Checkers and Rally's

Burgers, fries
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Franchise 500 2023
2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#491 Ranked #188 last year
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Initial investment
$751K - $2.1M
Units as of 2023
800 Decrease 6% over 3 years

Take a bite out of the 'crazy good food' found at Checkers and Rally’s!

Founded by James E. Mattei in Mobile, Alabama in 1986, Checkers and Rally’s is one of the largest hamburger drive-thru restaurant franchises in the United States. Checkers famously acquired Rally’s in 1999, increasing its outreach. There are over 850 Checkers and Rally’s locations in the U.S. with franchisees owning over 575 of them.

Checkers and Rally’s has learned to abandon the dining room in favor of fast drive-thru and walk-up service. Known for its milkshakes, burgers, and french fries, Checkers and Rally’s proves that the drive-thru setup can be incredibly effective. Their franchisees seem to enjoy a system that places its focus on making fresh, quality food for customers.

Why You May Want to Start a Checkers and Rally’s Franchise

Checkers and Rally’s is one of the more business-forward restaurant franchises, with executives understanding that if their locations fail, so do they. Because of this, Checkers and Rally’s strives to be inclusive and transparent. The company works closely with its franchisees to ensure a startup and secure business. They can also offer competitive incentives for franchised restaurants to keep teams motivated.

From the beginning, Checkers and Rally’s has been very open about where their locations do well. While they don't tend to focus their attention on the northwestern region of the U.S., they claim that the East Coast reports strong numbers. Additionally, southwestern states like California and Arizona are listed as substantial markets. Is the spot you have your eye on located in one of these areas?

What Might Make a Checkers and Rally’s Franchise a Good Choice?

One of the top contenders in the gigantic hamburger industry, Checkers and Rally’s is expanding its locations and customer convenience. Checkers and Rally’s has introduced online and mobile app delivery along with pick-up, as well. Franchisees may be benefitting from Checkers and Rally’s improvements with new restaurant designs that cut construction time for new locations. 

How to Open a Checkers and Rally’s Franchise

To be part of the Checkers and Rally’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, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

During the process of opening a Checkers and Rally’s franchise, take advantage of opportunities to speak with existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Checkers and Rally’s team. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Checkers and Rally’s franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment.

Once you pass the screening, a financial business consultant will likely interview you to assess your financial standing. It's also a good idea to review the Financial Disclosure Document and visit various Checkers and Rally’s locations to get a well-rounded view of the business.

After Checkers and Rally’s approves your finances and you’ve created a business plan, you’ll usually visit the Restaurant Support Center. With support from its Operations Excellence program and your consultant, you can start dishing out those burgers.

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Company Overview

About Checkers and Rally's

Industry Food
Related Categories Hamburgers
Founded 1986
Parent Company Checkers Topco LLC
Leadership Frances Allen, CEO
Corporate Address 4300 W. Cypress St., #600
Tampa, FL 33607
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1989 (35 years)
# of employees at HQ 700
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia

# of Units 800 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Checkers and Rally'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.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$30,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$751,117 - $2,125,762
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$750,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$250,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
Franchise fee waived
Royalty Fee Information Circle
4%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
4.5%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
20 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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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 Checkers and Rally's has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment

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 132-165 hours
Classroom Training 28-33 hours
Ongoing Support
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

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 50
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Checkers and Rally's landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

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The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022