Wetzel's Pretzels vs Big Dad's Pies Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Big Dad's Pies Franchise
Investment $126,600 - $405,850$220,000 - $250,000
Franchise Fee $35,000N/A
Royalty Fee 7%-
Advertising Fee 1%-
Year Founded 1994-
Year Franchised 1996-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Big Dad's Pies Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• No special education or prior experience in our type of business is required for a person to be considered as a possible Big Dad�s Pies franchisee. Even if you haven�t worked in retail before, we will ensure you the opportunity to succeed. It is essential that our franchisees become personally involved in every facet of their business. You should be willing and able to perform all sales, on-site production and other functions required on a daily basis. By recruiting, training and retaining quality staff, the individual demands on you can be lessened, but your personal involvement is essential to maximise the potential of your business.

    Financing Options
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Big Dad's Pies Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment Yes/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Big Dad's Pies Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours -
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform We provide a comprehensive franchise support program: * Regular support & supervision from the franchise team through site visits and telephone support * Ongoing business advice & coaching on how to operate the franchise and improve your bottom line * Assistance with your individual strategic plan * Local Marketing advise specific to your store * Continual improvements & updates to the Franchisee Operations Manual * Research & development of new products * Regular quality control in shop standards across the total franchise network * Quarterly business operations review for every franchisee * Weekly franchisee newsletter * Latest equipment advice * Negotiating product supply agreements
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app We nurture the Big Dad's brand in a number of ways, including: * Point of sale displays * Cross media advertising including newspapers, radio, billboards & flyers * Production of quality advertising & promotional materials * Good internet presence * Excellent signage at every location * Special offers to customers
    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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Big Dad's Pies Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 Big Dad's Pies

    Over the last few years, Big Dad's Pies has been developing the business with an increased emphasis in establishing well-branded and easily accessed Pie Shops. National expansion plans are now a reality with the recently completed Heathwood manufacturing facility, which includes five large SNAP freezers. The SNAP freezers (a $500 000 investment), which were commissioned in December 2008, will enable products to be produced in advance and stored in the freezers so that not only will product shortage never be a problem, but now products can be delivered to stores at greater distances away from the manufacturing facility. Previously stores had to be located within a 20 km radius to the manufacturing facility to ensure a fresh product could be delivered each day. Now product can be produced, frozen and then delivered via freezer trucks to stores around Australia.
    Benefits of owning a Big Dad's Pie Shop * Excellent range of products * No trade qualifications needed * Low operating costs * Strong, yet managed growth * Operate out of sites from 60m2 * Work well as both stand alone and strip mall sites without the demands of shopping centre food courts * High customer service standards * Excellent well managed branding * Upfront and ongoing training * Benefits of group purchasing * Site identification, lease negotiation & store design * Excellent support & leadership * Ready to bake products * Is a turn-key operation * Standardised products & systems * Cash based takings * Professionally developed franchise system * Comprehensive operations manual * Modern well-equipped new store * Ongoing research and development * Touch screen Point of Sale system with excellent reporting capabilities