Golden Corral vs Symposium Cafe Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Golden Corral Symposium Cafe
Investment 2700795 - 7037915 625000 - 675000
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 4% 4%
Advertising Fee 2.40% 1%
Year Founded 1973 1996
Year Franchised 1986 2004
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Golden Corral Symposium Cafe
Experience Industry experience (or must have partner with industry experience.)

Financing Options

  Golden Corral Symposium Cafe
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support

  Golden Corral Symposium Cafe
Training On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform A transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise. The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
Marketing National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
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)

Expansion Plans

  Golden Corral Symposium Cafe
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
Canada Expansion Ontario
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe
Franchise Fee
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe
Royalty Fee
Golden Corral 4%
Symposium Cafe 4%
Advertising Fee
Golden Corral 2.40%
Symposium Cafe 1%
Year Founded
Golden Corral 1973
Symposium Cafe 1996
Year Franchised
Golden Corral 1986
Symposium Cafe 2004
Term Of Agreement
Golden Corral 15 years
Symposium Cafe
Renewal Fee
Golden Corral 15 years (plus two, 5-year renewal options)
Symposium Cafe


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Golden Corral Industry experience (or must have partner with industry experience.)
Symposium Cafe

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Golden Corral No
Symposium Cafe No
Start-up Costs
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe
Equipment
Golden Corral}
Symposium Cafe
Inventory
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe
Receivables
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe
Payroll
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe

Training & Support

Training
Golden Corral On-The-Job Training: 665 hours Classroom Training: 8.5 hours Additional Training: At company training location
Symposium Cafe 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
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
Symposium Cafe A transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise. The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
Marketing
Golden Corral National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Symposium Cafe
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)
Symposium Cafe

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
Symposium Cafe
Canada Expansion
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe Ontario
International Expansion
Golden Corral
Symposium Cafe