Bar Louie vs Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bar Louie vs Shingle Inn Cafes including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Bar Louie Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
Investment $923,500 - $3,707,333$250,001 - $450,000
Franchise Fee $50,000N/A
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee 2% local, 1%Nat'l-
Year Founded 19911975
Year Franchised 20102009
Term Of Agreement -5 years
Term Of Agreement -5 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Bar Louie Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
Experience

Just as there is no cookie cutter location, there is no cookie-cutter franchisee. A company's objective should determine if a potential franchisee is a good fit. For franchisees looking to build on a unique culture, franchisees should be excited for the opportunity to customize. Someone who wants to expand quickly through a replication and repetition rollout approach will not deliver the guest experience that customers should come to expect from the brand.

Previous experience in operating a cafe is an advantage, but not a necessity in owning a Shingle Inn Cafe. Our experienced personnel will provide comprehensive training in cafe management, ordering, rostering, customer service and marketing during our six week pre-opening training program. You will also receive ongoing support and regular visits from your assigned Area Manager.

Financing Options

 
Bar Louie Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support

 
Bar Louie Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
Training -6 week pre-opening franchisee training program. The initial weeks will consist of meeting key personnel and undertaking training across all facets of the business, including business management, customer service and sales, health and safety, and marketing. Training will also include planning your opening marketing promotions with the help of our experienced marketing team. Following this you'll undertake a minimum of four weeks training in-store. In this environment you will gain essential experience in the hands-on operation of a Shingle Inn cafe. In-store training provides you with a comprehensive insight into all facets of the business, including product knowledge, customer service skills, food and beverage preparation, store presentation, as well as in-store systems and training. You will also complete our Barista Training Program during this time.
Support

We offer extensive support along the way, including: * Full support through the site identification and construction process * A comprehensive training program for restaurant teams * MALT (Music, Atmosphere, Lighting, Temperature) - the secret to creating the Bar Louie experience * Access to leading software and restaurant management tools * Compelling advertising and local store marketing materials * Extensive PR and social media programming

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Marketing --
Operations -The average cafe has two full time Supervisors, up to 3 casual barista's (working different times), and 2 casual Kitchen Specialists. Further to this approximately 7 wait (table) staff, all casual , in a mix of seniors and juniors. Normally you would establish a pool of 10 to 12 casual wait staff to choose from for any given shift.

Expansion Plans

 
Bar Louie Franchise
Shingle Inn Cafes Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Bar Louie

Bar Louie is a national collection of neighborhood bars featuring hand-crafted cocktails and spirits, delectable food and an inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy time with friends and mingle with new people. Founded in 1990 by Ted Kasmir and Roger Greenfield, Bar Louie has more than 100 locations across the United States and is growing through both franchising and corporate locations. Open during four parts of the day - lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night - Bar Louie is an award-winning concept with a progressively hip and lively atmosphere. Each Bar Louie is a local social, casual gathering spot - neighborhood bars and eateries that feature hand-crafted cocktails, spirits and delectable scratch food in an inviting, urban atmosphere. Each Bar Louie has a modern, relaxed vibe that expresses the brand’s identity, and no two locations are alike. Some are a cozy 5,000 square feet, while another boasts a roomy 11,000 square feet, with many other locations somewhere between. Layouts vary, as do local food and drink specials. Just as no two locations are like, there is no "cookie-cutter" type of franchise partner for Bar Louie. While existing franchisees have owned a business, each owner comes from a unique facet of life. Similarly, guests range from ages 25 to 54 and more than 50 percent are women. Another distinction is Bar Louie's four distinct day-parts - lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night - with the entire food and drink menu available all day, every day. This provides guests a perfect gathering place for family dinners, drinks with friends, watching sporting events and everything between. The average customer visit lasts longer than two hours.
Financially we require per location: $500K liquid assets, $1.5 million net worth.

The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Bar Louie Restaurant franchised business ranges from $923,500 to $3,707,333. This includes $50,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
The total initial investment necessary to begin operation as a Bar Louie Area Developer is $25,000 multiplied by the number of Bar Louie restaurants to be developed under the Development Agreement. This is the same amount that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.

About Shingle Inn Cafes

Shingle Inn offers aspiring franchisees with a passion for hospitality the opportunity to own an exceptional boutique cafe and be part of a network that has been delighting generations of customers since 1936. The Shingle Inn experience starts the moment customers enter our cafes. Luxurious high-back chairs, warm rich colours and decorative lamps together with our signature range of decadent cakes, coffee and delicious menu choices has helped us establish a renowned boutique cafe brand that is well-known for its exceptional customer service. Supported by our proven business system, these elements provide a strong foundation for your success. Our menu is regularly updated to ensure we are delighting our customers with an exceptional dining experience. Our products are baked and delivered daily to each cafe to ensure freshness and continuity and most importantly, allowing you to concentrate on creating memorable customer experiences in-store. If you share our passion for exceptional customer experiences, join the Shingle Inn family and embrace the tradition that has become part of the quintessential Shingle Inn Cafe experience - it's the reason a special occasion shared at a Shingle Inn Cafe is carried through from one generation to the next.Shingle Inn currently operates across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, ACT and Western Australia with expansion plans for New Zealand.Shingle Inn is unsurpassed in today's cafe culture for a number of reasons: 1. Brand Our iconic brand has a unique identity within the cafe market. 2. Systems and support Our long history and reputable store network is evidence of our established support and systems 3. Products Our superior quality products and delicious coffee made by expertly trained baristas is unrivalled. 4. Family culture Our ongoing commitment to exceeding customers expectations in-store extends to the relationships we like to cultivate with all our stakeholders.