Golden Corral vs Penn Station, Inc.
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Golden Corral and Penn Station, Inc. are full-service restaurants franchises. Golden Corral requires an investment of $4.9M – $8.5M while Penn Station, Inc. requires $441K – $820K. 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, Penn Station, Inc. has a lower charge-off rate (2.0%) compared to Golden Corral (12.8%). FranchiseVerdict rates Golden Corral A (Strongest tier) and Penn Station, Inc. A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Golden Corral | Penn Station, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $4.9M – $8.5M | $441K – $820K |
| Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | Tiered monthly royalty on net sales: 0-2% on net sales <$30,000 (0% during 5-yr abatement window, else 2%); 3% on $30,000-$35,000; 4% on $35,000-$40,000; 5% on $40,000-$45,000; 6% on $45,000-$50,000; 7% on $50,000-$55,000; 8% on net sales >$55,000 (monthly tiers, "Current Royalty Rates") |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $4.9MOutlet subset | $820K |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 12.8% (225 loans) | 2.0% (50 loans) |
| Total Units | 348 | 322 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1986 | 1987 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Investment Range
$4.9M – $8.5M
$441K – $820K
Franchise Fee
$50K
$25K
Royalty Rate
4.0%
Tiered monthly royalty on net sales: 0-2% on net sales <$30,000 (0% during 5-yr abatement window, else 2%); 3% on $30,000-$35,000; 4% on $35,000-$40,000; 5% on $40,000-$45,000; 6% on $45,000-$50,000; 7% on $50,000-$55,000; 8% on net sales >$55,000 (monthly tiers, "Current Royalty Rates")
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$4.9MOutlet subset
$820K
SBA Charge-Off Rate
12.8% (225 loans)
2.0% (50 loans)
Total Units
348
322
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1986
1987
FDD Year
2026
N/A