Golden Corral vs Papa John's Pizza
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Golden Corral and Papa John's Pizza are full-service restaurants franchises. Golden Corral requires an investment of $4.9M – $8.5M while Papa John's Pizza requires $281K – $890K. 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, Golden Corral has a lower charge-off rate (12.8%) compared to Papa John's Pizza (19.6%). FranchiseVerdict rates Golden Corral A (Strongest tier) and Papa John's Pizza A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Golden Corral | Papa John's Pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $4.9M – $8.5M | $281K – $890K |
| Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $4.9MOutlet subset | $1.1MIncl. company outlets |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 12.8% (225 loans) | 19.6% (190 loans) |
| Total Units | 348 | 3,294 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1986 | 2021 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Investment Range
$4.9M – $8.5M
$281K – $890K
Franchise Fee
$50K
$25K
Royalty Rate
4.0%
5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$4.9MOutlet subset
$1.1MIncl. company outlets
SBA Charge-Off Rate
12.8% (225 loans)
19.6% (190 loans)
Total Units
348
3,294
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1986
2021
FDD Year
2026
2026