Fresh City Kitchen vs Culver Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $726,000 - $1,140,000$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee -2.5%
Year Founded 19971984
Year Franchised 20031988
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Renewal Fee 25% of then-current fee$30K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    Culver Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    Training --
    Support

    A Fresh City consultant will be on location at your restaurant prior to the soft opening, to guide you through the first few days of business, and to assist in planning your grand opening. The Fresh City Franchise team will offer ongoing business consultation, and will share best practices as well as manuals and other training materials, as you grow your business.

    Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Fresh City will assist you in growing your business through the strategic and tactical implementation of Fresh City branding, marketing, and promotions. You will be provided with materials and programs to help you begin positioning your Fresh City restaurant in your community. Additionally, the Fresh City community support and service program -"Thinking Fresh" - will help make your franchise the neighborhood restaurant of choice.Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 - 50

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    Fresh City Kitchen Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Fresh City Kitchen

    Fresh City restaurants are meccas for guests seeking alternatives to fast food. We are pleased to invite you to join their innovative franchise concept. With cutting edge locations in multiple states, Fresh City is growing to meet the needs of today's consumers seeking lifestyle alternatives. Fresh City is actively seeking experienced multi-unit operators with proven expertise in the food service industry. Fresh City franchisees must be experts in their markets, be willing to work diligently and commit to leading a team that will execute a dynamic restaurant. We seek franchisees who possess integrity, are respected amongst peers and colleagues, and share Fresh City's core business values and commitment to give back to their communities. Fresh City franchisees must have sufficient liquid net worth and demonstrate the ability to raise capital adequately to fund their development

    About Culver

    After working with his parents in their restaurants, Craig Culver decided it was time to open one for himself. In 1984 Culver, with the help of his wife Lea and parents George and Ruth, transformed the A&W his parents owned since the sixties into Culver's Frozen Custard. Its founder's family inspired the menu for the initial Sauk City, Wisconsin, restaurant. When Culver's mother made hamburgers, she would put a dab of butter on the crown of the hamburger buns before toasting them; something her children felt made them taste better. Today, employees at each Culver's location use the same technique when making their ButterBurgers. There are Culver's locations in twelve states. All Culver's franchisees are owner/operators.
     
    We’re looking for leaders with the initiative and skills to take a team of people and operate a Culver’s according to our high standards. You need energy and enthusiasm. You have to be willing to work hard. You have to love people and believe, as we do, that having a great heart is also good business.

    Culver’s has grown to over 500 restaurants in 22 states.

    Culver's is leading the way in the industry and in our communities. If you are craving a restaurant business made to order for you, where your financial success is directly related to how well you and your team execute against Culver’s mission that every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy, we invite you to consider becoming a Culver’s franchisee.

    Seeking new franchise units in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming

    "Entrepreneur


    #9 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #5 in Franchise 500 for 2021