About us
The Symposium Café “niche” is
the fastest growing and most
sought after food service
segment in the world today.
The Symposium Café is a unique
concept with some similarities
to Panera Bread, Cosi
restaurant, and has elements
that you will find in a typical
coffee house chain such as
Starbucks. Our niche is one of
the fastest growing segments
currently in the United States.
Large chains such as McDonalds
and Wendy’s are currently making
large investments in restaurant
development for this segment.
McDonalds with their own version
of “Bistro Gourmet” and Wendy’s
with their majority ownership of
“Café Express”.
Area Developer Attributes
The Symposium Café is looking
for experienced restaurant
operators who have the
experience, drive, ambition and
resources to develop multi unit
restaurants in an entire region.
You must have a
minimum five
years restaurant/retail
experience and a minimum of
$600,000 to $1,500,000 U.S.
liquid cash (depending on the
size of the region) to invest
into this opportunity.
Statistics on Current operations
The following are
some basic facts on financial
criteria for a typical cafe.
The Symposium Cafe ideal size is
2500 square feet, with 80 to 90
seats. We have built cafes as
low as 1500 sq feet and as high
as 3350 square feet.
The ideal cafe also has
potential to build out large
patio areas with minimum of 500
square feet, has large windows
on all sides of the building,
and is an "end cap" or
freestanding building.
The ideal location would have
potential for all time
periods.... that is breakfast,
lunch, dinner, late night, and
weekends.
Demand generators we look for
are; being near a university
area, a shopping area, near
entertainment type retail such
as movie theaters, near hotels
to attract the tourist market,
some office or business area
near by, and a strong
residential surrounding area.
We prefer suburban type
locations. We can do the same
volumes (and many times more
volume) in a suburban location,
which has less competition and
less rent so that we can afford
to build out the proper size
location.
The Symposium Cafe is a
"convenient type" cafe for the
morning and lunch business
relying on walk by and drive by
traffic, but for evenings and
weekends we are a "destination
type" cafe with guests traveling
to come to our unique cafes in
the evening's and weekends.
Most of our cafes have line ups
in the late evenings from 9 pm
to 12 midnight. It is quite the
site to see.
Approximate costs for Initial
Cafe
In regards to costs will range
between $275,000 to $325,000
(U.S. Dollars) to build out the
cafe. Costs will fluctuate
depending on region. Costs
above this will include;
-
A one-time fee of $65,000 to
$125,000 (U.S.) to our group
to set up the first café
(amount depends on
geographical location), and
ongoing fees of 2% of sales.
-
Opening inventory of all of
your products approximately
$10,000.
-
First and last month rent
-
Possible utility deposits
with the local hydro and gas
companies.
5. Training costs for all your
staff for two weeks prior to
opening of the cafe. Also staff
hiring costs, which may include
an ad in the local newspaper.
6. Legal costs in setting up of
the legal structure of the cafe,
in lease preparation, etc.
7. Your bookkeeping costs in
setting up of the accounting
structure of the company.
8. Your travel and lodging
costs to come to our training
centers in Canada or the U.S.
for 4 to 6 week training prior
to opening your first café.
9. Marketing costs to promote
your store opening.
10. Marketing literature costs
including cost to print your
menus, posters, leaflets, etc.
11. Licenses and permits needed
for the opening of the cafe.
These costs can be broken down
in greater detail, but this
should give you a general idea
on what is involved.
Area Development Details
With several area development
agreements secured throughout
the United States and Canada,
and restaurant franchises slated
to open through several areas in
the United States and Canada, we
are currently looking for
experienced restaurant operators
that are interested in multiunit
area development agreements,
which cover expansion for an
entire state in the United
States, or an entire province in
Canada, or for an entire country
in either Asia, South America,
Europe, Africa, and also for the
countries of Australia and
Mexico
Depending on your group’s
experience, reputation, and
financial commitment and further
detailed discussions among us,
we are prepared to discuss
options to develop a single
location in a specific site,
through a license agreement and
with minimal fees payable to the
Symposium Cafe Group as a “test
store”. Again depending on
many factors including your
groups strength and commitment
to the Symposium Cafe, as part
of the package, we would be
prepared to discuss an option
for your group to develop the
entire region as the
“Franchisor”.
