Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs Mr. Smoothie Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs Mr. Smoothie including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Mr. Smoothie Franchise
Investment $229,200 - $1,315,000$87,650 - $377,400
Franchise Fee $35,000$20,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 3%to 2%
Year Founded 19891993
Year Franchised 19932001
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Mr. Smoothie Franchise
Experience *20% CAPITAL IN THE PROJECT. *DEDICATION TO EITHER OPERATING OR OVERSEEING *A MANAGER THAT WORKS APPROPRIATE RETAIL HOURS CULTIVATING AND MOTIVATING YOUTH. *INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY-

Financing Options

 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Mr. Smoothie Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
Equipment No/YesNo/No
Inventory No/YesNo/No
Receivables No/YesNo/No
Payroll No/YesNo/No

Training & Support

 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Mr. Smoothie Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 68 hours Classroom Training: 12 hours -
Support *Real Estate Review and approval *Project Management *Marketing program and materials *procurement of products for operation *operations manager to support in your opening and ongoing consultations at your storePurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Complete assortment of templates and plans annually along with the support of a field marketing representative for more one on one support.

Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app

Ad slicks
Operations Absentee Ownership Allowed

Number of Employees Required to Run: 15 - 30

50% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 - 6

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


Expansion Plans

 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Mr. Smoothie Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion NoYes

Company Overviews

About Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Consistently ranked among the nation's top Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, Bruster's Real Ice Cream is one of the fastest growing ice cream franchises. Bruster's Real Ice Cream started as a family-owned ice cream shop in 1989 when founder Bruce Reed opened his first store in Bridgewater, PA. Bruce grew up in the food service business working at his family's diner just blocks away from where he opened the first Bruster's ice cream store. Today, Bruster's has more than 230 stores in the eastern United States from New Hampshire to Florida, with a majority of them being locally owned and operated. Bruster's Real Ice Cream has been consistently ranked by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the nation's leading franchise companies. Bruster's philosophy is very simple. We believe that ice cream is one of life's great, simple pleasures that can be shared with family and friends of all ages. Bruster's Real Ice Cream store owners and managers share in that philosophy and our commitment to providing only the highest quality products and service to our customers. They are highly skilled experts in making only the freshest ice cream with the finest ingredients. Our owners and managers continue to rotate flavors to keep their product offering new and exciting every time a customer visits the store.

In addition, Bruster's Real Ice Cream is constantly developing and testing new products based on customer feedback.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Bruster’s franchised business is between $508,000 and $1,315,000 for a freestanding Unit, between $229,200 and $584,500 for an endcapUnit. This includes $35,000 that must be paid to the Franchisor or its affiliate(s) for a Unit.

Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S., Asia, Canada, Central America, Middle East, Mexico, Philippines and South America    

#54 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees
Veteran Incentives  50% off franchise fee

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In Franchise Business Reviews Top 200.

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#23 in Gator's Top franchises.



About Mr. Smoothie

Ready to own TWO of the fastest Growing Franchise Concepts Under ONE Roof? Then Mr. Smoothie & Frozen Yogurt may be the Franchise for YOU!
Mr. Smoothie, with over 26 years in business in 7 states, is the first Multi- State Franchise system to bring both: Real Fresh Fruit Smoothies and Self Service Frozen Yogurt Under one Roof.
Since 1996, Mr. Smoothie has been serving the Freshest and most delicious Smoothies, Juices and everyone’s favorite frozen treats

Mr. Smoothie’s locations are where our customers "Work, Live and Play” helping to accommodate today’s hectic schedules and healthy lifestyles.

We continually work with our vendors to ensure our locations are supplied with the freshest and healthiest products while delivering the best value to our customers.
Reqirements:
*Net worth of $200k and $50k liquid
*Real Estate, Design & Build Out Assistance
*All formats: Malls, Strip Centers, Airports & Universities
*Simple & Easy to Learn Operations
*On Site Training & Ongoing Store Support
*Menu items for everyone in the family and all throughout the day
*National Proprietary Food Vendor for bulk purchasing power
*Single Store, Multi-Unit and Area Developers welcomed