McAlister's Deli vs Zaxby's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  McAlister's Deli Zaxby's
Investment 398000 - 2094200 343200 - 695200
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 5% 6%
Advertising Fee 3% 2.87%-5%
Year Founded 1989 1990
Year Franchised 1994 1994
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  McAlister's Deli Zaxby's
Experience General business experience Prospective Franchisees must meet the following criteria to be considered: Collective net worth of at least $1,000,000, with liquid assets greater than $500,000 (liquidity being defined as cash or any asset that could be converted to cash within ten business days). Ability to satisfactorily pass background checks for the following: reasonable credit worthiness, no criminal convictions, no history of extensive litigation, and satisfactory motor vehicle report. Willingness of all investors to personally guarantee any obligations that are required under the license agreement. Willingness to make a commitment to this venture within 60 " 90 days of signing a license agreement. Belief that guest service is of critical importance in restaurant operations.

Financing Options
  McAlister's Deli Zaxby's
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support
  McAlister's Deli Zaxby's
Training On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours The initial training program is eight weeks long, consisting of a one-week orientation phase at Zaxby's Franchising, Inc.'s training center, three two-week phases at a training restaurant and the final one-week phase back at ZFI's training center. Ongoing support and training updates, in addition to other business development practices - including onsite inspections - are conducted regularly throughout the franchise system.
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
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 Zaxby's
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
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
Franchise Fee
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
Royalty Fee
McAlister's Deli 5%
Zaxby's 6%
Advertising Fee
McAlister's Deli 3%
Zaxby's 2.87%-5%
Year Founded
McAlister's Deli 1989
Zaxby's 1990
Year Franchised
McAlister's Deli 1994
Zaxby's 1994
Term Of Agreement
McAlister's Deli 10 years +5+5+5
Zaxby's
Renewal Fee
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
McAlister's Deli General business experience
Zaxby's Prospective Franchisees must meet the following criteria to be considered: Collective net worth of at least $1,000,000, with liquid assets greater than $500,000 (liquidity being defined as cash or any asset that could be converted to cash within ten business days). Ability to satisfactorily pass background checks for the following: reasonable credit worthiness, no criminal convictions, no history of extensive litigation, and satisfactory motor vehicle report. Willingness of all investors to personally guarantee any obligations that are required under the license agreement. Willingness to make a commitment to this venture within 60 " 90 days of signing a license agreement. Belief that guest service is of critical importance in restaurant operations.

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
McAlister's Deli No
Zaxby's No
Start-up Costs
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
Equipment
McAlister's Deli}
Zaxby's
Inventory
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
Receivables
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
Payroll
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's

Training & Support
Training
McAlister's Deli On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours
Zaxby's The initial training program is eight weeks long, consisting of a one-week orientation phase at Zaxby's Franchising, Inc.'s training center, three two-week phases at a training restaurant and the final one-week phase back at ZFI's training center. Ongoing support and training updates, in addition to other business development practices - including onsite inspections - are conducted regularly throughout the franchise system.
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
Zaxby's
Marketing
McAlister's Deli Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Zaxby's
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)
Zaxby's

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
Zaxby's 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
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's
International Expansion
McAlister's Deli
Zaxby's