Carl's Jr vs Smashburger Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Carl's Jr Smashburger
Investment 1603000 - 2168000 743130 - 1404535
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 4% 5 - 6%
Advertising Fee 6% 2%
Year Founded 1945 2007
Year Franchised 1984 2008
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Carl's Jr Smashburger
Experience Industry experience General business experience Preferable operational experience in a restaurant, but will consider people who have owned their own business Smashburger (Smashburger Franchising LLC) is seeking multi-unit development partners domestically and internationally. To be considered, individuals or partnerships must meet the following minimum criteria: *Demonstrated enthusiasm, drive, and passion and a proven record of success in the restaurant industry *Five years multi-unit restaurant management experience as an owner and/or operator *Experience operating a minimum business of 10 or more units *Minimum financial net worth of $2 million and liquidity of $500,000 *Typical development agreement commitment of 5-20 units *Operating, real estate and trade area experience in development territory *Dedicated support team for Smashburger *Ability to obtain a liquor license (where applicable)

Financing Options

  Carl's Jr Smashburger
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support

  Carl's Jr Smashburger
Training Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand opening
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives Real Estate and Site Selection Lease Approval Pre-opening Management Training Vendors and Equipment Store Opening Support Information Technology Marketing and Public Relations Operations Support Purchasing and Distribution
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

Expansion Plans

  Carl's Jr Smashburger
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
International Expansion Worldwide, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Channel Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equitorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faeroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosrae, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Northern Ireland, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Ponape, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Yemen, Reunion, Romania, Rota, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saipan, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Barthelemy, St. Christopher, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, St. John, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Thomas, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tinian, Togo, Tonga, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Truk, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Union Island, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Gorda, Wake Island, Wales, Wallis & Futuna Islands, Western Samoa, Yap, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
Franchise Fee
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
Royalty Fee
Carl's Jr 4%
Smashburger 5 - 6%
Advertising Fee
Carl's Jr 6%
Smashburger 2%
Year Founded
Carl's Jr 1945
Smashburger 2007
Year Franchised
Carl's Jr 1984
Smashburger 2008
Term Of Agreement
Carl's Jr 20 years
Smashburger
Renewal Fee
Carl's Jr Varies
Smashburger none


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Carl's Jr Industry experience General business experience Preferable operational experience in a restaurant, but will consider people who have owned their own business
Smashburger Smashburger (Smashburger Franchising LLC) is seeking multi-unit development partners domestically and internationally. To be considered, individuals or partnerships must meet the following minimum criteria: *Demonstrated enthusiasm, drive, and passion and a proven record of success in the restaurant industry *Five years multi-unit restaurant management experience as an owner and/or operator *Experience operating a minimum business of 10 or more units *Minimum financial net worth of $2 million and liquidity of $500,000 *Typical development agreement commitment of 5-20 units *Operating, real estate and trade area experience in development territory *Dedicated support team for Smashburger *Ability to obtain a liquor license (where applicable)

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Carl's Jr No
Smashburger No
Start-up Costs
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
Equipment
Carl's Jr}
Smashburger
Inventory
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
Receivables
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
Payroll
Carl's Jr
Smashburger

Training & Support

Training
Carl's Jr Available at franchisee's location, 12 weeks of management training & at grand opening
Smashburger
Support
Carl's Jr Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Smashburger Real Estate and Site Selection Lease Approval Pre-opening Management Training Vendors and Equipment Store Opening Support Information Technology Marketing and Public Relations Operations Support Purchasing and Distribution
Marketing
Carl's Jr Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Smashburger
Operations
Carl's Jr Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.
Smashburger

Expansion Plans

US Expansion
Carl's Jr 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
Smashburger
Canada Expansion
Carl's Jr
Smashburger
International Expansion
Carl's Jr Worldwide, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Channel Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equitorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faeroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosrae, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Northern Ireland, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Ponape, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Yemen, Reunion, Romania, Rota, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saipan, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Barthelemy, St. Christopher, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, St. John, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Thomas, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tinian, Togo, Tonga, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Truk, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Union Island, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Gorda, Wake Island, Wales, Wallis & Futuna Islands, Western Samoa, Yap, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Smashburger