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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Tropik Sun Fruit & Nut vs Sir Chocolate including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $93,000 - $214,000 | $41,300 - $136,500 |
Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $25,000 |
Royalty Fee | 6% | 5% |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1980 | 2003 |
Year Franchised | 1980 | 2004 |
Term Of Agreement | Varies based on lease term | 7 years |
Term Of Agreement | Varies based on lease term | 7 years |
Renewal Fee | - | $5K/$10K |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | No/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | * Available at headquarters: 3 days * At franchisee's location: 3-5 days |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
Marketing | - | - |
Operations |
10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 8
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (40% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | * Franchise can be run from home * Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 * Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Tropik Sun began in the summer of 1980 in downtown Chicago with a basic offering of 20 varieties of nuts, 16 types of dried fruits, a dozen trail mixes, carob and yogurt-covered nuts and fruits. Today Tropik Sun has evolved to include a diversified and wide variety of "fun-munchies", gift items and thirst-quenching refreshments. Tropik Sun will likely be known as the greatest "fun-munchie" store in the history of shopping malls! Tropik Sun is proud to serve quality products that reflect the popular tastes of our ageless customers.
NO LONGER FRANCHISING
Sir Chocolate began as a one-man operation with only a single chocolate fountain. Since then, the company has expanded from a homebased business into a combination warehouse, kitchen and office. The lone fountain has grown into a mobile chocolate fountain cart made for special events, a retail outlet and fondue gift baskets. Franchisees have three options for running their business: catering, retail and a retail-vending cart.