Indigo Joe's vs Western Sizzlin Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Indigo Joe's Western Sizzlin
Investment 1200000 - 1300000 811000 - 2300000
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 5% 3%
Advertising Fee 1.50%
Year Founded 1994 1962
Year Franchised 2002 1965
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Indigo Joe's Western Sizzlin
Experience

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

Training & Support
  Indigo Joe's Western Sizzlin
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 Indigo Joe's provides on-going operational support through their field service representatives Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising Ad slicks
Operations 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) 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
  Indigo Joe's Western Sizzlin
US Expansion Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 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 0
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin
Franchise Fee
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin
Royalty Fee
Indigo Joe's 5%
Western Sizzlin 3%
Advertising Fee
Indigo Joe's 1.50%
Western Sizzlin
Year Founded
Indigo Joe's 1994
Western Sizzlin 1962
Year Franchised
Indigo Joe's 2002
Western Sizzlin 1965
Term Of Agreement
Indigo Joe's 10 years +10
Western Sizzlin 20 years
Renewal Fee
Indigo Joe's $10K
Western Sizzlin


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin

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

Training & Support
Training
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.
Western Sizzlin
Support
Indigo Joe's Indigo Joe's provides on-going operational support through their field service representatives
Western Sizzlin Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing
Indigo Joe's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Western Sizzlin Ad slicks
Operations
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)
Western Sizzlin 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, 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
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin 0
International Expansion
Indigo Joe's
Western Sizzlin