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Updated RecentlyBruster's Real Ice Cream vs Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs Tropical Smoothie Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $229,200 - $1,315,000 | $198,500 - $543,500 |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $30,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 5% | 6% |
| Advertising Fee | 3% | 3% |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1997 |
| Year Franchised | 1993 | 1998 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 15 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 15 years |
| Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| 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 | Hands on management preferred, restaurant experience preferred (but not required), ability to follow a business system, financial capabilities, general business acumen, ability to work well in a team environment, and passion!!! |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Equipment | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Inventory | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Receivables | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Payroll | No/Yes | No/Yes |
Training & Support |
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| Training | On-The-Job Training: 68 hours Classroom Training: 12 hours | We believe in setting up our franchisees for success. We provide the following training: four-week training program, consisting of two weeks in a nearby Cafe, one week in a classroom setting at our Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia and one week onsite for your Grand Opening. |
| 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 Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform |
| 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 | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app |
| Operations | Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 15 - 30 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe has a very simple business operation since we do not utilize any fryers, grills, hooding systems or serve alcohol in the cafe.
Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 10 - 20 |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
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.
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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About Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers genuine natural product smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads, and servings of mixed greens. Our more beneficial decisions are what today's customers request and search out. Maybe that is the reason in 2015, the main half of our franchisees had normal gross offers of $806,920*.
Our main goal is to motivate a more beneficial way of life by serving astounding smoothies and nourishment with a touch of tropical fun. On the off chance that you play to win, contribute well and turn into a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner at this point!
Veteran Incentives 50% off franchise fee
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