Wetzel's Pretzels vs Sprinkles Cupcakes Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Sprinkles Cupcakes Franchise
Investment $126,600 - $405,850$576,000 - $1,075,000
Franchise Fee $35,000N/A
Royalty Fee 7%-
Advertising Fee 1%-
Year Founded 19942012
Year Franchised 19962020
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Sprinkles Cupcakes Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Sprinkles Cupcakes 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
    Sprinkles Cupcakes 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 -
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO 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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Sprinkles Cupcakes Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    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 Sprinkles Cupcakes

    ""
    Sprinkles opened “the world’s first cupcake bakery” in Beverly Hills, as reported by the Food Network, and is credited by the Los Angeles Times as “the progenitor of the haute cupcake craze.” Founded by Candace Nelson, judge on Food Network’s hit show “Cupcake Wars,” and husband Charles, Sprinkles has inspired long lines of devoted Hollywood stars and serious epicureans alike. From Tom Cruise to Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively to Ryan Seacrest, celebrities are abuzz about Sprinkles!
    Baked fresh in small batches throughout the day, Sprinkles Cupcakes are handcrafted from the finest ingredients and contain no preservatives, trans fats or artificial flavors. Sprinkles has locations nationwide, a traveling Sprinklesmobile - the world’s first cupcake truck, and sells its cupcake mixes at over 250 Williams-Sonoma stores throughout the US and Canada.
    In 2012, Sprinkles debuted the world’s first Cupcake ATM and continued its foray into classic American desserts with the launch of Sprinkles Ice Cream & Cookies.
    “The Sprinkles Baking Book” hit the New York Times Best Sellers list in October, 2016.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Production Bakery is $781,000 to $1,075,000. This includes $40,000 to $43,250 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Pantry Bakery is $576,000 to $895,000. This includes $40,000 to $43,250 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. The franchisor and you may choose to sign a Development Rights Agreement under which you will develop a number of Sprinkles Cupcakes Bakeries. The franchisor expects the Development Rights Agreement to cover between 2 and 10 Sprinkles Cupcakes Bakeries.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation under a Development Rights Agreement is $40,500 to $202,500. This includes $40,000 to $200,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.