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Updated RecentlyGolden Corral vs Country Kitchen Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Golden Corral vs Country Kitchen including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $2,700,795 - $7,037,915 | $425,000 - $1,685,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $40,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% | 4% |
| Advertising Fee | 2.4% | 3% local + 1% Int'l |
| Year Founded | 1973 | 1939 |
| Year Franchised | 1986 | 1958 |
| Term Of Agreement | 15 years | 20 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 15 years | 20 years |
| Renewal Fee | 15 years (plus two, 5-year renewal options) | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/Yes | -/- |
| Equipment | No/Yes | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| Training | On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location | Our Education and Training programs help you build an enthusiastic Country Kitchen team with a passion for Absolute Guest Satisfaction. Training videos, operations manuals and on-site training crews are just a few of the tools designed to help your restaurant run efficiently as a team. In addition, we offer a 6 to 10 week hands-on training course at a certified training restaurant, new store opening support and Management Leadership Seminars to build and strengthen your management team. |
| Support | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform | We will provide on-site visitations with a Franchise Consultant. They will cover topics such as financial performance review, operational evolution, sales building, cost controls, and staff (management and hourly) development providing you with sound business advice and direction. We provide such operational tools like our Recruitment, Selection and Retention Library, our Recipe Card System, and our customized M.O.R.E. Operations Manual. And while you can't replace on-site visits and one-on-one interaction, it's nice to know we have programs in place structured to help you overcome every obstacle along the way. |
| Marketing | National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Our brand-building promotions offer innovative products with excellent profit margins. We provide effective point-of-purchase materials, award-winning menus and multimedia advertising opportunities to support your operation. Additionally, Country Kitchen offers full local restaurant marketing support with our in-house creative team. From grand opening events and simple advertisements to local market research, we help drive the success of you and your operation. |
| Operations |
International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 80% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 100 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | With almost 70 years of successful operations, we've just about seen it all. We've created the operational synergies that make us a world-class franchise system. Driving this synergy is our team of seasoned franchise consultants, who provide you with the building blocks for a successful operation. |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | Yes | - |
Company Overviews
About Golden Corral
Golden Corral restaurants began as budget steakhouses located principally in small cities from Virginia to Texas. In the mid-1980s, guest requests prompted Golden Corral to reinvent itself by introducing the Buffet & Grill Metro unit that features 160 hot and cold items, a carving station, and the Brass Bell Bakery, which offers rolls, muffins, cookies, pies and pizza made from scratch. The buffet was expanded in 2001 to include cooked-to-order sirloin steaks.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a restaurant
ranges from $2,700,795 to $5,340,215 for the less expensive restaurant
design, and from $3,453,379 to $7,037,915 for the more expensive
restaurant design. This amount includes $51,400 to $4,482,285 that must
or may be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
#90 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
About Country Kitchen
For over 80 years, Country Kitchen has been a place where guests
feel like they’re coming home. The food is always fresh, the smiles
stretch a country mile and breakfast can be any time of the day! Light
and fluffy pancakes, skillets and omelettes packed with fresh
ingredients, thick and juicy burgers, savory sandwiches, hearty dinners,
and homemade desserts can be enjoyed at one of our many locations
throughout the country!
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Country Kitchen
ranges from $575,000 to $1,685,000 for a standard Country Kitchen and
$425,000 to 895,000 for a limited service café style Country Kitchen ,
exclusive of the cost of real estate. These totals include $40,000 that
must be paid to the franchisor. The amount paid to the franchisor will
increase if you also sign an Area Development Agreement because that
agreement requires that in addition to payment of the $40,000 initial
franchise fee for the first Country Kitchen you also are required to pay
us a deposit of $20,000 for each additional Country Kitchen to be
opened under the Area Development Agreement.