Nathan's Famous vs Woody's Chicago Style Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Nathan's Famous vs Woody's Chicago Style including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Nathan's Famous Franchise
Woody's Chicago Style Franchise
Investment $43,000 - $1,071,360$58,600 - $394,000
Franchise Fee $30,000N/A
Royalty Fee 5.5%6%
Advertising Fee 2%-
Year Founded 19161990
Year Franchised 19881991
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years
Renewal Fee 50% of franchise fee$2K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Nathan's Famous Franchise
Woody's Chicago Style Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Nathan's Famous Franchise
    Woody's Chicago Style Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Nathan's Famous Franchise
    Woody's Chicago Style Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising-
    Operations 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 14

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (65% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 6% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Nathan's Famous Franchise
    Woody's Chicago Style Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Nathan's Famous

    Franchising is a business concept that allows qualified investors to become part of an established, existing “system.” A good way to look at franchising is, you’re in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Strategically, this provides many benefits under a brand name that has consumer awareness and equity.
    Nathan’s has taken this basic premise and redefined it to exceed the most stringent business criteria of today’s investor.

    Nathan’s offers a wide range of restaurant designs and customized equipment, thereby offering business opportunities to qualified candidates regardless of space constraints or investment limitations.

    The estimated initial investment for a BMP Operation ranges from $43,000 to $86,300, including an initial license fee of $7,500. If you want to add an “Arthur Treacher’s” BMP Operation to your new or existing food service establishment, the additional estimated initial investment will be from $34,404 to $81,486, including an initial license fee of $7,500.

    "Top
    #78 in Gator's Top franchises
    #286 in Franchise 500 for 2020.


    About Woody's Chicago Style

    Woody's has many types of operation: Class A Franchise *Propane or electric format *Highly mobile *Operates without on-site utilities *Moderate to high volume *Trailer included Class B Franchise *High volume capacity *Greater presence *Propane or electric format *Limited Mobility *Trailer included Class C Franchise *Limited mobile format *220V, 40 amp power requirement *Fully self-contained *Established product line *Fully automatic equipment Class D Franchise: In-Line Store. Class D Twin Carts. Class D Kiosk. Class D Stand Alone. Class E Franchise: *Class A cart package included *Operates without on-site utilities *High volume capabilities *Additional specialized training included *Cart transport trailer included *Additional optional equipment available. Class K Kiosk Franchise was developed to accommodate the ever evolving mobile food service industry. This program enables a Franchisee to be open year round during some of the most extreme weather. This fully enclosed, self-contained kiosk unit is still considered a mobile unit, but is adaptable to municipalities that are looking for more of a permanent structure and less mobile. It can be customized to fit many code directed specifications of various deemed health departments or local code enforcement agencies. The kiosk allows vendors to offer a broader menu, and can accommodate more storage and cooking space than the traditional class A, B and C franchises, which in turn allows access to locations where foot traffic is more prevalent.