City Wok vs Panda Express Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of City Wok vs Panda Express including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
City Wok Franchise
Panda Express Franchise
Investment $243,400 - $568,500$377,100 - $1,884,000
Franchise Fee $30,000N/A
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19901983
Year Franchised 20041983
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
City Wok Franchise
Panda Express Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Panda Express 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
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Panda Express Franchise
    Training --
    Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (65% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Panda Express Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About City Wok

    The dream was a contemporary yet casual restaurant offering authentic, upscale Asian cuisine. Today, City Wok is proud to be recognized by Restaurant Hospitality magazine as personifying the future of fast-casual dining.

    Stuart Davis opened his first City Wok in 1990, working extensively with Hing Fan Chan, an executive chef trained in Kowloon, China. While other restaurants may water down, Americanize or over-expand their menus to appeal to the masses, Davis created the City Wok concept from his desire to deliver authentic Chinese dishes in a style that appeals to Americans.

    About Panda Express

    "Panda

    Panda Restaurant Group operates all of our restaurants with the exception of select locations in airports, universities, military bases, hospitals, casinos, amusement parks and stadiums. We do not offer franchises at this time.