Smoothie King vs Sweet Nel's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Smoothie King Franchise
Sweet Nel's Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$354,000 - $539,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$35,000
Royalty Fee 6%5%
Advertising Fee 3%2%
Year Founded 19872015
Year Franchised 19882015
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Smoothie King Franchise
Sweet Nel's Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Sweet Nel's 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
    Sweet Nel's Franchise
    Training -2 weeks of intensive training from the most basic of shop functions to the most comprehensive management techniques necessary to run the Sweet Nel's business. Training is ongoing for both you and your employees.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesA Sweet Nel's consultant will guide you through every phase of development and, eventually, to help you open your shop. After shop construction, and for the 2-weeks prior to grand opening, we will assist in setting up your Sweet Nel's Shop. Sweet Nel's franchisees are provided with a Field Service Consultant on-call to answer questions and to provide support. They will visit on a regular basis and have an in-depth meeting about how things are going and to offer suggestions and evaluations.
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaWe support you with the tools you need to take advantage of promotional opportunities and create new programs on an ongoing basis.
    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)

    		 We do not allow multiple shop ownership at this time.

    Expansion Plans
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Sweet Nel's Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    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 Sweet Nel's

    We are developing a small, limited number of "Sweet Nel's" franchises in the Philadelphia area. Although we could open more, it is our philosophy to open fewer cafes and locate them in very high profile, magnet locations in and around Philadelphia. Franchisees are extensively screened, exhaustively trained and provided with an exceptional degree of guidance and support from the Sweet Nel's franchise organization.