Bar Louie vs I Dream of Falafel Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bar Louie vs I Dream of Falafel including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Bar Louie Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
Investment $923,500 - $3,707,333$337,811 - $470,302
Franchise Fee $50,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 2% local, 1%Nat'l3%
Year Founded 19912009
Year Franchised 20102011
Term Of Agreement -10 years +5+5
Term Of Agreement -10 years +5+5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Bar Louie Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
Experience

Just as there is no cookie cutter location, there is no cookie-cutter franchisee. A company's objective should determine if a potential franchisee is a good fit. For franchisees looking to build on a unique culture, franchisees should be excited for the opportunity to customize. Someone who wants to expand quickly through a replication and repetition rollout approach will not deliver the guest experience that customers should come to expect from the brand.

Prior experience in foodservice is a plus but not required to join the I Dream of Falafel system. We look for franchise owners who have solid staff management and customer service skills. We are also seeking franchise owners who will be directly involved in the operations and growth of their I Dream of Falafel businesses, unless they have an operating partner with a minimum equity in the business. In turn, we'll provide the support franchisees need to run their I Dream of Falafel operations. We do, of course, also expect that franchisees have the right amount of capital to invest in the franchise.

Financing Options
 
Bar Louie Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Bar Louie Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
Training -We will provide pre-opening franchisee training to up to three individuals for up to 28 days at our corporate support center, plus up to ten days of onsite assistance and training around the time of your restaurant's Grand Opening.
Support

We offer extensive support along the way, including: * Full support through the site identification and construction process * A comprehensive training program for restaurant teams * MALT (Music, Atmosphere, Lighting, Temperature) - the secret to creating the Bar Louie experience * Access to leading software and restaurant management tools * Compelling advertising and local store marketing materials * Extensive PR and social media programming

We will provide pre-opening franchisee training to up to three individuals for up to 28 days at our corporate support center, plus up to ten days of onsite assistance and training around the time of your restaurant's Grand Opening. As a franchise owner, you will have access to all I Dream of Falafel trademarks, recipes and procedures. We'll also present you with a copy of our confidential operations manual to help you run your restaurant properly on a day-to-day basis.
Marketing --
Operations --

Expansion Plans
 
Bar Louie Franchise
I Dream of Falafel Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Bar Louie

Bar Louie is a national collection of neighborhood bars featuring hand-crafted cocktails and spirits, delectable food and an inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy time with friends and mingle with new people. Founded in 1990 by Ted Kasmir and Roger Greenfield, Bar Louie has more than 100 locations across the United States and is growing through both franchising and corporate locations. Open during four parts of the day - lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night - Bar Louie is an award-winning concept with a progressively hip and lively atmosphere. Each Bar Louie is a local social, casual gathering spot - neighborhood bars and eateries that feature hand-crafted cocktails, spirits and delectable scratch food in an inviting, urban atmosphere. Each Bar Louie has a modern, relaxed vibe that expresses the brand’s identity, and no two locations are alike. Some are a cozy 5,000 square feet, while another boasts a roomy 11,000 square feet, with many other locations somewhere between. Layouts vary, as do local food and drink specials. Just as no two locations are like, there is no "cookie-cutter" type of franchise partner for Bar Louie. While existing franchisees have owned a business, each owner comes from a unique facet of life. Similarly, guests range from ages 25 to 54 and more than 50 percent are women. Another distinction is Bar Louie's four distinct day-parts - lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night - with the entire food and drink menu available all day, every day. This provides guests a perfect gathering place for family dinners, drinks with friends, watching sporting events and everything between. The average customer visit lasts longer than two hours.
Financially we require per location: $500K liquid assets, $1.5 million net worth.

The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Bar Louie Restaurant franchised business ranges from $923,500 to $3,707,333. This includes $50,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
The total initial investment necessary to begin operation as a Bar Louie Area Developer is $25,000 multiplied by the number of Bar Louie restaurants to be developed under the Development Agreement. This is the same amount that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.

About I Dream of Falafel

A Flavorful Opportunity with the I Dream of Falafel Mediterranean Restaurant Franchise Consumers are not only looking for great taste and affordability but also varied, healthier menu options. The I Dream of Falafel Mediterranean restaurant franchise fulfills their wishes! According to a number of media sources, the popularity of Mediterranean cuisine1 (including hummus, chickpeas, yogurt, olive oil, and other items deemed healthful by consumers), continue to grow year over year, as does revenue from sales of Mediterranean-inspired menu selections That's why I Dream of Falafel is appealing to so many different types of customers: from younger students to older professionals, from families to singles, plus vegetarians and vegans, and more - just about everyone can find something to love. The I Dream of Falafel menu is streamlined, yet amazingly diverse, with a nearly limitless number of possible meal combinations and fresh options for all our guests.