Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs Vitality Bowls Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bruster's Real Ice Cream vs Vitality Bowls 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
Vitality Bowls Franchise
Investment $229,200 - $1,315,000$170,100 - $604,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$39,500
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 3%1.5%
Year Founded 19892011
Year Franchised 19932014
Term Of Agreement 10 years7 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years7 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Vitality Bowls 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

Franchisee Profile

*Passionate about VITALITY BOWLS *Passionate about healthy food and a healthy lifestyle *Local market knowledge *Minimum $30-60K liquid assets per store and total of $200k+ (May include lending) *Single store and multi unit development opportunities available, depending on your market *Retail or restaurant operations experience is helpful

Financing Options
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Vitality Bowls Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
Equipment No/Yes-/-
Inventory No/Yes-/-
Receivables No/Yes-/-
Payroll No/Yes-/-

Training & Support
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Vitality Bowls Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 68 hours Classroom Training: 12 hours

VITALITY BOWLS operates training units in Walnut Creek, CA. We will do our best to schedule your training in an area that is convenient for you. Training will also take place at your location before and/or after you open.

Our training program teaches you the day-to-day operation of your VITALITY BOWLS unit. VITALITY BOWLS requires that the franchisee, an operating partner, or a general manager, designated by the franchisee, attend our full-time, training program. This program will teach you how to fully operate your VITALITY BOWLS unit from the ground up. We will not let you open until we are satisfied we have provided you with sufficient training to be successful.

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

After signing your franchise agreement, we are available for continuous, direct support. You can count on us for operational input and best practices information. In addition, we will visit you regularly to ensure you are maximizing the potential of your business and we are helping you in every way we can.

On a continuing basis, we will drive the brand and support your efforts in marketing, real estate and development, supply chain, and IT. Should you have questions or need help with issues in these areas, you can call us.
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

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Operations Absentee Ownership Allowed

Number of Employees Required to Run: 15 - 30

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Expansion Plans
 
Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise
Vitality Bowls Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion No-

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 Vitality Bowls

Roy and Tara Gilad, a pair of successful business owners, founded Vitality Bowls in 2011 in San Ramon, California. The duo started the superfood cafe concept together as a result of discovering their daughter's severe food allergies and wanting to find healthy food alternatives. Since franchising began in 2014, the brand has seen significant growth with nearly 40 cafes open and in development. Today, Vitality Bowls is redefining the fast casual healthy food restaurant sector every day at each of its locations across the country. Tailored to owners and operators that place value in the nation's nutritious food movement, the franchise model provides structure and scalability. Many of the current franchisees began as loyal customers who wanted to be a part of the future of food chains. Franchisees can open up to three stores in a protected territory. If you are passionate about a healthy lifestyle and want operate a thriving business, VITALITY BOWLS might be the right choice for you. We look for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who takes a hands-on approach to managing their business in addition to supporting their local community. If you are ready for an exciting new experience, owning a VITALITY BOWLS franchise may be in your future.

Vitality Bowls area developers acquire the right to develop multiple Vitality Bowls Restaurants in a designated development area. The development fee is $39,500 for the first Restaurant to be developed under the Area Development Agreement, plus $29,500 for the second Restaurant, and $20,000 for each subsequent Restaurant to be developed under the Area Development Agreement. To develop five outlets as an Area Developer, the development fees would total $129,000. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Vitality Bowls area developer business will depend on the number of Vitality Bowls Restaurants to be opened. A minimum of three outlets must be developed according to the Area Development Agreement.

The estimated total investment necessary to begin operations for a Vitality Bowls Restaurant ranges from $170,100 and $604,000. This includes between $20,000 and $39,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

#185 in Franchise 500 for 2021.  Not in Franchise 500 for 2020.