Golden Corral vs Black Bear Diners Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Golden Corral vs Black Bear Diners including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Golden Corral Black Bear Diners
Investment 2700795 - 7037915 1133800 - 2114200
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 4% 4.50%
Advertising Fee 2.40% 1%
Year Founded 1973 1995
Year Franchised 1986 2002
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Golden Corral Black Bear Diners
Experience Industry experience (or must have partner with industry experience.)

Financing Options
  Golden Corral Black Bear Diners
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support
  Golden Corral Black Bear Diners
Training On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location On-The-Job Training: 240 hours Additional Training: At certified training restaurants
Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 80% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 100 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators) Number of Employees Required to Run: 65

Expansion Plans
  Golden Corral Black Bear Diners
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
Franchise Fee
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
Royalty Fee
Golden Corral 4%
Black Bear Diners 4.50%
Advertising Fee
Golden Corral 2.40%
Black Bear Diners 1%
Year Founded
Golden Corral 1973
Black Bear Diners 1995
Year Franchised
Golden Corral 1986
Black Bear Diners 2002
Term Of Agreement
Golden Corral 15 years
Black Bear Diners
Renewal Fee
Golden Corral 15 years (plus two, 5-year renewal options)
Black Bear Diners


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Golden Corral Industry experience (or must have partner with industry experience.)
Black Bear Diners

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Golden Corral No
Black Bear Diners No
Start-up Costs
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
Equipment
Golden Corral}
Black Bear Diners
Inventory
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
Receivables
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
Payroll
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners

Training & Support
Training
Golden Corral On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location
Black Bear Diners On-The-Job Training: 240 hours Additional Training: At certified training restaurants
Support
Golden Corral Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Black Bear Diners Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Golden Corral National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Black Bear Diners Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
Operations
Golden Corral International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 80% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 100 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Black Bear Diners Number of Employees Required to Run: 65

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Golden Corral Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Black Bear Diners Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners
International Expansion
Golden Corral
Black Bear Diners