Hot Stuff Foods vs Checkers Drive-In Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Hot Stuff Foods Franchise
Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Investment $59,500 - $140,000$259,000 - $1,431,000
Franchise Fee N/A$30,000
Royalty Fee 04%
Advertising Fee 04.5%
Year Founded 19821986
Year Franchised 19931989
Term Of Agreement 5 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years20 years
Renewal Fee 0-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Hot Stuff Foods Franchise
Checkers Drive-In Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Hot Stuff Foods Franchise
    Checkers Drive-In Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment Yes/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Hot Stuff Foods 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/evaluationsNewsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Hot Stuff Foods Franchise
    Checkers Drive-In Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Hot Stuff Foods

    Developed in 1986, Hot Stuff Pizza has become the flagship brand of Orion Food Systems and the go-to favorite for consumers around the world. With delicious and satisfying options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every snack in between, this pizza powerhouse offers extensive and crowd-pleasing menus that are easy-to-prepare and highly customizable. We provide national marketing campaigns with new promotions every quarter, including high-impact advertising materials, exciting new product introductions, and limited-time offer options, whichever is better for your business. Join over 900 franchisees and capitalize on America's most popular foods. With core menus that include a wide variety of pizzas, ready-to-bake appetizers, hot sandwiches, hot wings, breakfast burritos and croissants, Cinnobabies, and other on-the-go favorites. Our recipe is simple: Quality Products through Quality People. At Orion Food Systems, we have a great team that cares about creating the very best-tasting restaurant-quality food - in addition to providing boutique-level service. When you partner with us, you'll receive a nimble, customizable food service solution as well as all of the training, marketing, and 24-hour support you'll need to be successful. Contact us at 1-877-841-1431 to learn more about putting the Hot Stuff Pizza brand to work for you!

    Seeking new franchise units in the following regions/states:
    Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

    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.
    Veteran Incentives  Franchise fee waived
    ""     "Top     "Entrepreneur
    #11 in Gator's Top franchises.
    In Franchise Business Reviews Top 200.

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    #76 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #198 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #162 in Franchise 500 for 2021.