester's Franchise
Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise
Investment $12,385 - $277,313$491,500 - $1,464,000
Franchise Fee $3,500$50,000
Royalty Fee -6%
Advertising Fee -2%
Year Founded 19521985
Year Franchised 20041989
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Chester's Franchise
Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    • Buffalo's requires a minimum net worth of $1,500,000 (excluding automobiles, furnishings and personal residences), with a minimum of $500,000 in liquid assets. Liquid assets are defined as those which can be converted to cash within thirty (30 days).
    • The cost of establishing a Buffalo's restaurant will vary according to the size of the facility, relative land issues and the extent of necessary leasehold improvements. Twenty-five percent of the total cost must be funded from personal resources. The remainder may be funded through traditional financial institutions or our approved lending sources.

    Financing Options
     
    Chester's Franchise
    Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Chester's Franchise
    Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 30 hours Classroom Training: 3 hours Ongoing training as required Proper training is absolutely essential for maintaining the consistency and integrity of the Buffalo's operation. To that end, we set rigorous standards for staff development. Franchisees will receive a detailed and comprehensive curriculum on operating their Buffalo's business. Every franchisee receives a set of Buffalo's manuals containing the entire training program. These can be kept on hand for reference to direct their daily operations. They provide quick and convenient information -- answering franchisee's questions regarding all operating procedures. Before a Franchisee can open their first Buffalo’s Cafe restaurant, the proposed primary operators of the restaurant will attend the Buffalo’s Cafe training course for 4-6 weeks. A Principal Owner will also participate in a 2 week Executive Training program. The franchisee is responsible for all costs incurred including travel and lodging of the management team
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet PlatformWhen a franchisee joins the Buffalo's Cafe family they benefit from the experience of a professional management team and a well-thought-out plan to help get their store(s) up and running quickly. When a franchisee joins the Buffalo's Cafe family, they receive support from an organization committed to success.
    Marketing Ad Templates Social mediaFollowing the development of a new site, the Buffalo's Cafe New Store Opening Guide and marketing department will assist a franchisee in planning their store opening. Franchisee's can rest assured that the Buffalo's team will be there to make sure the opening is a successful one. A handy Local Store Marketing Guide full of great promotional ideas and instructions for building store traffic is also available to franchisees.
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		Each franchisee is assigned a Buffalo's Cafe Franchise Consultant. The Buffalo's Cafe Franchise Consultants are available at all times to support franchisees, assure consistency of the Buffalo's Cafe brand and to assist franchisees in all areas of operations including financial analysis, marketing promotions and vendor selection.

    Expansion Plans
     
    Chester's Franchise
    Buffalo's Southwest Cafe Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Chester's

    Chester’s serves Great Tasting Fresh Fried Chicken that’s cooked to perfection, with a unique taste and style. Our secret is a family recipe and process that’s been successful for over 40 years. Chester’s brings you delicious fried chicken, tempting tenders, sandwiches, wraps, salads, breakfast items and more. And that’s not all we’re known for! Our chicken is complimented by our signature Potato Wedges, Chester’s Original Sauce and delicious biscuits and sides. We offer a great deal of flexibility in the placement of Chester’s including restaurant-in-store (convenience stores, truck stops, supermarkets), co-branded with other national brands, malls and food-courts, and in-line shopping center locations. And there is variety in our menu formats, including take-out only, take-out and dine-in. We can tailor the restaurant to meet your needs and to properly position Chester’s in your market.

    "Entrepreneur

    #180 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #112 in Franchise 500 for 2021.


    About Buffalo's Southwest Cafe

    Our first restaurant opened its doors in 1985 in Roswell, Georgia. Since then, we’ve grown to over 25 Buffalo’s Cafe restaurants around the world (with plenty more coming soon to a city near you). Revered by our fans for our world-famous buffalo-style chicken wings and sauces - Buffalo’s Cafe is committed to serving the highest quality, fresh never frozen, buffalo-style chicken wings and sauces in a family-friendly environment with an exceptional guest experience. Most importantly, all you really need to know "About Us” are these two things: Wings and Family. Why are these so important to us? Because that’s what our fans want and that’s what we care about - making our fans happy.
    For qualified individuals, Buffalo's Southwest Cafe can be a great opportunity for single or multi-unit operators.