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Updated RecentlyMarble Slab Creamery vs Icebox/Soupbox Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Marble Slab Creamery vs Icebox/Soupbox including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $316,085 - $409,135 | $69,500 - $174,500 |
| Franchise Fee | $15,000 - $25,000 | $14,000 - $20,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 6% | 4% |
| Advertising Fee | 2% | - |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1995 |
| Year Franchised | 1984 | 1998 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | 20% of current fee | Negotiable |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | ||
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/No |
| Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
| Equipment | No/Yes | No/No |
| Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
| Receivables | No/No | No/No |
| Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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| Training | On-The-Job Training: 24.5 hours Classroom Training: 32.5 hours | - |
| Support | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
| Marketing | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising |
| Operations |
65% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 - 10
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Marble Slab Creamery
Founded in 1983, the family-owned, Houston-based Marble Slab Creamery offers homemade, super premium ice cream that's prepared to order on a marble slab, using a variety of mix-ins. With flavors like Sweet Cream, Chocolate Swiss, Cheesecake and Amaretto, more than 100 franchisees nationwide are tempting customers with their exotic flavors served in freshly-baked waffle cones. The stores also sell smoothies, shakes, sundaes, banana splits, ice cream cakes and pies. Some franchisees even offer homemade baked goods such as cookies, brownies and apple pie, as well as gourmet coffees.
Seeking new franchisees in the U.S.,
Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Central America, Eastern
Europe, Middle East, Philippines, South America and Western Europe
Veteran Incentives 25% off first-store franchise fee
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About Icebox/Soupbox
Before opening his first store, Jamie Taerbaum stood outside a Baskin-Robbins store to figure out how many customers an ice cream store could expect at different times of day, on different days of the week, and in different weather conditions. Armed with this research, the young business school graduate opened the original Icebox/Soupbox store in 1995 in Chicago.
In the spring and summer, Icebox operates as a retailer of Icyfruit, a mixture of fruit juice, sugar, water and chunks of fruit that comes in 20 flavors. Throughout the fall and winter, it becomes a Soupbox store, offering a wide variety of soups.