Smoothie King vs The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Smoothie King Franchise
The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$85,000 - $250,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 3%2%local +2%Nat'l
Year Founded 19872005
Year Franchised 19882005
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Smoothie King Franchise
The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-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
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise
    Training - The Cream & Fudge Academy offers a broad range of technical and managerial courses. The training is designed to provide you with the key skills required to run your stores with a passion for quality - a passion your customers will sense and appreciate through their overall experience at the store. The Cream & Fudge Factory also offers onsite training by its experienced professionals and has a specialized team taht can assist your local team in opening a new store.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives The Cream & Fudge Factory will support you from the moment you sign a contract to the time your store - or stores - open. And the support continues during operation through continuous monitoring of your store, helping you to achieve a consistent high level of customer experience. We also help you promote your business by marketing the brand effectively within your territory. Because our ultimate goal is the same as yours - to generate solid returns on investment by running the business professionally and with the full support of The Cream & Fudge Factory's proven systems.
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media The Cream & Fudge Factory has ready-to-use proven promotions that can be adapted and implemented in your market. The Cream & Fudge Factory also has a professional team of graphic designers that can design specific promotions to meet your requirements.
    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
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    The Cream & Fudge Factory Franchise
    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
    ""  "Entrepreneur

    #14 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #19 in Franchise 500 for 2021.







    About The Cream & Fudge Factory

    The Cream & Fudge Factory offers super premium smooth and creamy ice cream, made fresh. After the customer selects their favorite flavors, the ice cream is hand folded on a frozen marble stone with the customer's choice of mix-ins of nuts, fruits, candies and fudge. In addition to allowing customers to create their own combinations, The Cream & Fudge Factory has a menu of proprietary and innovative creations made at the stores for customers to enjoy fresh. The company also offers take-away ice cream in pints and ice cream cakes. The minimum size for a shop is 50sqm up to 100sqm. In 2005, "The Cream & Fudge Factory" was launched and became part of the portfolio of Global Franchise Architects. Using its Swiss expertise and its worldwide research and development capabilities, in just 3 short years it has expanded its operations in Thailand, India, Indonesia, Oman, and Vietnam. The Cream & Fudge Factory prides itself on serving the highest quality premium ice cream blends, homemade waffle bowls & cones, innovative recipes, a wide range of mix-ins and like all GFA brands, its undying dedication to enhancing the customer experience worldwide. An upscale and world class experience in the super premium ice-cream mix-in category, The Cream & Fudge Factory offers a luxurious atmosphere where customers can enjoy our carefully mixed creations or customize their own. The Cream & Fudge Factory is the ideal environment in which to enjoy such pleasures, where cool contemporary styling and casual comfort complete a thoroughly dreamy all-round ice cream experience.