FAQ
• What is a Symposium Café Restaurant?
The Symposium Café restaurant is a unique exciting concept, of an upscale, licensed, casual cafe. The Symposium Café niche is the fastest growing food service segment in North America. With a menu including classic gourmet meals, exotic desserts, European coffees and specialty beverages. Each restaurant location is open 7 days from early morning to late evenings with dining available both indoors or outside on our restaurant patios.
• What kind of clientele does Symposium Café attract?
The Symposium Café attracts a casual dining clientele, that appreciates a well designed restaurant, and good quality food, excellent service and a comfortably unique restaurant experience.
• What does the cfa award of excellence awarded to Symposium Café in 2011 mean?
The Symposium Café concept was one of two full service restaurants to win the Canadian Franchise Associations Award of Excellence in regards to our support of our franchisees.
• The décor is the most unique in the canadian marketplace, but is it protected with trademarks Canada?
Our unique décor is protected under Trademarks Canada, one of only a handful of restaurants that have achieved Trade Dress protection in the Canadian marketplace.
• What is the cost to purchase a Symposium Café?
The total investment required will vary by location, but is estimated to be approximately $475,000 - $575,000 for a turnkey operation. You will need approximately $250,000 -$350,000 in unencumbered cash, with the balance financed. Other store opening costs (detailed in the "Investment Details" section) range from $85,000 - $130,000 which include your store opening cash on hand, inventories, prepaid rent, etc.
• What do you mean by unencumbered cash?
Unencumbered cash is cash on hand, in a savings account, chequing account or GIC account, otherwise known as "liquid capital". Home equity and RRSPs are not usually considered unencumbered, except in certain circumstances. Your assets must be in Canada and you must be able to provide appropriate documentation to substantiate all assets.
• Does Symposium Café provide or assist in financing?
We do not provide financial assistance, but will provide assistance with the preparation of a business presentation and will work with your financial institution to provide any information they require to complete your loan application. While we do not offer direct or indirect financing, we may recommend competent lenders who are capable of meeting the financing needs of our Franchise Partners.
• What are the royalty fees ?
The royalty fee are 4% as defined in the Franchise Agreement and are paid monthly.
• What are the advertising fee?
The Advertising Fee are 1% of sales as defined in the Franchise Agreement and are paid monthly to the Franchisor. These fees are maintained in a "Symposium Café Advertising Account" and are used for system advertising and promotion of the Symposium Cafe system as established by the Franchisor.
• What kind of training is provided to a new franchisee?
The Symposium Café offers one of the most extensive training programs in Canada offering three full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Café location.
• What support do I receive when opening a restaurant?
Upon successful completion of The Symposium Café training program and assuming the responsibility of your restaurant franchise, a transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise.
• What ongoing support is given to a franchsiee?
The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
• What can I expect as a return on investment?
Franchise regulations prevent us from making income disclosures. The restaurant's profitability will vary depending on management control and local market conditions, the franchisees dedication to our systems, sales mix, and competition in the area, operational costs, time of year and more. We encourage prospective Franchisees to obtain independent professional legal and accounting opinions on a Symposium Cafe franchise program, and to speak to existing franchisees.
• What are the criteria for a Symposium Café location?
Restaurants are typically located in a market with a minimum population of 25,000 people, as well as possessing a square footage of approximately 3,600 to 4,200 square feet. As well we want to ensure that each location has a well rounded mix of residential, commercial mix. We are a destination restaurant and do not necessarily have to be located at the most prime site, as long as we are located close by.
• Who selects the location?
The Franchisor has its own development department that locates and negotiates sites. Demographic research and other studies are carried out to determine suitability. We welcome all site suggestions, however they are subject to approval by our development department.
• Are franchisees responsible for building their own restaurant?
No – the Symposium Cafe designs and builds the restaurant, turning over a turnkey operation to the Franchisee. With our "In-House" construction team, contractors and equipment supplier contacts, restaurants are planned, equipped and built cost-effectively in the shortest possible time.
• I already own a restaurant; can I convert it to a Symposium Cafe?
A visit to the location would be made to inspect and determine the practicality of converting it. We are experienced in converting existing restaurants to a Symposium Café with approximately 30% of our restaurants constructed in this fashion.
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