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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of T.J. Cinnamons vs Cindy's Cinnamon Rolls 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 | $69,000 - $130,500 |
Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $25,000 |
Royalty Fee | Varies | 5% |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1985 | 1985 |
Year Franchised | 1985 | 1986 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee | Then-current franchise fee | - |
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, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | Ad slicks | Ad slicks |
Operations |
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. |
10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | - |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | No | Yes |
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.
Cindy and Tom Harris were inspired to open their own shop after seeing customers line up to watch warm cinnamon rolls come out of the oven at a bakery. The couple felt making and selling warm cinnamon rolls in a mall would be a hit, so they opened their first Cindy's Cinnamon Rolls store in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1985. Customers were drawn to the store by the smell of the baking rolls, and would line up for the warm rolls and coffee.
Cindy's began franchising in 1986 and now has stores in malls across the United States in addition to several international locations.