McAlister's Deli vs Symposium Cafe Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  McAlister's Deli Symposium Cafe
Investment 398000 - 2094200 625000 - 675000
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 5% 4%
Advertising Fee 3% 1%
Year Founded 1989 1996
Year Franchised 1994 2004
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  McAlister's Deli Symposium Cafe
Experience General business experience

Financing Options

  McAlister's Deli Symposium Cafe
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support

  McAlister's Deli Symposium Cafe
Training On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support 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 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 Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans

  McAlister's Deli 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
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe
Franchise Fee
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe
Royalty Fee
McAlister's Deli 5%
Symposium Cafe 4%
Advertising Fee
McAlister's Deli 3%
Symposium Cafe 1%
Year Founded
McAlister's Deli 1989
Symposium Cafe 1996
Year Franchised
McAlister's Deli 1994
Symposium Cafe 2004
Term Of Agreement
McAlister's Deli 10 years +5+5+5
Symposium Cafe
Renewal Fee
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
McAlister's Deli General business experience
Symposium Cafe

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
McAlister's Deli No
Symposium Cafe No
Start-up Costs
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe
Equipment
McAlister's Deli}
Symposium Cafe
Inventory
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe
Receivables
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe
Payroll
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe

Training & Support

Training
McAlister's Deli On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours
Symposium Cafe 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support
McAlister's Deli 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
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
McAlister's Deli Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Symposium Cafe
Operations
McAlister's Deli Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Symposium Cafe

Expansion Plans

US Expansion
McAlister's Deli 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
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe Ontario
International Expansion
McAlister's Deli
Symposium Cafe