Circle K
Convenience storeBackground
Founded: 1951 Franchising since: 1995
The Circle K convenience store chain got its start in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay's Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Over the next few decades, he expanded the company throughout the Southwestern U.S. through a series of acquisitions, and took it international in 1979 with a licensing agreement that brought the stores to Japan.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, 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
Worldwide
Exclusive territories available.
The Circle K convenience store chain got its start in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay's Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Over the next few decades, he expanded the company throughout the Southwestern U.S. through a series of acquisitions, and took it international in 1979 with a licensing agreement that brought the stores to Japan.
The company began franchising in 1999, and today Circle K stores can be found throughout the Southern, Western and Southwestern U.S., as well as in six other countries.
|
1130 W. Warner Rd. Tempe, Arizona 85284 |
Phone: (602)728-8000 |
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2009 | 469 | 0 | 3704 | 2853 |
| 2008 | 460 | 0 | 3,625 | 2,627 |
| 2007 | 439 | 0 | 3,403 | 2,661 |
| 2006 | 596 | 0 | 3,411 | 2,145 |
| 2005 | 580 | 0 | 4,178 | 2,093 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, 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
Worldwide
Exclusive territories available.
Costs and Fees
|
Total investment: $161K-1.4M Franchise fee: $15K |
Ongoing royalty fee: 4% Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | No | No |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | Yes | No |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Business Experience:
- General business experience
Operations
- 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10
- Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
- Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
- At franchisee's location: 2 weeks
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Grand opening
- Internet
- Security/safety procedures
- Field operations/evaluations
- Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
Rankings
Franchise 500® rank:
#9 (2009); #17 (2008);
Ranked #1 in category in:
2009;
America's Top Global Franchises:
#9 (2009); #25 (2008);
#9 (2009); #17 (2008);
Ranked #1 in category in:
2009;
America's Top Global Franchises:
#9 (2009); #25 (2008);