As the “regional” Franchisor
your group would have the
complete freedom to develop the
Symposium Café in this specific
region and the ability to
franchise or to operate
corporate stores in this region
at your discretion.
As outlined above there would be
a one-time fee payable to our
group, to assist you in opening
the first café, and an 18-month
option in which you have the
choice to exercise and become
the Franchisor for this region.
Complete flexibility will be
given to your group in
expansion, menu products and
pricing, and operational
procedures so the concept can be
easily adaptable to local trends
and modified in certain areas
for the purpose of maximizing
sales potential.
Expanded License Option
If your group decides after 18
months to become the
“Franchisor” for an entire
region and executes the Expanded
License Option the following
additional fees will apply;
-
A one Time fee ranging from
$75,000 to $350,000
depending on the region
-
A $15,000 per location fee
for every subsequent
location opened.
-
Ongoing fee of 2% of sales
for every café.
As the Regional Franchisor you
will be entitled to the
following;
-
To sell franchises
-
Ability to charge a one
time Franchise fee of
$40,000 per location
-
And charge franchisees
ongoing Royalty fees of
5-6% of net sales
-
And charge franchisees
ongoing Advertising fees
of 2-3% of net sales
-
To operate all cafes in
territory with no
restrictions on the choice
of sites, suppliers,
marketing initiatives, menu
selection, and expansion
timelines.
Documents you will receive
(a) hard copies and
computer disks of all legal
document forms (e.g. license
agreements, franchise
agreements, commercial leases
and sub-leases) currently
existing and in the possession
and control of our group
regarding the development and
promotion of the Symposium Café.
(b)
architectural plans,
specifications, construction
schedule of values, for the
construction of a Symposium
Café.
(c)
accounting, financial and
management programs for the
operation and growth of a
Symposium Café restaurant and
corporate head office,
(exclusive of cash register
software programs owned by third
parties).
(d)
promotional materials for
marketing Symposium Café
restaurants including print
media and display advertising.
(e)
operational materials for
Symposium Café restaurant,
including but not limited to,
employee training manuals,
policy and procedure manuals,
employee schedule/staffing
programs, menus and recipes.
(f) all of
its marketing materials,
operating manuals, forms,
reports and legal agreements and
related documents in connection
with the Licensed Business.
(g) the
schematics, trade secrets,
marketing and promotional
information and other
information, which would be
material to a proper
understanding and operation of
the Licensed Business;
The Symposium Café obligations
to your group
1)
Training
We will provide up to six (6)
weeks of training and
instruction in the operation of
the Licensed Business at a
specified location in the United
States or Canada utilizing
several employees of our group
specializing in different
functions, with the majority of
the training to be done by
designated key individuals.
Your group may make available up
to two of its employees for such
training and instruction. Your
group shall pay all traveling,
living and other expenses
incurred by and compensation
payable to its employees in
connection with such training
and instruction.
2)
Onsite Support
We shall also provide an
employee for up to six (6) weeks
of onsite operating assistance
and support at the Initial
Café. We shall pay all
traveling, living and other
expenses incurred by and
compensation payable to said
employee of our group in
connection with said onsite
support. We shall also provide
one employee for such additional
operating assistance, training
and instruction as we consider
appropriate for up to four (4)
days prior to the training
periods referred to above. We
shall pay all traveling, living
and other expenses incurred by
and compensation payable to such
employees of our group in
connection with such on-site
support
3)
Telephonic Support
We shall also provide telephonic
support regarding consulting and
design services and restaurant
operation and/or management
during the 24-month period.
Please complete the attached
application form if you have a
further interest.
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