Wetzel's Pretzels vs Dunkin' Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Dunkin' Franchise
Investment $126,600 - $405,850$199,700 - $1,688,200
Franchise Fee $35,000$40,000 - $90,000
Royalty Fee 7%5.9%
Advertising Fee 1%5%
Year Founded 19941950
Year Franchised 19961955
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Dunkin' Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Dunkin' Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment Yes/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Dunkin' Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Prior to opening your first Restaurant, you (one person) must attend a 3-day franchise business course conducted throughout the year in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. Following completion of that course, both the franchisee candidate and a designated representative must complete the Dunkin' Donuts Core Initial Training program, which includes classroom/instructional time that may be held at Dunkin' Brands University in Braintree, Massachusetts, or Orlando, Florida, or in a designated training Restaurant. Some of our required classes are only offered on the Internet as web-based training. On-The-Job Training: 244-354 hours Classroom Training: 45-54 hours
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Dunkin' Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Wetzel's Pretzels

    Wetzel's Pretzels founded by Rick Wetzel & Bill Phelps, former marketing executives in 1994. 1st Wetzel's Pretzels located in South Bay Galleria in Southern California. First store was opened in 1995 Century City, Hollywood.
    In 1996 Wetzel's Pretzels began franchising. Currently they have locations across United States (Universal City, Staples Center, Dodgers Stadium, Disneyland, Disney world) & internationally. Currently co-branding relationship with Cold Stone Creamery, Swensen's, Juice It Up and more.
    Beginning of 2016 Wetzel's franchise fast food restaurants had 298 locations out of them 269 US locations; 2 in Canada; 19 worldwide; and 8 owned by the company itself.

    Popular products:
    Pretzels, consisting of several different flavors
    Frozen Lemonade, sold in a variety of flavors.
    Frozen Granita, a frozen version of the Italian dessert
     
    The franchisor offers 3 franchise programs:
    1. A single Wetzel's Pretzels Bakery. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Wetzel's Pretzels Bakery ranges from $164,950 to $405,850. This includes approximately between $42,350 and $50,750 that must be paid to the franchisor. If Wetzel's Pretzels grants you a license to operate a Remote Mobile Unit under a Remote Mobile Unit Addendum to your Franchise Agreement, you will also pay it a fee of $5,000 for a Remote Mobile Unit.
    2. Multiple Wetzel's Pretzels Bakeries within a defined area pursuant to a Multi-Unit Development Agreement. There is an initial development fee of $15,000 multiplied by the number of Bakeries which you must open, plus the balance of the initial franchise fee ($20,000) for your first Franchise Agreement. You will pay an initial franchise fee of $35,000 for each Bakery ($22,500 for a second Bakery in the same mall). However, the franchisor will credit the development fee against the initial franchise fees (at the rate of $15,000 for the second and each subsequent Franchise Agreement).
    3. A single Wetzel's Pretzels Concession Truck or Trailer. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Wetzel's Pretzels Concession Truck or Trailer ranges from $126,600 to $275,850. This includes approximately between $9,000 and $14,750 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    "Entrepreneur
    #497 in Franchise 500 for 2020.








    About Dunkin'

    In 1946, Bill Rosenberg established Industrial Luncheon Services, an organization that conveyed suppers and snacks to specialists in the Boston region. The accomplishment of Industrial Luncheon Services persuaded Rosenberg to begin The Open Kettle, a donut shop in Quincy, Massachusetts. After two years, The Open Kettle changed its name to Dunkin' Donuts.

    Today, Dunkin' Donuts stores can be found in more than 32 nations, and they serve 70 assortments of doughnuts, alongside hot and cool espresso drinks, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other heated products. Dunkin' Donuts parent organization, Dunkin' Brands Inc., additionally establishments Baskin-Robbins, and the two ideas are once in a while co-branded.

    September of 2018 Dunkin' Donuts rebranded to just Dunkin' .

    20% off franchise fee for first five traditional restaurants

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    #2 in Franchise 500 for 2021