Golden Corral vs GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Golden Corral and GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES are full-service restaurants franchises. Golden Corral requires an investment of $4.9M – $8.5M while GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES requires $277K – $403K. In terms of revenue, Golden Corral reports higher average unit revenue at $4.9M. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. On SBA loan performance, GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES has a lower charge-off rate (4.7%) compared to Golden Corral (12.8%). FranchiseVerdict rates Golden Corral A (Strongest tier) and GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Golden Corral | GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $4.9M – $8.5M | $277K – $403K |
| Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $4.9MOutlet subset | $540K |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 12.8% (225 loans) | 4.7% (89 loans) |
| Total Units | 348 | 358 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1986 | 2008 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$4.9M – $8.5M
$277K – $403K
Franchise Fee
$50K
$25K
Royalty Rate
4.0%
6.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$4.9MOutlet subset
$540K
SBA Charge-Off Rate
12.8% (225 loans)
4.7% (89 loans)
Total Units
348
358
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1986
2008
FDD Year
2026
2025