Houlihan's vs Perkins Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Houlihan's Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Investment $1,600,000 - $4,300,000$1,557,975 - $2,742,975
Franchise Fee $40,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4%4%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19721958
Year Franchised 19941958
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Renewal Fee $5K$5000-$7500


Business Experience Requirements
 
Houlihan's Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Must live in same market being developed
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    Training --
    Support Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 78

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Houlihan's

    Houlihan's has been known for exceptional food at an affordable price since we entered the casual dining segment in 1972. Our menu features a great mix of contemporary pop American cooking - classic dishes reinvented in a fresh modern way and brought to the table with simple, stylish plating and presentations. And then there's the bar. It's always the best place to feel the great energy of Houlihan's. Our bar strategy unites pop culture, trendy premium brands, the newest drinks and vendor insights for a winning combination, resulting in an enviable liquor mix.

    To help us more quickly expand to new markets and trade areas, Houlihan's is seeking sophisticated restaurant operators with experience building out entire markets. At this time, we are not pursuing single-site franchise agreements.

    Our ideal candidate to become a franchise market developer is a successful full-service, multi-unit operator with expertise in one or more large markets (e.g. the top 75 MSAs in the United States). We are seeking entrepreneurial organizations that can thrive in our flexible franchise environment, while having access to growth capital and capital reserves, but experiencing growth constraints with their current restaurant concept(s).

    About Perkins

    In today’s market, the opportunity to buy a Perkins® restaurant franchise business couldn’t be better for experienced restaurateurs interested in aligning with a concept that has withstood the test of time. Now more than ever, restaurant customers are looking for value without sacrificing selection and taste. A top leader in the family restaurant dining segment since 1958, Perkins offers high quality, flavorful and affordable menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snack. With more than 440 units across the U.S. and Canada, the heritage of the Perkins brand and the ability to adapt to current consumer trends have placed it among the top performing companies in the family restaurant franchise segment.

    It’s time to take a fresh look at Perkins Restaurants. Find out how you can own one of the best family restaurant franchises in the business, and deliver the Perkins experience to loyal diners, through single-unit operations and multi-unit ownership franchise opportunities. Perkins gives you the chance to bring comfort, value, and great taste to your community - not to mention solid growth potential to your own career in foodservice.

    Perkins has a vision for the future, and wants you to be part of it: our goal is to continue to offer great food and memorable dining experiences to guests across the continent!

    Join Perkins and leverage our name, our established systems, and our special recipes - all while pleasing your guests and charting your future in the industry.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Perkins Restaurant and Bakery franchise is $1,557,975 - $2,742,975. This includes the $50,000 initial fee paid to the franchisor (unless you are participating in the Refranchising Program). Under the Company Restaurant Refranchising Program, in which an existing company-owned restaurant is transferred to a franchisee, the initial franchise fee is negotiable and will vary in amount depending on, among other things, the length of the franchise term and the profitability of the restaurant (additional information about the Refranchising Program is provided in the Disclosure Document).
    In addition, if you sign a Development Agreement for three or more restaurants, the initial franchise fee is $40,000 for the first restaurant, $35,000 for the second restaurant and $30,000 for the third and any subsequent restaurant(s).