Houlihan's vs Symposium Cafe Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Houlihan's Symposium Cafe
Investment 1600000 - 4300000 625000 - 675000
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 4% 4%
Advertising Fee 1%
Year Founded 1972 1996
Year Franchised 1994 2004
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Houlihan's Symposium Cafe
Experience Industry experience General business experience Must live in same market being developed

Financing Options

  Houlihan's Symposium Cafe
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support

  Houlihan's Symposium Cafe
Training 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives A transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise. The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
Marketing 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)

Expansion Plans

  Houlihan's Symposium Cafe
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 Ontario
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe
Franchise Fee
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe
Royalty Fee
Houlihan's 4%
Symposium Cafe 4%
Advertising Fee
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe 1%
Year Founded
Houlihan's 1972
Symposium Cafe 1996
Year Franchised
Houlihan's 1994
Symposium Cafe 2004
Term Of Agreement
Houlihan's 20 years
Symposium Cafe
Renewal Fee
Houlihan's $5K
Symposium Cafe


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Houlihan's Industry experience General business experience Must live in same market being developed
Symposium Cafe

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Houlihan's No
Symposium Cafe No
Start-up Costs
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe
Equipment
Houlihan's}
Symposium Cafe
Inventory
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe
Receivables
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe
Payroll
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe

Training & Support

Training
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support
Houlihan's Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Symposium Cafe A transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise. The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
Marketing
Houlihan's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Symposium Cafe
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)
Symposium Cafe

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,
Symposium Cafe
Canada Expansion
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe Ontario
International Expansion
Houlihan's
Symposium Cafe