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Updated RecentlyT.J. Cinnamons vs Icebox/Soupbox Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of T.J. Cinnamons 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 | $22,100 - $39,200 | $69,500 - $174,500 |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $14,000 - $20,000 |
| Royalty Fee | Varies | 4% |
| Advertising Fee | - | - |
| Year Founded | 1985 | 1995 |
| Year Franchised | 1985 | 1998 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | Then-current franchise 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/No | No/No |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
| Equipment | No/No | No/No |
| Inventory | No/No | No/No |
| Receivables | No/No | No/No |
| Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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| Training | Training program provided through manual | - |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
| Marketing | Ad slicks | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising |
| Operations |
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. |
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 | - | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About T.J. Cinnamons
When Ted and Joyce Rice first started selling cinnamon rolls at state fairs and rodeos, they were just looking to make some extra money and add to their retirement fund. Yet the demand for their sticky product was so great they were forced to turn their parttime venture into a fulltime T.J. Cinnamons bakery in Kansas City. The company began franchising and grew to nearly 250 locations in the late 1980s. But by the mid-'90s a declining economy, lower traffic, and inexperienced operators left only 47 bakeries operating. Arby's parent company acquired the business in 1996 and has since revived the bakery concept to be an add-on business that can be combined with any existing restaurant.
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.