Circle K vs RaceTrac Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Circle K Franchise
RaceTrac Franchise
Investment $189,250 - $1,927,640$1,000,000 - $1,400,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 2.5%-5.5%3.5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%1.5%
Year Founded 19511934
Year Franchised 19951934
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Circle K Franchise
RaceTrac Franchise
Experience -The company is seeking qualified candidates to bring their talents to its growing brand. RaceTrac franchisees should have strategic agility, business acumen, integrity and the ability to build an effective team. Ideal candidates will possess a desire to join a hands-on business opportunity where franchisees are actively involved in the day-to-day operations. Finally, potential franchisees should have a net worth of at least $700,000 and liquidity of at least $350,000. Candidates who meet these preliminary qualifications will be required to make an initial investment ranging from approximately $1 million to $1.4 million. Figures vary depending on the size of the store, store location, and equipment costs.

Financing Options
 
Circle K Franchise
RaceTrac Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/Yes-/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Circle K Franchise
RaceTrac Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 24 hours Classroom Training: 56 hoursAs a franchisee, RaceTrac will provide you with all of the tools necessary to run a RaceTrac store, including a comprehensive training program and our proven experience in marketing, operations and merchandising. RaceTrac’s training team will provide new franchisees an extensive training program that consists of classroom and in-store instruction. Our comprehensive training will teach you how to deliver great service to guests who come to your modern, convenient store for quality food offers and wide product selection.
Support Ongoing Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform The RaceTrac operations team will begin supporting you immediately. The local regional team will support the franchisee with their intimate knowledge of Central Florida and business operations. This regional support includes a direct relationship with one of our dedicated Operations Supervisors. RaceTrac will also provide the franchisee with store opening support to assist with re-opening activities and make sure they get off to a great start as a RaceTrac franchisee.
Marketing Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app -
Operations Number of employees required to run: 10-

Expansion Plans
 
Circle K Franchise
RaceTrac Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion Yes-

Company Overviews

About Circle K

Why would you open a Circle K Franchise? We may be biased, but we think the convenience store industry - already massive in size - is poised for growth in the future. So why franchise with Circle K? Because it's a win-win proposition for you. If you are already an independent store owner with little or no local competition, Circle K can provide you operational advantages to keep you on top. If you're an independent store owner who competes against a large, nationally recognized convenience store chain, you need to have a powerful brand of your own - Circle K - to help you retain your existing customers and attract new ones.

At Circle K, our mission is to be the best and most convenient place to shop, and work. Our stores are known around the world for offering busy consumers a wide variety of quality products and services in a fast, friendly, and clean environment.

Your neighborhood Circle K store features our award-winning brand of the Freshest Coffee Going,® ThirstBuster® fountain drinks, beer, snacks, candy, ATMs, Talk And Go® Mobile prepaid wireless phones, Gift Cards, money orders, and general merchandise.

Many Circle K locations also sell quality branded fuels including Shell, BP, Marathon, 76®, Citgo, and Chevron.

The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Circle K convenience store franchise is from $614,250 to $1,927,640 for a newly constructed Circle K Store and $189,250 to $1,020,640 if you are converting an existing convenience store to a Circle K Store. This includes $26,000 to $27,750 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates whether you open a newly constructed Circle K Store or if you convert an existing convenience store to a Circle K Store.
If you purchase an existing company-operated Circle K Store from us, the amount you will pay to the franchisor is difficult to estimate based on real estate costs as well as the ancillary businesses usually associated with a convenience store and varies depending on the purchase price the franchisor negotiates.
The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Branded Business is from $8,390 to $67,390. Of this amount, there are not any fees paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
The total investment increases to $553,390 to $1,902,390 for a newly constructed or rebuilt Motor Fuel Business and $133,390 to $1,337,390 if you are converting an existing forecourt to a Motor Fuel Business. This includes $20,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates. The total investment noted in this paragraph for a Branded Business or a Motor Fuel Business is in addition to the total investment necessary to begin operations of the Circle K convenience store franchise.
Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee
"Top    ""   "Entrepreneur
#4 in Canada's top franchises.

"franchiserankingscom"
#88 on Franchise Rankings.com
#174 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#88 in Franchise 500 for 2021.






About RaceTrac

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, family-owned RaceTrac has been serving guests since 1934 and now operates over 500 convenience store locations in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. While operating under its mission of making people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable, many RaceTrac stores feature Swirl World frozen desserts, an expanded coffee bar, seating areas and free Wi-Fi. The company has been named a top workplace across the four states in which it operates, and has been recognized on Forbes list of largest private companies every year since 1998. In 2014,
Convenience StoreDecisions named RaceTrac as its “Chain of the Year.” RaceTrac willexpand into Tennessee beginning in 2019.