El Pollo Loco vs Bonchon Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of El Pollo Loco vs Bonchon including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
El Pollo Loco Franchise
Bonchon Franchise
Investment $900,000 - $1,755,000$503,879 - $1,099,004
Franchise Fee $40,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 2%-3%-4%3.75%- 4.75%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19752002
Year Franchised 19802002
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years+5+5
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years+5+5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
El Pollo Loco Franchise
Bonchon Franchise
Experience We require a minimum of five years of experience as an owner/operator within the restaurant industry. You must also live in the area of development in order to manage the restaurant on a daily basis.-

Financing Options
 
El Pollo Loco Franchise
Bonchon 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
 
El Pollo Loco Franchise
Bonchon Franchise
Training * Seven weeks pre-opening training for franchisee and restaurant managers * Franchise training consultants offering ongoing training programs for crew and management * Complete restaurant-opening supportFour-week initial training at our headquarters in New York City and an intensive 5 days on-site training during the store opening
Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
Marketing Has a proven history of successful marketing Is aligned with award-winning advertising agencies Utilizes a strategic approach to building a strong brand Is focused on driving traffic and sales profitably We provide a full array of targeted advertising tools and marketing plans to build awareness and drive customers into our restaurants through: Innovative marketing and advertising campaign Development and execution of bilingual promotional strategies Product innovation to fuel sustained growth Support for grand openings Marketing plans tailored to each market's needs Effective communication and support of franchisees' needs Access to El Pollo Loco's online LSM toolkit (at franchisees disposal) -
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

-

Expansion Plans
 
El Pollo Loco Franchise
Bonchon Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion NoYes

Company Overviews

About El Pollo Loco

In 1975, Juan Ochoa opened a roadside chicken stand in Guasace, Mexico, he called El Pollo Loco. Ochoa served chicken the same way his mother did, hand-marinating using an old family recipe and flame-broiling. The stand quickly grew in popularity, and over the next four years, Ochoa's family opened 85 restaurants in Northern Mexico. The chain moved into the United States in 1980 with the first restaurant opening on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, California. El Pollo Loco featured an authentic recipe of fresh chicken marinated in special herbs, spices and citrus juices, and then fire-grilled to perfection. The restaurant quickly became a local favorite. Over the years, El Pollo Loco has added tacos, burritos and salads to its menu, all featuring the Ochoa family's chicken. In 1995, the chain entered into a joint venture with Foster's Freeze to offer soft-serve treats at El Pollo Loco restaurants. Today, the tradition continues with signature dishes that satisfy consumers’ desire for flavorful food that fits well with today's active lifestyles. We're currently fire-grilling marinated chicken in about 400 company and franchise-owned El Pollo Loco restaurants.

Franchise fees apply to new and existing franchisees with multi-unit development agreements in new markets through March 31, 2018. The initial franchise fee has been cut to $30,000 for the first restaurant and $20,000 for each additional restaurant. The standard franchise fee is $40,000, and $30,000 for secondary units. The initial franchise fee for any restaurant opened in the calendar year ahead of the year in their development schedule will be cut by 50%. And any restaurants opened beyond the multi-development agreement will be eligible for a zero dollar initial franchise fee. Royalty fees have also been reduced for the first time in three years: 2% for the first year, 3% in the second year, and 4% in the third year. The standard royalty fee is 5%.



About Bonchon

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Bonchon Chicken is a global restaurant chain best known for its crunchy double-fried chicken, savory signature sauces, and unique pan-Asian menu.
Founded in 2002 in South Korea, “Bonchon” means “my hometown” in Korean and represents the company’s mission and commitment to authentic, traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, ensuring the highest level of quality, flavor, and care with each dish.
It is for these reasons, Bonchon was recognized by Business Insider in 2019 as “the gold standard for fried chicken,” beating out five major restaurant chains for “best chicken wings.” Bonchon was also recently named as a top-10 innovative restaurant in Fast Casual’s 2020 Top 100 Movers & Shakers,
further solidifying Bonchon’s position as a leader within the industry.
Today, Bonchon has over 340 locations worldwide, including more than 100 restaurants and franchise outposts across the United States.
  • Traditional sit-down: Restaurants provide a friendly, casual dining experience perfect for gathering with family or friends
  • Quick service / Fast Casual: Restaurants serve Bonchon to customers looking for express-style dining and to-go orders
  • Food Court Concept: Restaurants are streamlined and designed primarily for shopping malls and food courts
The total investment necessary to begin operation of one Bonchon Business is from $503,879 to $1,099,004 (not including real property), including $55,754 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
The total investment necessary to begin operation as a franchisee under an Area Development Agreement is from $32,000 to $105,000 (assuming, for the low end of the range, 3 and, for the high end of the range, 10 Businesses, although this is not a maximum), including $30,000 to $100,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.

#277 in Franchise 500 for 2021.  Not in Franchise 500 for 2020.