City Wok vs Gyu-Kaku Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
City Wok Franchise
Gyu-Kaku Franchise
Investment $243,400 - $568,500$1,200,444 - $2,526,540
Franchise Fee $30,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%-5%
Advertising Fee -1.5%
Year Founded 19901996
Year Franchised 20041997
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
City Wok Franchise
Gyu-Kaku Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Gyu-Kaku Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Gyu-Kaku Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 304 hours Classroom Training: 46 hours Additional Training: At company-owned restaurants
    Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Site Selection
    Marketing Co-op advertisingCo-op Advertising Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (65% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 20

    Expansion Plans
     
    City Wok Franchise
    Gyu-Kaku Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About City Wok

    The dream was a contemporary yet casual restaurant offering authentic, upscale Asian cuisine. Today, City Wok is proud to be recognized by Restaurant Hospitality magazine as personifying the future of fast-casual dining.

    Stuart Davis opened his first City Wok in 1990, working extensively with Hing Fan Chan, an executive chef trained in Kowloon, China. While other restaurants may water down, Americanize or over-expand their menus to appeal to the masses, Davis created the City Wok concept from his desire to deliver authentic Chinese dishes in a style that appeals to Americans.

    About Gyu-Kaku

    Gyu-Kaku System operates over 700 locations worldwide and has more than 10 years franchising experience in Japan.

    Reins International USA has more than 8 years operating experience in the U.S. to modify the system for the U.S. market w/ 12 units.
    Gyu-Kaku has been awarded the prestigious Hot Concept Award by the restaurant industry's premier trade publication, Nation's Restaurant News!
    We like to think of it as the Oscars of the restaurant business. The Hot Concept Award is given each year by the editors of NRN to six emerging restaurant brands that have distinguished themselves as Hot Concepts: "fast-growing, financially proven overachievers that are on their way to becoming tomorrow's giants." Each winner must be a clearly defined concept that appeals to consumers and positions the company at the leading edge of foodservice.
    The goal is to recognize brands for their innovation, successful business strategies and entrepreneurial spirit.

    The initial franchise fee is $50,000. The estimated investment necessary to begin operation of a Gyu-Kaku franchise unit franchise range is $1,200,444 to $2,526,540. This includes $56,500 to $71,500 that is paid to the franchisor and its affiliates.
    The franchisor may also offer you the optional right to execute an Area Development Agreement granting you a right to open one to four additional Outlets for an additional investment of $25,000 (for one additional Outlet) to $100,000 (for four additional Outlets), all of which must be paid to the franchisor.

    "Entrepreneur

    #240 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #227 in Franchise 500 for 2021.