McDonald's vs Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of McDonald's vs Zoup! Fresh Soup Company including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
McDonald's Franchise
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Investment $1,314,500 - $2,306,500$355,900 - $648,500
Franchise Fee $45,000$39,900
Royalty Fee 4%6%
Advertising Fee 4%+1%
Year Founded 19551998
Year Franchised 19552003
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods
Renewal Fee $45K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
McDonald's Franchise
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Restaurant experience is helpful but not required
  • Strong Management Skills Important
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant On-The-Job Training: 72 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media 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 82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 - 14

    Absentee Ownership Allowed


    Expansion Plans
     
    McDonald's Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    US Expansion YesNo
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About McDonald's

    Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, ventured to California in 1954 to visit McDonald's hamburger stand, where he heard they were running eight mixers at once. Kroc was impressed by how rapidly customers were served and, seeing an opportunity to sell many more milkshake machines, encouraged brothers Dick and Mac McDonald to open a chain of their restaurants. Kroc became their business partner and opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
    McDonald's brand is in 122 countries around the world. Thirty thousand locations serve 51 million customers each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent local business people. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.


    "Top   ""  "Entrepreneur

      "franchiserankingscom"                                                                                                                         
    #7 on Franchise Rankings.com                                                                                                                                                            
    #3 in Canada's top franchises.
    #3 in Franchise 500 for 2020
    #11 in Franchise 500 for 2021










    About Zoup! Fresh Soup Company

    The first Zoup! opened in 1998 in Southfield, MI, a suburb of Detroit. Over the next five years, the founders opened five more Detroit-area locations, and in 2003 they began to franchise the concept. Zoup! restaurants feature 12 rotating daily varieties of soup, including low-fat, vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options. Made-to-order salads, sandwiches and baked goods are also available.

    Seeking new franchise units in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Northeast, West, Canada
    Veteran Incentives  $2,500 off franchise fee

    "Top
    #53 in Gator's Top franchises.