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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Golden Corral vs Tim Ho Wan

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Golden Corral2026 FDDTim Ho Wan2025 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Golden Corral

    $2,237,950 – $6,162,930

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Tim Ho Wan

    $3,195,009 – $3,825,209

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Golden Corral

    $50,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Tim Ho Wan

    $110,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    Golden Corral

    4%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Tim Ho Wan

    3%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Before you compare

    • Golden Corral figures come from its 2026 FDD and Tim Ho Wan figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Golden Corral discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Golden Corral has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Golden Corral

    $2,237,950 – $6,162,930
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Tim Ho Wan

    $3,195,009 – $3,825,209
    Total estimated initial investment
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Golden Corral

    $50,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Tim Ho Wan

    $110,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Golden Corral

    4%
    Royaltyweekly GrossSales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Tim Ho Wan

    3%
    Monthly royalty — payable in SGD
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Golden Corral

    $10,000
    Openingadvertising first90days
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Tim Ho Wan

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Golden Corral

    348
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 80

    Tim Ho Wan

    6
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 32
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Golden Corral

    −7
    Calculated: 355 at end of 2023 → 348 at end of 2025

    Tim Ho Wan

    +0
    Calculated: 6 at end of 2022 → 6 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Golden Corral

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Tim Ho Wan

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Golden Corral

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Tim Ho Wan

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Golden Corral

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Tim Ho Wan

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Golden Corral
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Small
    $3,698,944
    other Table1 Small 2025 Average Gross Sales dollars
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 71
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional
    $4,475,585
    other Table1 Nontraditional 2025 Average Gross Sales dollars
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 71
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Metro
    $1,884,452
    other Table1 Metro Average Food Cost dollars
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 71
    +6 more groups in the full report
    Tim Ho Wan

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Golden Corral vs Tim Ho Wan: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Golden Corral or Tim Ho Wan?
    Golden Corral: $2,237,950 – $6,162,930 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Tim Ho Wan: $3,195,009 – $3,825,209 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Golden Corral. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Golden Corral and Tim Ho Wan royalties compare?
    Golden Corral: 4% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13); Tim Ho Wan: 3% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Golden Corral or Tim Ho Wan?
    Golden Corral: 348 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 80); Tim Ho Wan: 6 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 32). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Golden Corral and Tim Ho Wan disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Golden Corral has reviewed Item 19 figures for 9 location groups; Tim Ho Wan makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Golden Corral report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Tim Ho Wan report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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