Huddle House vs First Watch Restaurants Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Huddle House Franchise
First Watch Restaurants Franchise
Investment $510,435 - $1,379,575$899,800 - $1,522,000
Franchise Fee $25,000 - $35,000$45,000 - $80,000
Royalty Fee 4%4%
Advertising Fee 510,435 to $1,379,575up to 3%
Year Founded 19641983
Year Franchised 19661983
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Huddle House Franchise
First Watch Restaurants Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Huddle House Franchise
First Watch Restaurants 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

 
Huddle House Franchise
First Watch Restaurants Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesWe work together with each franchisee to determine (1) the size of the development area of the market you are interested in pursuing, (2) the number of restaurants to be developed and (3) the schedule of openings. We also provide support in the areas of Real Estate site selection, training, marketing and a comprehensive Operations Manual.
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media-
Operations 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 24

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (60% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

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Expansion Plans

 
Huddle House Franchise
First Watch Restaurants Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion No-

Company Overviews

About Huddle House

Huddle House started in Atlanta in the 1960s. The restaurants cater to travelers, with co-branded interstate locations at gas stations such as Exxon, BP, Citgo, Shell and Texaco. All franchises are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time of day. Menus feature steaks, chicken, pork chops and seafood.

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, it’s everyone’s favorite. When you package a homestyle meal that everyone loves with amazing Southern hospitality, a half-century of tradition and a lively American diner that serves any meal of the day at any time of the day, you have Huddle House - America’s iconic breakfast franchise.

At Huddle House, customers are always welcome, and they’re usually greeted by name. Decatur, GA, was just a little farm town back in 1964 when founder John Sparks first came up with the idea for Huddle House. He saw a group of boys after football practice, huddling up in his restaurant, helmets and footballs still in hand. Sparks envisioned a place where the community could gather, or huddle up, any time.


The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Huddle House franchise is $510,435 to $1,379,575 for a New Development Unit when leasing the land and building and purchasing the equipment and signs. This includes $83,490 to $113,490 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
If you sign a development agreement for the opportunity to develop multiple Huddle House franchises (the franchisor does not specify a minimum number to be eligible for a development agreement), you will pay a development fee for the rights to those development opportunities. The development fee will vary depending on the number of Huddle House Restaurants you are committed to develop, and is calculated as the total of the $35,000 for your first franchise and $17,500 for each additional franchise to be developed (the development fee is separate from the initial franchise fee).
The total investment necessary under a Market Development Agreement (based on a commitment of two to three Huddle House Restaurants) ranges from $55,000 to $72,500. This includes $52,500 to $70,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.


About First Watch Restaurants

First Watch Restaurants was founded in 1983 in Pacific Grove, CA on the simple concept of putting customers first. In other words, we strive to provide unexpectedly extraordinary experiences everyday. It's all part of our "YOU FIRST" service philosophy - our commitment to doing whatever it takes to make our customers' visits memorable. First Watch Restaurants begin each day at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. We're committed to freshness using - some of the finest ingredients available - never compromising quality. First Watch Restaurants' unique Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch creations are freshly prepared to each order. When customers arrive, we welcome them with a pot of our coffee, complimentary newspapers and Wi-Fi Internet access. Today, First Watch Restaurants, Inc. is one of the largest privately owned, daytime-only restaurant companies in the country. Headquartered in Bradenton, FL, and operating more than 80 restaurants in 11 states, First Watch Restaurants offers something for everyone, from traditional Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch favorites to our signature creations. Business or pleasure, we take pride in meeting the special needs of our customers. If you have experience operating, managing or owning successful restaurants, are passionate about the First Watch Restaurants brand and truly want to succeed and be part of something fresh and unique, then you're just the kind of person we are looking for!