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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Icebox/Soupbox vs Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $69,500 - $174,500 | $224,500 - $457,000 |
Franchise Fee | $14,000 - $20,000 | $22,000 - $37,200 |
Royalty Fee | 4% | 5% |
Advertising Fee | - | 1% |
Year Founded | 1995 | 1975 |
Year Franchised | 1998 | 2003 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
Renewal 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 | -/- |
Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
Equipment | No/No | -/- |
Inventory | No/No | -/- |
Receivables | No/No | -/- |
Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | - |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising | - |
Operations |
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) | Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 19 |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | - |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | Yes | - |
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.
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt is a quick serve restaurant style frozen treat franchise concept with a menu featuring the chain's proprietary Everything Yogurt brand frozen yogurt, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt brand smoothies and frosties, and Gretel Pretzel brand hand-rolled pretzels. Other offerings include premium flavored coffees, espresso, cappuccino, muffins, ice cream, nuts, candies, bagels, cookies, cakes and flavored popcorn, as well as specialty items such as Bananas apparel and gifts.