Wendy's vs Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Wendy's vs Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
	Wendy's Franchise	Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise
Investment	$318,850 - $3,689,350	$153,925 - $249,925
Franchise Fee	$40,000	$25,000
Royalty Fee	4%	5%
Advertising Fee	3.5%Nat'l +0.5% Local	1%
Year Founded	-	1991
Year Franchised	-	1993
Term Of Agreement	-	10 years
Term Of Agreement	-	10 years
Renewal Fee	-	-
Business Experience Requirements
	Wendy's Franchise	Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise
Experience	Wendy's is actively pursuing prospective franchisees who: * Are interested in pursuing multi-unit opportunities through the acquisition of existing restaurants or the development of new restaurants * Are multi-unit operators who have extensive restaurant experience (preferably quick service) with proven leadership skills * Are committed to operational excellence, customer service and a strong willingness to learn and practice the Wendy's business model * Demonstrate exceptional managerial and business acumen * Are committed to the advancement and growth of their business * Have access to adequate capital for reinvestment in Wendy’s Image Activation program and new restaurant development.	We're looking for individuals with: *Strong business experience *A commitment to quality food & customer service *Restaurant industry know-how
Financing Options
	Wendy's Franchise	Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise
	In-House/3rd Party	In-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees	-/-	-/-
Start-up Costs	-/-	-/-
Equipment	-/-	-/-
Inventory	-/-	-/-
Receivables	-/-	-/-
Payroll	-/-	-/-
Training & Support
	Wendy's Franchise	Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise
Training	Initial and on-going manager and crew level training programs focus on what is needed to provide Wendy’s “A Cut Above” total customer experience as well as providing management training on various business skills.	Full training program Hwy 55 will send trained representatives to work with you and your team at your restaurant for a total of 10 working days. We will assist with 5 on-site pre-opening days and 5 on-site post-opening days. We reserve the right to stay longer to ensure a successful opening. Costs of the training program are included in your franchise fee; however, all travel and lodging costs will be at the franchisee’s expense. On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
Support	Franchisees receive on-going direct support from our skilled operators at the field level. We strive for A-level operations at every restaurant and provide the tools, resources and training to achieve superior customer service levels while maintaining restaurant level profit margins.	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
Marketing	-	We have established and will administer a Marketing/Advertising fund on behalf of the Hwy 55 brand to provide national or regional creative materials for the benefit of your Hwy 55 location. We currently require Hwy 55 Franchisees to contribute 1% of gross sales for each restaurant to the Marketing/Advertising fund. In addition to contributions described above, we recommend you spend annually throughout the term of the franchise agreement, 2% of gross sales of the restaurant for local advertising in your primary area of responsibility. This amount is not paid to us, but rather is spend by you at your discretion. As a member of your local business community, you know the best local advertising opportunities. Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations	-	Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 20 - 50
Expansion Plans
	Wendy's Franchise	Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Franchise
US Expansion	-	Yes
Canada Expansion	No	-
International Expansion	No	Yes

Company Overviews

About Wendy's

Wendy's is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Dublin, Ohio and owned by the United States corporation Wendy's International, Inc. There are over 6,600 Wendy's restaurants worldwide. The chain is famous for its chili. Also, it is known for its Frosty dairy desserts, the fact that their burgers are square, its fresh and never frozen ground beef, and its making of all sandwich items to order. Unlike most fast food chains, Wendy's historically did not serve breakfast, except for stores in Puerto Rico. Wendy's tried serving breakfast in the mid-1980s, but the endeavor quickly failed. However, they have reformulated their breakfast menu recently and are now serving breakfast in many locations. Wendy's was founded by Dave Thomas in 1969 and named after his 8-year old daughter, Melinda, who had the nickname of "Wendy." The corporate headquarters is located in Dublin, Ohio. The first Wendy's restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio on November 15, 1969, and grew rapidly to open over 3,000 stores by 1985. However, by the mid-1980s some Wendy's restaurants became underperforming and closed. By 1989, Dave Thomas came out of retirement and started doing commercials for Wendy's and helped rebuild the restaurant until his death. After international expansion in the 1980s, the chain retrenched in the late 1990s. In 1999 it pulled out of London and Hong Kong (its Hong Kong branch was located on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai). In 1995, Tim Hortons' popularity had spilled over to American investors; the chain's parent company, The TDL Group ("TDL" stands for the original corporate name "Tim Donut Ltd."), was acquired by Wendy's International, Inc.. As a result, Ron Joyce, Tim Horton's partner and first franchisee, was, for a time, the largest shareholder of Wendy's.

• Minimum net worth of at least $5,000,000 U.S. ($2,000,000 Canada).
• Minimum liquid assets of at least $2,000,000 U.S. ($1,000,000 Canada).

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Wendy’s Restaurant will vary depending upon whether the property is purchased for cash, financed or leased, as well as other factors, but it normally ranges from $1,893,850 to $3,689,350 if you purchase for cash, $565,850 to $1,131,350 if you finance, and $318,850 to $643,850 you lease (see Item 7). This includes an amount between $0-$55,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

About Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries

A retro-themed diner that features fresh, never-frozen hand-pattied burgers, house-made frozen custard, and other classic favorites in a unique open-kitchen setting, was founded in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1991. Hwy 55 reflects founder Kenney Moore's commitment to authentic hospitality and fresh food. Widely known in the state for its fresh food and service that exceeds expectations, the chain won BurgerBusiness.com's "Best Burger" in 2012. It also was recently named a top 500 franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and a "Next 20" restaurant brand by Nation's Restaurant News. Hwy 55 currently has 121 locations in 10 states, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates. Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries has been serving up good times and great food since 1991. We've achieved a lot in the last over 25 years, growing to over 100 restaurants across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Florida, with 500 more locations scheduled to open. During that time, our mission has remained the same: to provide each guest with world-class service and fresh food in a family atmosphere. 
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries fits a niche between fast food and casual dining, offering the customer the best benefits of both segments. We provide the convenience of fast food, with rapid response times and an affordable menu, but with a twist: our freshly made food is a much tastier alternative to typical pre-cooked hamburgers and french fries.

Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee