Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company vs Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company vs Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$1,010,985 - $2,252,846 | $98,350 - $445,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$35,000 | $30,000 |
Royalty Fee |
5% | 7% |
Advertising Fee |
- | 1% |
Year Founded |
1987 | 1988 |
Year Franchised |
1993 | 1989 |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee |
- | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
*Experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator
*Recognition as a top restaurant operator
*Net worth of $7.5 million
*Liquid assets of $3 million
*Infrastructure and resources to meet our development schedule
*Real estate experience in the market to be developed
*Total commitment to the development of the Panera Bread brand
*Cultural fit and a passion for fresh bread
| General business experience |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | No/Yes |
Start-up Costs |
No/No | No/Yes |
Equipment |
No/No | No/Yes |
Inventory |
No/No | No/Yes |
Receivables |
No/No | No/Yes |
Payroll |
No/No | No/Yes |
Training & Support |
Training |
- | On-The-Job Training: 32 hours
Classroom Training: 40-64 hours
|
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations | 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 slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Ad Templates
National Media
Social media
SEO
Website development
Email marketing
Loyalty program/app |
Operations |
Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40
- 60
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
53.9% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 9 - 12
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
|
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company
After more than 17 years in the retail industry, Ken Rosenthal changed gears and founded Saint Louis Bread Co. in 1987. His goal was to create a neighborhood bakery where people could pick up fresh-baked bread, meals and snacks. In 1993, Rosenthal sold Saint Louis Bread to Au Bon Pain Co. Six years later, the company was renamed Panera Bread.
The future growth of Panera Bread will be based upon company bakery-cafe development as well as the continued sale of franchise area development agreements.
Panera Bread does not sell single-unit franchises, so it is not possible to open just one bakery-cafe. Rather, we have chosen to develop by selling market areas which require the franchise developer to open a number of units, typically 15 bakery-cafes in a period of 6 years.
Panera Bread franchises must be well-capitalized to open great bakery-cafes and meet this aggressive development schedule. Additionally, they must have a proven track record as excellent multi-unit restaurant operators to operate great Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
#38 on Franchise Rankings.com
About Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels
Anne Beiler had been baking most of her life, but it wasn't until she began managing a concession stand at a farmer's market in Maryland that she thought about starting a business. The stand served pizzas, pretzels, chips and candy, with the pretzels outselling everything else. Beiler stopped selling pizza and began hand-rolling pretzels in front of her customers, making the snack even more popular. Eventually, Beiler bought her own stand, naming it Auntie Anne's, and, soon two of her brothers were operating Auntie Anne's booths of their own. Today, Auntie Anne's locations serve a variety of pretzels, dipping sauces and drinks.
Join us in putting the hand-rolled deliciousness of Auntie Anne’s®
soft pretzels into more people’s hands. We are looking for franchise
owners to extend our reach into street side locations, tourist
locations, colleges, and more. Our guests savor Auntie Anne’s®
pretzels’ unique flavor profile. You’ll value the strong financials,
culture that promotes community involvement, and opportunities afforded
you by our impressive global footprint. The future is looking bright for
our franchise owners. Get in on the goodness now.
As we rise, you shine.
Auntie Anne's®
is looking for people with a passion for business, matched by their
desire to deliver the highest-quality customer service and hospitality.
Candidates should have:Business Experience
(Restaurant Experience Preferred)
$100K+ Liquid Capital
$300K Net Worth
People Skills
Connected to the Community
Stores can be found in shopping centers, airports and train stations across the United States and Worldwide.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of an Auntie Anne's®
franchise ranges from $156,350 to $445,000. This includes $30,000 to
$30,400 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
The
total investment necessary to begin operation of a Shop within a
temporary stand in a farmers’ market, a concession trailer, or a food
truck (a “Concession Shop”) is $98,350 to $253,000. This includes
$10,000 to $10,400 that must be paid to the franchisor or their
affiliates.
Veteran Incentives $10,000 off franchise fee
#400 in Franchise 500 for 2020.