Wing Zone vs Culver Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Wing Zone Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $342,800 - $566,000$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $40,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee 2%2.5%
Year Founded 19911984
Year Franchised 19991988
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Renewal Fee $10K$30K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Wing Zone Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Wing Zone Franchise
    Culver Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/Yes
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Wing Zone Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    Training Wing Zone University, our training program consists of three (3) weeks of classroom and on-site training Our program consists of everything you need to know to open and successfully operate a Wing Zone, including: Recipes and Food-Prep Procedures Quality and Service Standards Guest Promise Inventory Procedures Food Safety Best Hiring Practices Local Store Marketing Digital and Social Media Online Review Management (Yelp, Google, Facebook) Grand Opening Plan -
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives From the moment, you sign the Franchise Agreement to the day you open and beyond we’ll help and guide you with site selection, lease negotiations, finding and hiring the right contractor, store design and construction as well the training on how to open, hire the right people and operate your Wing Zone.Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingAd slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 12

    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

     
    Wing Zone Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Wing Zone

    Join Wing Zone!
    Here's your opportunity to join WingZone, one of the nation's fastest-growing takeout/delivery chains. The Wing Zone concept was launched in 1991 in the most unlikely setting, a fraternity house kitchen. Despite Wing Zone's humble birth, the core idea targeted a pressing need in the marketplace: to serve high-quality, cooked to order food, available for takeout, delivery and dine-in. Today, this simple idea has become one of the hottest franchise opportunities around, having grown to nearly 100 restaurants.
     Matt Friedman and Adam Scott conceived Wing Zone while at the University of Florida due to a dilemma they faced - there was no alternative to pizza delivery for students studying late or suffering from the late night hunger. To fill this void, Matt and Adam developed the Wing Zone concept and quickly expanded it into a great business opportunity. The Wing Zone menu has grown over the years beyond just buffalo wings. It now includes chicken fingers, buffalo shrimp, half-pound burgers, chicken sandwiches and fresh salads. A key ingredient to Wing Zone's success is unchanged - its 25 signature sauces. While Wing Zone is proud of its past, the company is focused on the future. Wing Zone is currently seeking franchise partners to help make Wing Zone the leading franchise opportunity with single, multi-unit, and area development opportunities available in many areas across the nation.

    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