Houlihan's vs Indigo Joe's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Houlihan's Indigo Joe's
Investment 1600000 - 4300000 1200000 - 1300000
Franchise Fee 0 0
Royalty Fee 4% 5%
Advertising Fee 1.50%
Year Founded 1972 1994
Year Franchised 1994 2002
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Houlihan's Indigo Joe's
Experience Industry experience General business experience Must live in same market being developed

Financing Options
  Houlihan's Indigo Joe's
 
Franchise Fees No No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  Houlihan's Indigo Joe's
Training Prior to the opening of the store, it is essential to successfully complete Indigo Joe's intensive 6-week franchise training program. This program will educate the franchise owner in all aspects of restaurant operations as well as provide him or her with all the necessary tools. Topics that will be covered include customer service, preparation of Indigo Joe's menu items, quality and food portion control, beverage and inventory management, cost control, employee hiring and scheduling, store safety guidelines, management tools and systems, turnover reduction and budgeting and forecasting. Store Opening training is provided for 7 days prior to the opening date and until 7 days after. This training is a more "hands on" approach to managing and successfully running an Indigo Joe's restaurant.
Support Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives Indigo Joe's provides on-going operational support through their field service representatives
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 78 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators) International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
  Houlihan's Indigo Joe's
US Expansion Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming,
Canada Expansion
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
Franchise Fee
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
Royalty Fee
Houlihan's 4%
Indigo Joe's 5%
Advertising Fee
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's 1.50%
Year Founded
Houlihan's 1972
Indigo Joe's 1994
Year Franchised
Houlihan's 1994
Indigo Joe's 2002
Term Of Agreement
Houlihan's 20 years
Indigo Joe's 10 years +10
Renewal Fee
Houlihan's $5K
Indigo Joe's $10K


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Houlihan's Industry experience General business experience Must live in same market being developed
Indigo Joe's

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Houlihan's No
Indigo Joe's No
Start-up Costs
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
Equipment
Houlihan's}
Indigo Joe's
Inventory
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
Receivables
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
Payroll
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's

Training & Support
Training
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's Prior to the opening of the store, it is essential to successfully complete Indigo Joe's intensive 6-week franchise training program. This program will educate the franchise owner in all aspects of restaurant operations as well as provide him or her with all the necessary tools. Topics that will be covered include customer service, preparation of Indigo Joe's menu items, quality and food portion control, beverage and inventory management, cost control, employee hiring and scheduling, store safety guidelines, management tools and systems, turnover reduction and budgeting and forecasting. Store Opening training is provided for 7 days prior to the opening date and until 7 days after. This training is a more "hands on" approach to managing and successfully running an Indigo Joe's restaurant.
Support
Houlihan's Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Indigo Joe's Indigo Joe's provides on-going operational support through their field service representatives
Marketing
Houlihan's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Indigo Joe's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Operations
Houlihan's Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 78 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Indigo Joe's International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Houlihan's Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming,
Indigo Joe's
Canada Expansion
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's
International Expansion
Houlihan's
Indigo Joe's