Abbott's Frozen Custard vs Smoothie King Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Abbott's Frozen Custard vs Smoothie King including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Abbott's Frozen Custard Franchise
Smoothie King Franchise
Investment $332,254 - $571,634$269,550 - $845,985
Franchise Fee $37,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5.5%6%
Advertising Fee 0.19Cents/Gal.3%
Year Founded 19021987
Year Franchised 19771988
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Abbott's Frozen Custard Franchise
Smoothie King Franchise
Experience -
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Abbott's Frozen Custard Franchise
    Smoothie King Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Abbott's Frozen Custard Franchise
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Training 3 days at Scoop School and 10 days of on-site training at your location, where we teach you everything you need to know to operate and manage an Abbott's Frozen Custard store.-
    Support Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicksCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 - 6

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 9

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Abbott's Frozen Custard Franchise
    Smoothie King Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Abbott's Frozen Custard

    Abbott's Frozen Custard has stood for quality for over 100 years in Upstate New York. Back in the 1920s, people started treating themselves to Abbott's Frozen Custard down at Charlotte Beach on Lake Ontario. Today, the company has grown with franchises spreading out in Rochester, Syracuse and New York's Finger Lakes region. No matter where our stores are located, success has come about because our driving principle is to make the best frozen custard on earth .

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of an Abbott’s Frozen Custard franchise is between $332,254 and $571,634. This includes an initial franchise fee of $37,000, and other initial fees of $138,354 to $156,801 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliates for your first Abbott’s Store.
    If you choose to enter into a Development Agreement, you must open a minimum of three stores. The total investment necessary under the Development Agreement is between $996,762 to $1,714,902. This includes $111,000 and other initial fees of $415,062 to $470,403 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliates to open three stores.

    About Smoothie King

    When visits to various doctors did little to relieve the allergies Steve Kuhnau was suffering from, the nurse began reading up on nutrition, hoping a change in diet would help his symptoms. Once he began eating fresh foods and cutting fat out of his diet, Kuhnau started feeling better. His next task was to find a way to tackle the midday fatigue caused by hypoglycemia. Using his nursing expertise and the drink mixing experience he gained as a soda jerk in high school, Kuhnau began experimenting with high protein drinks. The resulting product combined fresh fruits, vitamins and other supplements and inspired the creation of Kuhnau's company, Smoothie King.
    Each Smoothie King store sells smoothies and a variety of vitamins, minerals, low fat snacks and nutritional supplements. Offering 40 percent off its initial franchise fee agreements for the first 40 agreements in 2013 IN St. Louis.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a traditional Smoothie King Business ranges from for an end-cap or in-line location, $269,550 to $545,035, and for a free-standing drive-thru location, $577,100 to $845,985. This includes $28,250 to $36,990 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you also must pay the franchisor a development fee of $12,500 for each Smoothie King franchise you commit to develop after the first franchise. You must develop a minimum of 5 Smoothie King Businesses under the Area Development Agreement.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    ""  "Entrepreneur

    #14 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #19 in Franchise 500 for 2021.