McAlister's Deli vs Dunn's Famous Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
McAlister's Deli Franchise
Dunn's Famous Franchise
Investment $398,000 - $2,094,200$150,000 - $800,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $35,000$20,000 - $50,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 3%2%Nat'l+1% Local
Year Founded 19891927
Year Franchised 19940
Term Of Agreement 10 years +5+5+510 years +10+10
Term Of Agreement 10 years +5+5+510 years +10+10
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
McAlister's Deli Franchise
Dunn's Famous Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    McAlister's Deli Franchise
    Dunn's Famous Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support
     
    McAlister's Deli Franchise
    Dunn's Famous Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours

    Four Week Training Program is compulsory prior to your Franchise opening at our headquarters in Montreal. We spend a minimum of one to two weeks with you at your store from your Franchise opening date and we will stay on longer should additional training be deemed necessary by our corporate training team.
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform

    We will assist you in: Location search Preparing a marketing and business plan Verification of specific lease clauses Designing your store Ordering equipment and furnishings Training you and your staff Store opening support

    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app-
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    McAlister's Deli Franchise
    Dunn's Famous Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About McAlister's Deli

    Founder Don Newcomb's goal when he launched McAlister's Deli in 1989 was to create a 'gourmet deli with Southern charm.' The restaurants serve more than 90 different menu items, including sandwiches, salads, super-stuffed baked potatoes, appetizers, desserts and kid's meals. Customers make their selections at the counter, receive their appetizers and drinks and then sit wherever they choose, while roving servers bring their food and drink refills. McAlister's has grown to more than 350 franchised units.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a franchised McAlister’s Deli Restaurant (“Traditional Restaurant”) ranges from $927,900 to $2,094,200. This includes $35,000 to $35,400 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a franchised McAlister’s Express Restaurant (“Express Restaurant”) is $398,000 to $607,850. This includes $15,000 to $15,400 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
    Veteran Incentives  $5,000 off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #72 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #47 in Franchise 500 for 2021.



    About Dunn's Famous

    Dunn's is a full service, casual dining family owned deli & neighbourhood eatery concept. We offer the finest cured "Old Fashioned Smoked Meat" in the world. Our specially seasoned and aged briskets are hand-carved daily on the premises and served to order. In addition to Smoked Meat, we offer our guests chargrilled burgers, hotdogs and steak, fresh cut fries, our Montreal famous poutines, salads, pizzas, pastas, wraps, soups, desserts, full breakfast and a fully serviced bar. The Dunn's corporate team is dedicated to ensuring the success of the Dunn's franchisees so Dunn's can become every city's favorite place for Montreal's authentic "Old Fashioned Smoked Meat" and so much more. Our philosophy is simple. We are more interested in working with quality franchise owners then how many franchises we can open. We have perfected our own proprietary world famous smoked meat with a solid complementary ancillary menu popular with people of all ages. We have limited to no competition when it comes to offering premium Old Fashion Smoked Meat. You're not buying a job you're investing in a business. We offer several revenue streams with the opportunity for 24 hour operations resulting in a quicker return on investment. We focus on our customer's comfort and offer an Urban Vintage decor that promotes a table d'hote dining experience enjoyed in a warm atmosphere. Need a quick lunch or running off to the game. From order to table Dunn's has perfected the "Dine and Dash" experience for people on the go. We can boast 88 years and counting as the go to place for an Urban Deli experience and can offer several retail concepts. We are well suited for locations situated in dense commercial sectors, urban streets, strip malls, power centers and shopping centers with outdoor access. Our food quality is the real secret for our nine decades of success. In order to achieve the Dunn's standard in restaurant services there can be no compromise. We have implemented tried, tested and proven kitchen systems, restaurant operations and ongoing product development. Our ability to create adaptable marketing and advertising plans is one of our greatest asset in conveying to the customer what Dunn's is all about and another important strength to our longevity in the restaurant industry. We offer a comprehensive training program, direct corporate communication and the stability of a well-established brand and company.