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Updated RecentlyIcebox/Soupbox vs Vitality Bowls Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Icebox/Soupbox vs Vitality Bowls 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 | $170,100 - $604,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $14,000 - $20,000 | $39,500 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% | 6% |
| Advertising Fee | - | 1.5% |
| Year Founded | 1995 | 2011 |
| Year Franchised | 1998 | 2014 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 7 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 7 years |
| Renewal Fee | Negotiable | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | 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 |
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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 | - | 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 | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | 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 | 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) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | Yes | - |
Company Overviews
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.