CrepeMaker vs Icebox/Soupbox Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of CrepeMaker vs Icebox/Soupbox including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
CrepeMaker Franchise
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
Investment $120,000 - $325,000$69,500 - $174,500
Franchise Fee $35,000$14,000 - $20,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19921995
Year Franchised 20011998
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Renewal Fee -Negotiable


Business Experience Requirements

 
CrepeMaker Franchise
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    CrepeMaker Franchise
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    CrepeMaker Franchise
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    Training Available at headquarters-
    Support Grand opening, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing -Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 - 30

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% 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

     
    CrepeMaker Franchise
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About CrepeMaker

     
     The Original CrepeMaker was established in 1992, an idea conceived by the founder, Christopher Hoffman - upon returning from a vacation in France. As he enjoyed the French crepes sold on the street carts of Paris, he envisioned an innovative hand-held crepe concept for the streets of South Florida. He created a meal in hand filled with super fresh, delightful food combinations that would satisfy the heartiest of appetites and the sweet tooth.

    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.