Culver's
Frozen custard, specialty burgers- 2023 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#8 Ranked #5 last year
- Initial investment
-
$2.3M - $5.8M
- Units as of 2022
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871 21.8% over 3 years
From their juicy burgers to their cheese curds to their frozen custard, Culver's covers many of the fan-favorites. Part of Culver's famous menu includes their signature ButterBurgers® and fresh frozen custard. Is your mouth watering yet? Let's bite into this delicious franchise.
Culver's runs on an owner-operator restaurant model. The franchise is based on four principles: hospitality, quality, freshness, and service to the community. All Culver's franchisees are expected to make sure every customer leaves happy. Since opening the first Culver's in 1984, the franchise has grown to more than 750 restaurants in 25 states.
Why You May Want to Start a Culver's Franchise
If you are a hands-on type of person, want to be engaged in the business, and strive to lead by example, then a Culver's franchise may be the right place for you. All franchisees are expected to act as owner-operators. That means you are in the restaurant full-time working alongside your employees. Culver's is not a place where the franchise and operator watch the goings-on from afar. Absentee ownership is not an option.
To be part of Culver's team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, ongoing fees will include advertising, royalty, or renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set liquid capital requirements.
What Might Make a Culver's Franchise a Good Choice?
With small-town roots, Culver's wishes to be a place for the whole family. Looking to provide a space that always makes you feel welcome, Culver’s can bring you a hearty burger along with a heartfelt smile. The Culver's experience may be one of a kind, as they serve up delicious food in a family-friendly atmosphere. Being able to franchise a Culver's allows you the opportunity to bring together your community.
Culver's also seeks to assist you every step of the way. When you are opening your restaurant, you are likely to receive training, help with ordering your equipment, and assistance with hiring your crew. Before your grand opening, a Culver's opening team will come to your location and remain with you for some weeks to ensure your opening goes smoothly.
How to Open a Culver's Franchise
Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. If you feel that opening a Culver's franchise is the right decision for you, submit an inquiry form. Speak to existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Culver's team.
You also may want to reach out to an attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you have the financial stability to open a Culver’s franchise.
As you decide if you want to open a Culver's franchise, make sure you explore your local area to see if a Culver's would do well in your community. If there are many other restaurants that serve fan-favorites such as burgers and custard in your area, then you may want to reconsider your decision. If all goes well, you can start serving up that better brand of fast-casual food.
Company Overview
About Culver's
- Industry
- Food
- Related Categories
- Hamburgers, Ices, Ice Cream, Miscellaneous Quick-Service Restaurants, Frozen Custard
- Founded
- 1984
- Parent Company
- Culver Franchising System LLC
- Leadership
- Rick Silva, CEO
- Corporate Address
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1240 Water St.
Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
Business Overview
- Franchising Since
- 1988 (2023-1988 years)
- # of employees at HQ
- 150
- Where seeking
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This company is offering new franchisees throughout the US.
- # of Units
- 871 (as of 2022)
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Culver's franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
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Initial Franchise Fee
Information Circle - $55,000
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Initial Investment
Information Circle - $2,301,000 - $5,788,000
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Net Worth Requirement
Information Circle - $1,250,000
-
Cash Requirement
Information Circle - $500,000 - $750,000
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Veteran Incentives
Information Circle - $10,000 off franchise fee
-
Royalty Fee
Information Circle - 4%
-
Ad Royalty Fee
Information Circle - 2.5%
-
Term of Agreement
Information Circle - 15 years
- Is franchise term renewable?
- Yes
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
- Third Party Financing
- Culver's has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
- On-The-Job Training
- 550 hours
- Classroom Training
- 172 hours
- Ongoing Support
-
NewsletterMeetings & ConventionsGrand OpeningOnline SupportSecurity & Safety ProceduresField OperationsSite SelectionProprietary SoftwareFranchisee Intranet Platform
- Marketing Support
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Co-op AdvertisingAd TemplatesNational MediaRegional AdvertisingSocial MediaSEOWebsite DevelopmentEmail Marketing
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
- Is absentee ownership allowed?
- No
-
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
Information Circle - No
-
Can this franchise be run part time?
Information Circle - No
- # of employees required to run
- 55-65
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Are exclusive territories available?
Information Circle - Yes
Interested in ownership opportunities like Culver's? Request a free consultation with a Franchise Advisor now.
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Culver's landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Culver's ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Ranked #8 in 2023
Entrepreneur’s 44th annual Franchise 500® ranking shines a light on the unique challenges and changes that have shaped the franchise industry over the last year—and how franchisors have adapted and evolved to meet them.
Ranked #42 in 2023
Meet the companies that are leveraging their ability to scale fast across the U.S. and Canada in Entrepreneur's annual fastest-growing franchises ranking.
Ranked #1 in Hamburgers in 2022
Our annual list of the top restaurant and other food franchises, divided up by category, is the perfect place to start if you’re craving a food-based business opportunity.
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