Carl's Jr vs Krystal Restaurants Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Carl's Jr vs Krystal Restaurants including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Krystal Restaurants Franchise
Investment	$1,603,000 - $2,168,000	$900,000 - $1,300,000
Franchise Fee	$25,000 - $35,000	$32,500
Royalty Fee	4%	4.5%
Advertising Fee	6%	-
Year Founded	1945	1932
Year Franchised	1984	1990
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Renewal Fee	Varies	$8.1K
Business Experience Requirements
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Krystal Restaurants Franchise
Experience	Industry experience General business experience Preferable operational experience in a restaurant, but will consider people who have owned their own business	Industry experience General business experience
Financing Options
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Krystal Restaurants Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/No	No/No
Start-up Costs	No/No	No/Yes
Equipment	No/No	No/Yes
Inventory	No/No	No/Yes
Receivables	No/No	No/No
Payroll	No/No	No/No
Training & Support
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Krystal Restaurants Franchise
Training	Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand opening	-
Support	Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives	Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Operations	Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.	Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 94% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 30 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Expansion Plans
	Carl's Jr Franchise	Krystal Restaurants Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	Yes	No

Company Overviews

About Carl's Jr

Carl's Jr. is known all through the Western U.S. as the place to go for premium quality burgers, specifically its 100% Angus hamburger Six Dollar Burger line.

At Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® our brand sets us apart from the competition. Our advertisements are created to be so bold and memorable that they've been known to crash internet video servers. Our taglines deliver bold statements and our visuals are designed to keep viewers wanting more. EAT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.

Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.® have a strong track record of successfully developing new premium products to lead the category in taste, quality, and innovation. As an industry leader, we have consistently out-delivered all other quick-service restaurants in product development since our founding. Staying on top requires that we continue to lead the way in the products we serve through taste, quality, and innovation.

#202 in Franchise 500 for 2021.

About Krystal Restaurants

The Krystal Company is the oldest quick service restaurant chain in the South and the second oldest in the United States. The Chattanooga-based company currently has more than 450 restaurants in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Founded in 1932, Krystal restaurants have become more than sparkling-clean eateries where friendly employees serve up fresh, delicious food. Krystal has become a cultural icon and an experience that virtually every man, woman and child in the South has shared. Nearly everyone in the region has a Krystal memory. The Krystal brand, and the great food, service, value and setting which it represents, has taken a prominent place in the South's cultural landscape.