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Updated RecentlyRubyjuice Fruit and Smoothies vs Icebox/Soupbox Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Rubyjuice Fruit and Smoothies vs Icebox/Soupbox including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $106,000 - $223,000 | $69,500 - $174,500 |
| Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $14,000 - $20,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 5.5% | 4% |
| Advertising Fee | - | - |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 1995 |
| Year Franchised | 2003 | 1998 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | 10% of current franchise fee | Negotiable |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | No/No |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
| Equipment | No/No | No/No |
| Inventory | No/No | No/No |
| Receivables | No/No | No/No |
| Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | - |
| Support | Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
| Marketing | Ad slicks | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising |
| Operations |
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 - 20
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. |
0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Rubyjuice Fruit and Smoothies
Jack and Tracy Groot owned and operated a coffee bar in Holland, Michigan, when the location next door became available. To take advantage of the opportunity, the couple developed and opened Rubyjuice, offering quick-service smoothies, juices, sandwiches and salads. The menu includes a variety of nutritional supplements that customers may add to their smoothies. Rubyjuice began franchising in 2003.
About Icebox/Soupbox
Before opening his first store, Jamie Taerbaum stood outside a Baskin-Robbins store to figure out how many customers an ice cream store could expect at different times of day, on different days of the week, and in different weather conditions. Armed with this research, the young business school graduate opened the original Icebox/Soupbox store in 1995 in Chicago.
In the spring and summer, Icebox operates as a retailer of Icyfruit, a mixture of fruit juice, sugar, water and chunks of fruit that comes in 20 flavors. Throughout the fall and winter, it becomes a Soupbox store, offering a wide variety of soups.