Symposium Cafe vs McAlister's Deli Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Symposium Cafe McAlister's Deli
Investment 625000 - 675000 398000 - 2094200
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 4% 5%
Advertising Fee 1% 3%
Year Founded 1996 1989
Year Franchised 2004 1994
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Symposium Cafe McAlister's Deli
Experience General business experience

Financing Options

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

Training & Support

  Symposium Cafe McAlister's Deli
Training 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location. On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours
Support 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. Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans

  Symposium Cafe McAlister's Deli
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion Ontario
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Franchise Fee
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Royalty Fee
Symposium Cafe 4%
McAlister's Deli 5%
Advertising Fee
Symposium Cafe 1%
McAlister's Deli 3%
Year Founded
Symposium Cafe 1996
McAlister's Deli 1989
Year Franchised
Symposium Cafe 2004
McAlister's Deli 1994
Term Of Agreement
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli 10 years +5+5+5
Renewal Fee
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli General business experience

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Start-up Costs
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Equipment
Symposium Cafe}
McAlister's Deli
Inventory
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Receivables
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli
Payroll
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli

Training & Support

Training
Symposium Cafe 3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
McAlister's Deli On-The-Job Training: 206 hours Classroom Training: 45 hours
Support
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.
McAlister's Deli Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans

US Expansion
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
Symposium Cafe Ontario
McAlister's Deli
International Expansion
Symposium Cafe
McAlister's Deli