Smoothie King vs Andy's Frozen Custard Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Smoothie King vs Andy's Frozen Custard including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$269,550 - $845,985 | $528,500 - $1,387,500 |
Franchise Fee |
$30,000 | $32,000 |
Royalty Fee |
6% | 6% |
Advertising Fee |
3% | 1% |
Year Founded |
1987 | 1986 |
Year Franchised |
1988 | 2004 |
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 | - |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | -/- |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | -/- |
Equipment |
No/Yes | -/- |
Inventory |
No/Yes | -/- |
Receivables |
No/No | -/- |
Payroll |
No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
Training |
- | - |
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media | - |
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) | - |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | - |
International Expansion |
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 Andy's Frozen Custard
Andy's Frozen Custard has always been fanatical about custard, and has served
it with pride since March 19, 1986. For more than 35 years, only the
freshest ingredients have been used for a frozen custard experience you
can't get anywhere else.
The Andy's Frozen Custard tradition started in Osage Beach, Missouri when
John and Carol Kuntz embarked on a new frozen custard endeavor. Their
treat quickly became a legend at the lake, and soon took nearby
Springfield, Missouri by storm.
It was at the original Springfield location where John and Carol's son
Andy (and his wife Dana) worked long hours learning the business from
the ground up. Their fanaticism for a supreme product and unmatched
customer service never wavered.
Always striving to expand and improve Andy's Frozen Custard, they have taken
the brand to new heights, with locations throughout Missouri, Arizona,
Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Texas, with plans for additional locations in the future.
These shops offer customers near and far a slice of hometown Americana where
it's fun to be a kid for a while. At the heart of each Andy's is a fun
work environment, where everyone shares in the fanaticism that brought
Andy's to life, and keeps it going strong.
A unique but simple approach has been used to achieve such great success;
hire great people, and treat them right. John and Carol's philosophy
was always, "If you are in the service business, you have to hire people
that have a strong desire to serve. Pay them above average, train them
well, and demand nothing but the best."
John, Carol, Andy, and Dana have been able to make Andy's Frozen Custard the
largest dessert-only franchise in the world! Andy's can now be found in
15 states, and has more than 100 locations open, with several more under
construction.