Culver’s

Is a Culver’s Franchise Right for You?

Culver’s, known for its delicious ButterBurgers, frozen custard, and cheese curds, is a popular fast-food chain with a strong franchising system. If you’re looking to start your own business and love the idea of serving up quality food, a Culver’s franchise might be a great fit.

Why Choose Culver’s?

Built-in Customer Base

Culver’s has a loyal following across 26 states. People love their food, and that translates to potential customers for your franchise.

Straightforward Operations

Culver’s is a fast-casual restaurant, so if you have experience in the food service industry, you’ll be familiar with the basic operations.

Hands-on Ownership

Culver’s requires franchise owners to be actively involved in managing their location. This means you’ll be directly involved in your business, making decisions and ensuring quality.

Support System

Culver’s offers a strong support system for franchisees, including assistance with real estate, training, and financial aid. They’re committed to helping you succeed.

Exclusive Territories

Culver’s offers territory exclusivity to its franchisees. This means you’ll have a protected area around your restaurant, reducing direct competition from other Culver’s franchises. It allows you to focus on building a strong local customer base.

Positive Franchisee Reviews

Existing Culver’s franchise owners generally report a positive experience with the company. They praise the support, guidance, and responsiveness they receive from corporate. This includes help in finding the right location and negotiating leases.

Support Resources

Site Selection

Culver’s provides assistance in finding the ideal location for your restaurant.

Lease Negotiation

They help you navigate the process of securing a lease and securing the property you need.

Grand Opening Support

You’ll receive support for your grand opening, including training on safety and security procedures.

Ongoing Support

Culver’s provides online resources, field operations support, and a dedicated franchisee intranet platform for ongoing assistance. You can access FAQs, knowledge bases, and personalized help when needed.

Marketing Support

Culver’s offers assistance with national and regional advertising, as well as website marketing, including ad templates, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO).

Franchise Costs

Starting a Culver’s franchise requires a significant investment. The initial franchise fee is $55,000, and you’ll need a net worth of $1.25 million, with at least $500,000 to $750,000 in liquid assets. The total initial investment can range from $2.3 million to $5.8 million, depending on factors like location.

Royalty Fees

You’ll also be responsible for royalty fees of 4% and an ad royalty fee of 2.5%.

Financial Aid

Culver’s offers a $10,000 discount on the franchise fee for veterans and provides assistance with obtaining financing from third-party lenders like banks and credit unions.

Training

Culver’s provides comprehensive training for both you and your staff. This includes 172 hours of classroom training and 550 hours of on-the-job training.

Manager in Training Program

You and six employees will participate in a Manager in Training Program at Culver’s headquarters.

Franchisee Development Training

You’ll also complete a 16-week Franchisee Development Training program at your new restaurant or a similar Culver’s location.

Ongoing Education

Culver’s requires franchisees to participate in ongoing education, including reconnection training courses.

Sanitation Certification

Your staff must be certified in a sanitation program like ServSafe.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're ready to start your own fast-food franchise and you're passionate about serving up quality food, a Culver’s franchise could be a great opportunity. Contact Culver’s today to learn more about their franchising program.