Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs sweetFrog Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs sweetFrog 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
sweetFrog Franchise
Investment $229,200 - $1,315,000$95,600 - $477,500
Franchise Fee $35,000$15,000 - $30,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 3%1.5%
Year Founded 19892009
Year Franchised 19932012
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
sweetFrog 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
sweetFrog Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
Start-up Costs No/Yes-/Yes
Equipment No/Yes-/Yes
Inventory No/Yes-/Yes
Receivables No/Yes-/Yes
Payroll No/Yes-/Yes

Training & Support
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
sweetFrog Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 68 hours Classroom Training: 12 hours On-The-Job Training: 24 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: As needed
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 Purchasing Co-ops 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

50% of all franchisees own more than one unit.

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4.

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


Expansion Plans
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
sweetFrog Franchise
US Expansion YesNo
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion NoNo

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 sweetFrog

Shortly after moving to Richmond, Virginia, in 2009, Derek Cha brought the West-Coast frozen yogurt trend to his new home by opening the first sweetFrog store. In addition to a variety of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings, sweetFrog locations offer waffle cones and bowls, Belgian waffles, banana splits and parfaits.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a sweetFrog Shop is $231,500 - $477,500 for a Shop in Traditional Venue, $95,600 - $304,000 for a Kiosk Shop or Standard Floor Plan Shop in Non-Traditional Venue and $122,400 - $219,300 for a Truck.

#23 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees

Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S., Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Central America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Philippines, South America and Western Europe    
Veteran Incentives  25% off franchise fee (50% off in May and November)