Back Yard Burgers vs Checkers Drive-In Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Back Yard Burgers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Investment	$465,000 - $1,680,000	$259,000 - $1,431,000
Franchise Fee	$35,000	$30,000
Royalty Fee	5%	4%
Advertising Fee	3%	4.5%
Year Founded	1986	1986
Year Franchised	1988	1989
Term Of Agreement	10 years	20 years
Term Of Agreement	10 years	20 years
Renewal Fee	$1K	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Back Yard Burgers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Experience	Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills	Industry experience General business experience
Financing Options
	Back Yard Burgers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	No/Yes	No/Yes
Start-up Costs	No/Yes	No/Yes
Equipment	No/Yes	No/Yes
Inventory	No/Yes	No/Yes
Receivables	No/No	No/Yes
Payroll	No/No	No/Yes
Training & Support
	Back Yard Burgers 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, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives	Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
Marketing	Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional 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: 35 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)	-
Expansion Plans
	Back Yard Burgers Franchise	Checkers Drive-In Franchise
US Expansion	Yes	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	No
International Expansion	No	Yes

Company Overviews

About Back Yard Burgers

What started as a premium quality burger sold in a grocery store in Cleveland, Mississippi in 1987 quickly caught fire. Lattimore "Lattie” Michael realized he had a recipe for success and thus opened the first Back Yard Burgers drive-thru restaurant. Customers flocked to it, eating up the fresh-grilled burgers, great conversation and the neighborly feel that reminded them of their backyard cookouts. A year later, Back Yard Burgers opened up in Tennessee and Florida. And the rest is delicious history.

WHY BE A BACK YARD BURGERS FRANCHISEE?

*Uniqueness - back yard flavor
*A proven brand with a solid operating system
*Growth free standing building
*Unique development opportunities
*Non universities, c-stores and professional sports
*Strong positioning
*Signature products
*Persuasive, professional marketing
*Operations support
*Exclusive Territories

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.