Smoothie King vs Dippin' Dots Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Smoothie King Franchise
Dippin' Dots Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$112,204 - $366,950
Franchise Fee $30,000$15,000
Royalty Fee 6%Varies
Advertising Fee 3%Varies
Year Founded 19871988
Year Franchised 19882000
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee -Varies


Business Experience Requirements
 
Smoothie King Franchise
Dippin' Dots Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 12 hours Classroom Training: 19 hours
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaAd Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 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)

    		 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    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.







    About Dippin' Dots

    Research biotechnologist Curt Jones used his expertise in cryogenic freezing processes to find new ways to produce ice cream. After nearly a year of experimenting with the idea of flash-freezing his family's homemade ice cream, Jones created and sold his first cups of Dippin' Dots ice cream in 1988. Because of Jones' flash-freezing process, Dippin' Dots ice cream forms into little balls (hence the term 'dots'), but unlike freeze-dried products, the ice cream can still melt.

    Seeking new franchise units Worldwide.

    Veteran Incentives  15% off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #207 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #276 in Franchise 500 for 2021.