Max Muscle vs Crown Trophy Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Max Muscle vs Crown Trophy including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Max Muscle Franchise
Crown Trophy Franchise
Investment $114,600 - $281,300$168,150 - $227,700
Franchise Fee $75,000$35,000
Royalty Fee 3%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19881978
Year Franchised 20011987
Term Of Agreement 5 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years5 years
Renewal Fee $1.5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Max Muscle Franchise
Crown Trophy Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Marketing skills
  • People skills; leadership potential

  • Financing Options

     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    Crown Trophy Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    Crown Trophy Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 12 hours Classroom Training: 52 hours Additional Training: Annual franchise meeting
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingAd Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 5

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

    Absentee ownership allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Max Muscle Franchise
    Crown Trophy Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Max Muscle

    Joe Wells founded Max Muscle in 1991. Joe's success stems from his college degree in business and marketing combined with his long-standing passion for weight training and nutrition. After being introduced to amino acids for muscle recovery by the late Lyle Alzado, Joe's teammate on the L.A. Raiders, Joe was inspired to formulate one of the first low molecular amino acid formulas for athletes. His formula quickly became the #1 selling sports nutrition amino acid in the country. Today, Joe stands at the helm of the rapidly growing
    Max Muscle empire, a leader in the production of high quality sports nutrition products and the country's fastest growing sport nutrition retail chain. JOE WELLS AND SEAN GREENE - ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR, 1998 as VOTED BY THE ACADEMY OF BODYBUILDING FITNESS AND SPORTS FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY Sean Greene joined forces with Joe Wells as President of Max Muscle in 1994. Sean earned his bachelor's degree in exercise physiology with an emphasis in human nutrition and a minor in business management from the University of Florida. Also fueled by a passion for fitness and nutrition, Sean won numerous amateur bodybuilding titles and assisted top professors in exercise testing and cutting-edge research in exercise performance. Sean has also developed and implemented corporate wellness programs for many of San Diego's largest companies, including General Dynamics, and has trained with many top professional bodybuilders and athletes. A leader in the sports nutrition industry since 1991, Max Muscle produces and distributes its own line of popular high-quality sports nutrition supplements as well as a complete line of workout and casual wear for today's active consumer.
    Max Muscle products are marketed through the company's national network of stores, as well as through a broader distribution base world-wide. The Max Muscle brand has earned a reputation for producing and selling superior and reliable quality products within the sports nutrition industry.

    About Crown Trophy

    What started out as a part-time job in college has turned into a franchise with more than 148 stores nationwide. A physical education major in college, Chuck Weisenfeld took a job at a local sporting goods store to make extra money. Working in the store's trophy department, Weisenfeld saw how profitable trophies could be. After earning his degree and teaching in a high school for a few years, Weisenfeld finally quit teaching and opened his first Crown Trophy in Brooklyn in 1978. A few years later, he began offering franchises to his friends. Today the company creates and sells trophies and awards for various organizations and events.

    The estimated total investment necessary to begin operation of a Crown Trophy franchised business ranges from $168,150 to $199,200. This  includes initial fees ranging from $118,000 to $128,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. If a franchisee incorporates the optional “Signs by Crown” business into its Crown Trophy business, the estimated total investment ranges from $186,150 to $227,700.
    Veteran Incentives  5% off franchise fee

    "Entrepreneur
    #393 in Franchise 500 for 2020.