Overview
At Culver’s®, we haven't let being one of the fastest-growing quick-service restaurants in the nations go to our heads.
Every guest who walks through the door in every neighborhood, from Wisconsin to Texas, gets the same friendly treatment we offered on our very first day. We do it through sound management practices, the efforts of dedicated franchisees and ongoing support to help Culver's® franchisees build lasting ties in their communities. It's this dedication to our guests that continues to earn Culver's® national and local awards as leaders in the industry and in our operating communities.
Every guest who walks through the door in every neighborhood, from Wisconsin to Texas, gets the same friendly treatment we offered on our very first day. We do it through sound management practices, the efforts of dedicated franchisees and ongoing support to help Culver's® franchisees build lasting ties in their communities. It's this dedication to our guests that continues to earn Culver's® national and local awards as leaders in the industry and in our operating communities.
Products & Services
When you walk through the door at any Culver’s®, you’ll notice that our Mission Statement isn’t something only written on paper—it’s what we truly live by.
We bring the often forgotten, hometown values of quality and customer service to neighborhoods throughout the country. The signature ButterBurger® is made from fresh, never frozen, 100% U.S. raised beef and seared on a hot grill to seal in all the flavor. The ButterBurger® is prepared only after you order—and topped with fresh produce and cheese from America’s Dairyland.
While our ButterBurger® made us famous, our diverse menu doesn’t stop there. Over 45 other items are available for you to choose from, including a crisp garden-fresh salad, or a Pork Tenderloin sandwich. You can top off your meal with one of our dozens of dessert choices, like a Turtle Sundae, a Banana Split, or a triple-thick Concrete Mixer—all created with our premium frozen custard, prepared many times daily right at each restaurant.
Quality food and fresh ingredients are the hallmarks of any Culver’s experience, but we understand that a great meal is so much more than just good food. We’ll also greet you with a smile and treat you like a friend.
We bring the often forgotten, hometown values of quality and customer service to neighborhoods throughout the country. The signature ButterBurger® is made from fresh, never frozen, 100% U.S. raised beef and seared on a hot grill to seal in all the flavor. The ButterBurger® is prepared only after you order—and topped with fresh produce and cheese from America’s Dairyland.
While our ButterBurger® made us famous, our diverse menu doesn’t stop there. Over 45 other items are available for you to choose from, including a crisp garden-fresh salad, or a Pork Tenderloin sandwich. You can top off your meal with one of our dozens of dessert choices, like a Turtle Sundae, a Banana Split, or a triple-thick Concrete Mixer—all created with our premium frozen custard, prepared many times daily right at each restaurant.
Quality food and fresh ingredients are the hallmarks of any Culver’s experience, but we understand that a great meal is so much more than just good food. We’ll also greet you with a smile and treat you like a friend.
Training & Support
As a franchisee in the Culver’s® System, you will benefit from over 20 years of franchise operating experience in the restaurant industry. We are dedicated to your success as a franchisee, so we assist with site selection, building design and decor, purchasing, marketing, employee training and ongoing operations.
Training
Informed franchisees are an important part of a restaurant’s success and our training programs were designed for just that reason. We offer several training classes throughout the year at our Culver’s Learning Support Center in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
16-Week Training Class: Once the franchise agreement has been signed, franchisees complete a 16-week training course. This course consists of 12 weeks of both classroom and restaurant training. In addition, a new franchisee will partake in 2 restaurant openings. This is inclusive of 2 weeks at each opening, for a total of 4 weeks. Training classes are also available for managers in our training center.
On-site Training
We also provide training for your initial management team and crew members one week prior to your restaurant opening and up to two weeks after it has opened.
Site Selection
To assist you in the site selection process, we review your proposed site’s demographics, such as placement within the trade area and specific characteristics of that area. If you don’t have a specific trade area in mind, we will help you locate one. Our site approval for a Culver's restaurant does not constitute a recommendation, assurance, or endorsement of the success of that approved site.
Building & Design
The Design Services staff provides site layouts and prototype building plans. They will assist you as you work with your architect to modify these plans to suit local requirements while maintaining the quality and image that Culver's demands. They assist you with equipment selection and bidding, and are available during the construction process to answer questions.
