Smoothie King vs TCBY Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Smoothie King vs TCBY including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$269,550 - $845,985 | $330,000 - $435,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$30,000 | $35,000 |
Royalty Fee |
6% | 6% |
Advertising Fee |
3% | 2% |
Year Founded |
1987 | 1981 |
Year Franchised |
1988 | 1982 |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
- | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
General business experience Marketing skills | Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | No/Yes |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Equipment |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Inventory |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Receivables |
No/No | No/No |
Payroll |
No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
Training |
- | - |
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 |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media | Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising |
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) |
International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
Yes | Yes |
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
#14 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#19 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About TCBY
TCBY Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1981 by Frank Hickingbotham. Hickingbotham got the idea after he tried frozen yogurt for the first time, exclaiming, 'This can't be yogurt!' The initials of that outburst became the name of the company. Now renamed to stand for 'The Country's Best Yogurt,' TCBY has locations across the United States and in more than 60 countries. In 2000 TCBY merged with Capricorn Investors, the principal shareholder of Mrs. Fields' Holdings Inc. The merger allows TCBY to partner with Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies and other members of the Mrs. Fields family, including Pretzel Time and the Great American Cookie Co. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, TCBY offers franchise units in both traditional and nontraditional locations. It has co-branding relationships with Subway, Blimpie's and Taco Bell.
TCBY is the original and most well-known frozen yogurt brand, leading
the market in nutrition, taste and product quality. Serving communities
nationwide for 40 years, TCBY is a successful model that has fueled the
growth of a thriving industry. TCBY, which currently has over 250
franchise locations worldwide, offers an extensive product line, with
most yogurt flavors in varieties that are low in fat, nonfat, or no
sugar added. TCBY launched its unique frozen yogurt classification
"Super FroYo" in 2011, which is still the most nutritious frozen yogurt
product available in the market, as well as was the first brand to
market Greek Frozen Yogurt. Also based in Broomfield, Colorado, TCBYhas been a frozen yogurt innovator from the day its first shop opened in
Little Rock, Arkansas.