Golden Corral
Family steakhouses, buffets, and bakeries
- 2023 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#411 Not ranked last year
- Initial investment
-
$3.5M - $9.2M
- Units as of 2023
-
362 13% over 3 years
Golden Corral, founded in 1973, is an American restaurant chain that offers an all-you-can-eat buffet and grill. With more than 150 food options, they strive to offer something for everyone. For dinners, they offer a fresh salad bar, hot meals, and delicious desserts. Golden Corral is known for its buffet-style food and great ambiance. They have more than 360 locations and enjoy providing quality food in hefty portions.
As you run your franchise, you might provide quality meals to hundreds of people through your open restaurant. It also offers curbside to go for those in a rush. The perfect candidate for a Golden Corral franchisee is passionate about great food, bringing people together, and has some restaurant experience.
Why You May Want to Start a Golden Corral Franchise
If you love the idea of offering quality and delicious food to people, then a Golden Corral Franchise might be for you. They provide a variety of food and dessert options that cater to people of all ages. They also offer a restaurant online menu, which may allow customers to be drawn to the sights of the delicious foods.
Using their classic and proprietary recipes, you may prepare some amazing dishes and serve them to loyal customers. The locations of the Golden Corral are all throughout the United States. The name brand itself is known by many Americans.
As a Golden Corral franchisee, you might join a vast network of fast-food restaurants committed to providing quality, affordable, and delicious food. You will strive to provide a place for people and families to come together and enjoy a great meal in a fun and casual environment.
What Might Make a Golden Corral Franchise a Good Choice?
When seeking to open a Golden Corral franchise, be prepared to make an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You’ll want to make sure you have enough capital available to cover potential fees, as well. These fees will include royalty fees, advertising fees, and renewal fees.
Golden Corral has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 many times in the past several decades. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.
Golden Corral has carved a niche for itself in the market. They also strive to offer a great work culture, fantastic community, and home-style favorite foods.
How Do You Open a Golden Corral Franchise?
As you decide if opening a Golden Corral franchise is the right decision for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity in your community. You’ll then apply with a franchise request form. A franchise sales representative may reach out to you with more information if they see you as a good fit for the brand. This information consists of their brand, vision, and any details regarding starting up your franchise. They might also help you look into possible franchise locations.
Once you’ve signed on board, Golden Corral will typically take you through their franchise process. This includes site construction and management training. You will also receive unit opening support, as well as ongoing operations and marketing support. Golden Corral is ready to support you every step of the way.
Company Overview
About Golden Corral
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Miscellaneous Full-Service Restaurants, Steakhouses |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Parent Company | Golden Corral Corp. |
| Leadership | Lance Trenary, CEO |
| Corporate Address |
P.O. Box 29502 Raleigh, NC 27612 |
| Social | Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 1987 (36 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 87 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchisees throughout the US. This company is offering new franchisees in the following international regions: Canada, Mexico |
| # of Units | 362 (as of 2023) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Golden Corral 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
|
$50,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$3,534,450 - $9,213,230 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$2,500,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$500,000 |
|
Veteran Incentives
|
50% off franchise fee |
|
Royalty Fee
|
4% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
2.4% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
15 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
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 | Golden Corral 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 | 722 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 41.5 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
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?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 100 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Interested in ownership opportunities like Golden Corral? Request a free consultation with a Franchise Advisor now.
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Golden Corral landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Golden Corral ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Golden Corral.
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
Unlocking Growth — The Power of KPIs in Driving Franchise Brand Success
Why it's critical to track your franchise goals and objectives.
Free Webinar | November 8: Unlocking Financial Freedom: The Side-Hustle Franchise Path
Your aspirations to have an additional source of income can become a reality as a side-hustle business owner — and this free webinar will show you exactly how to do it. Register now →
The 8 Things Franchise Investors Want to See in Your Business
If you're looking for investors, these are the 8 things they are looking for in your franchise business.
This Founder Walked-On to a Top College Basketball Team in the '90s. Today, He and Drew Brees Are Bringing the 'Walk-On Mentality' to Franchising.
Brandon Landry was so determined to play college basketball that he walked-on — tried out with no scholarship and made the team — at a major program. He's brought that same determination to the franchise business with Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux.
Franchise Legalese Defined — A Deep Dive Into Franchising Definitions
Before you can decide if you should franchise, find out exactly what you're getting yourself into.
Opening a New McDonald's Franchise Will Be More Expensive in 2024
Starting January 1, franchise royalty fees will rise from 4% to 5% for new locations in the U.S. and Canada.