Training
Informed franchisees are an important part of a restaurant’s success and our training programs were designed for just that reason. We offer several training classes throughout the year at our Culver’s Learning Support Center in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
16-Week Training Class: Once the franchise agreement has been signed, franchisees complete a 16-week training course. This course consists of 12 weeks of both classroom and restaurant training. In addition, a new franchisee will partake in 2 restaurant openings. This is inclusive of 2 weeks at each opening, for a total of 4 weeks. Training classes are also available for managers in our training center.
On-site Training
We also provide training for your initial management team and crew members one week prior to your restaurant opening and up to two weeks after it has opened.
Site Selection
To assist you in the site selection process, we review your proposed site’s demographics, such as placement within the trade area and specific characteristics of that area. If you don’t have a specific trade area in mind, we will help you locate one. Our site approval for a Culver's restaurant does not constitute a recommendation, assurance, or endorsement of the success of that approved site.
Building & Design
The Design Services staff provides site layouts and prototype building plans. They will assist you as you work with your architect to modify these plans to suit local requirements while maintaining the quality and image that Culver's demands. They assist you with equipment selection and bidding, and are available during the construction process to answer questions.
Why Culver's?
Purchasing
The Supply Chain Management department protects the Culver’s brand through:
Marketing
In a competitive restaurant marketplace, marketing has become as important as providing quality products, great service and a clean environment for our guests. We address your local marketing during Manager Skills Workshop I, Manager Skills Workshop II, and your 16-week training program.
The Supply Chain Management department protects the Culver’s brand through:
- Specifying supplier partners that offer quality assured food and packaging products
- Demanding from our suppliers and distributors for the highest levels of food safety
- Seeking an uninterrupted supply of quality products and or services to our restaurants
- Developing new products that meet or exceed our guests expectations
Marketing
In a competitive restaurant marketplace, marketing has become as important as providing quality products, great service and a clean environment for our guests. We address your local marketing during Manager Skills Workshop I, Manager Skills Workshop II, and your 16-week training program.
Are You a Good Fit for Culver's?
Operational Requirements
Franchisees owning and operating their restaurants in a full-time capacity is our recipe for making sure guests receive the personal attention they deserve. In addition, the owner/operator must maintain at least a 50 percent ownership in the business entity or a 25 percent ownership in the business and real estate. That's because we believe the same owner/operator philosophy that made the original Culver's such a success extends to each and every franchise.
Financial Requirements
You will need a minimum of $300,000 to $500,000 in liquid assets to qualify for a Culver’s franchise. One of the qualities that makes Culver’s unique is that many of our restaurants are partnerships. In those restaurants you may see several generations working together carrying on the Culver tradition of hospitality. Finally, another avenue to consider is to lease with an option to buy. This helpful alternative allows you to get your franchise started with a smaller investment up front.
Trade Area Requirements
We will consider granting a Culver's® franchise in trade areas that have a population over 10,000 people and 10,000 jobs within a 3-mile radius of a proposed site.
You should seek a location that is on the dominant traffic corridor—ideally, on the path your guests already pass as they are heading out for work, school, shopping, or recreation. Be sure the roads around your site allow guests adequate decision making time with good access and visibility, and a speed limit of 35 mph or less.
Franchisees owning and operating their restaurants in a full-time capacity is our recipe for making sure guests receive the personal attention they deserve. In addition, the owner/operator must maintain at least a 50 percent ownership in the business entity or a 25 percent ownership in the business and real estate. That's because we believe the same owner/operator philosophy that made the original Culver's such a success extends to each and every franchise.
Financial Requirements
You will need a minimum of $300,000 to $500,000 in liquid assets to qualify for a Culver’s franchise. One of the qualities that makes Culver’s unique is that many of our restaurants are partnerships. In those restaurants you may see several generations working together carrying on the Culver tradition of hospitality. Finally, another avenue to consider is to lease with an option to buy. This helpful alternative allows you to get your franchise started with a smaller investment up front.
Trade Area Requirements
We will consider granting a Culver's® franchise in trade areas that have a population over 10,000 people and 10,000 jobs within a 3-mile radius of a proposed site.
You should seek a location that is on the dominant traffic corridor—ideally, on the path your guests already pass as they are heading out for work, school, shopping, or recreation. Be sure the roads around your site allow guests adequate decision making time with good access and visibility, and a speed limit of 35 mph or less.
