Nathan's Famous vs Checkers Drive-In Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Nathan's Famous Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Investment	$43,000 - $1,071,360	$259,000 - $1,431,000
Franchise Fee	$30,000	$30,000
Royalty Fee	5.5%	4%
Advertising Fee	2%	4.5%
Year Founded	1916	1986
Year Franchised	1988	1989
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Term Of Agreement	20 years	20 years
Renewal Fee	50% of franchise fee	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Nathan's Famous Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Experience	Industry experience General business experience	Industry experience General business experience
Financing Options
	Nathan's Famous Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	Yes/No	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/No	No/Yes
Equipment	Yes/No	No/Yes
Inventory	Yes/No	No/Yes
Receivables	No/No	No/Yes
Payroll	No/No	No/Yes
Training & Support
	Nathan's Famous Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Training	-	On-The-Job Training: 160-220 hours Classroom Training: 32-40 hours Additional Training: In training restaurant
Support	Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations	Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
Marketing	Co-op advertising	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional 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)	-
Expansion Plans
	Nathan's Famous Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
US Expansion	-	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	Yes	Yes

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.

#78 in Gator's Top franchises

#286 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

About Checkers Drive-In

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. Checkers develops, produces, owns, operates, and franchises quick service “double drive-thru” restaurants under the two brand names “Checkers" and “Rally’s Hamburgers". The restaurants are designed to provide fast and efficient automobile-oriented service and appeal to guests of all ages. The double drive-thru concept allows Checkers' and Rally’s Hamburgers to capitalize on the fact that approximately fifty percent of all quick-service food business is drive-thru. Guests can also enjoy a 1950’s flashback with walk-up ordering and outdoor dining in the outside picnic area at most locations.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Checkers Restaurant (excluding real estate and related costs) is: $780,000 to $1,431,000 for a new modular design single drive-thru restaurant; $320,500 to $787,000 for a site built, conversion or used modular drive-thru restaurant; $259,700 to $648,000 for an endcap strip-center and gas/convenience restaurant; and $254,000 to $514,000 for a Non-Traditional, Walmart or in-line restaurant in a high-density market. This includes $10,000 to $50,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate, plus $10,000 for each additional restaurant that you agree to develop under a development agreement.