Subway vs Culver Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Subway Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $139,550 - $342,400$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $15,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 8%4%
Advertising Fee 4.5%2.5%
Year Founded 19651984
Year Franchised 19741988
Term Of Agreement 20 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years15 years
Renewal Fee none$30K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Subway Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Subway Franchise
    Culver Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment Yes/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Subway Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 33 hours Classroom Training: 62 hours Additional Training: Training available in Australia, China, Germany, India, Montreal, Canada & Miami -
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet PlatformNewsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appAd slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 65% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8-12

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 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
     
    Subway Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Subway

    In 1965, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca and family companion Peter Buck opened Pete's Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut. With a credit from Buck for just $1,000, DeLuca trusted the modest sandwich shop would procure enough to put him through school. In the wake of battling through the initial couple of years, the organizers changed the organization's name to Subway and started diversifying in 1974. Offering a new, solid contrasting option to fast-food eateries, Subway has establishments all through the United States and in a few nations, with areas in customary and nontraditional locales alike.

    In contrast with different rivals in the fast food industry, where franchisees need to pay millions, - for example, McDonald's ($1-2 million) and KFC ($1.3-2.5 million), investors in Subway need to pay just a portion of that.

    The total investment is an estimated $150,050 - $328,700 in the United States and $102,000 to $234,000 in Canada.

    Veteran Incentives  Franchise fee waived if opening on a military/government location; 50% off franchise fee if opening on non-government location but receiving government financing
    "Top    ""
    #2 on Canada's top franchises 2020.
    #107 in Franchise 500 for 2020.







    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