Big Apple Bagels vs Vitality Bowls Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Big Apple Bagels vs Vitality Bowls including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Big Apple Bagels Franchise
Vitality Bowls Franchise
Investment $298,000 - $405,000$170,100 - $604,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$39,500
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 3%1.5%
Year Founded 19932011
Year Franchised 19932014
Term Of Agreement 10 years7 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years7 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Big Apple Bagels Franchise
Vitality Bowls Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
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    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

    Financing Options
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Vitality Bowls Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-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
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Vitality Bowls Franchise
    Training Our Training Sets Your Business Apart! Our goal is to help you achieve excellence in every aspect of your business. Towards that ambitious goal, you and your key personnel will receive intensive training that covers all areas of the operation. Our training program, comprised of hands-on learning in our company-owned location and classroom instruction includes:
  • Day-to-day restaurant operations
  • Hiring, training, and retaining good employees
  • Maintaining financial controls
  • Orientation to your Marketing team that will coordinate your local advertising
  • Operational training at your location as you open

    • 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 Our Support Sets Your Business Apart! As a franchisor, BAB Systems, Inc. has always focused heavily on the level of support it provides to its franchisees and the importance of open lines of communication to foster strong franchisee relationships. Franchisees know they can count on us to watch our position within the industry and do what it takes to keep up with ever-changing consumer preferences and innovations in franchise support. Of course, since the first franchise, technological advancements have changed the face of franchising. Accordingly, as its product offering has evolved, so has its franchise support program, which now includes an exclusive franchise intranet web site. As a BAB Systems, Inc. franchisee, you'll receive guidance and assistance with the key steps involved in getting your new business up and running. Pre-opening support includes:
  • Site selection assistance.
  • Restaurant layout and design.
  • Coordination with national and regional suppliers.
  • Equipment, merchandise and services at negotiated rates.
  • Grand Opening marketing campaign.
  • Full seasonal marketing strategies, complete with compact disc for local production of advertising and other marketing materials.
  • E-Mail subscription program, through which participating franchisees are kept informed up to the minute on important breaking news as well as surveyed for their feedback.
  • A password-protected BAB Franchisee Intranet featuring a download center, on-line sales reporting, resource center and trading post. The BAB Systems, Inc. franchise program is designed to help franchise owners reach their individual growth potential. Whether you are interested in owning one or several BAB Systems, Inc. stores, we'll work with you to determine the growth options that are right for you.

    • 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 Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Vitality Bowls Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Big Apple Bagels

    Big Apple Bagels is on the forefront of the fast casual dining boom. We stand apart from the crowd with growth and consumer appeal because of our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our business. The Big Apple Bagels restaurant concept was developed to delight not only customers, but our franchise owner-operators as well. As a Big Apple Bagels franchisee, you'll be able to produce freshly baked Big Apple Bagels brand bagels, My Favorite Muffin brand gourmet muffins, a wide assortment of delicious sandwiches and salads, and serve our own Brewster's brand of brewed coffee and specialty drinks. The Big Apple Bagels menu offers a broad range of lunch options to round out our menu and keep our customers coming back. Unlike other sandwich concepts, Big Apple Bagels has a proven breakfast program. With the strength of the Big Apple Bagels, My Favorite Muffin and Brewster's coffee brands your restaurant doubles as a bakery-cafe. As another example of its multiple identities, the restaurant is not only a retail destination, but also a wholesale distributorship from which your baked-from-scratch bagels and muffins can be sold in bulk to corporate clients, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses for resale. If you've been to one of our restaurants, you've seen -- and tasted -- what keeps our customers coming back for more: Big freshly baked bagels, made from scratch ... enhanced with our exclusive varieties of cream cheese, or made into a fresh deli or breakfast sandwich ... served with a cup of one of our gourmet Brewster's coffees.

    The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your first Big Apple Bagels Production Store ranges from $298,000 - $405,000, including $32,500 you must pay the franchisor or its affiliates.
    The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your first Big Apple Bagels Satellite Store ranges from $104,250 - $283,000, including $18,000 you must pay the franchisor or its affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of your franchised Big Apple Bagels Area Development business is from $45,000 to $205,000, all of which you must pay the franchisor. That investment is in addition to the initial investment for your Big Apple Bagels Store. Under the Area Development Agreement, you must open a minimum of 2 Big Apple Bagels Stores.






    About Vitality Bowls

    Roy and Tara Gilad, a pair of successful business owners, founded Vitality Bowls in 2011 in San Ramon, California. The duo started the superfood cafe concept together as a result of discovering their daughter's severe food allergies and wanting to find healthy food alternatives. Since franchising began in 2014, the brand has seen significant growth with nearly 40 cafes open and in development. Today, Vitality Bowls is redefining the fast casual healthy food restaurant sector every day at each of its locations across the country. Tailored to owners and operators that place value in the nation's nutritious food movement, the franchise model provides structure and scalability. Many of the current franchisees began as loyal customers who wanted to be a part of the future of food chains. Franchisees can open up to three stores in a protected territory. If you are passionate about a healthy lifestyle and want operate a thriving business, VITALITY BOWLS might be the right choice for you. We look for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who takes a hands-on approach to managing their business in addition to supporting their local community. If you are ready for an exciting new experience, owning a VITALITY BOWLS franchise may be in your future.

    Vitality Bowls area developers acquire the right to develop multiple Vitality Bowls Restaurants in a designated development area. The development fee is $39,500 for the first Restaurant to be developed under the Area Development Agreement, plus $29,500 for the second Restaurant, and $20,000 for each subsequent Restaurant to be developed under the Area Development Agreement. To develop five outlets as an Area Developer, the development fees would total $129,000. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Vitality Bowls area developer business will depend on the number of Vitality Bowls Restaurants to be opened. A minimum of three outlets must be developed according to the Area Development Agreement.

    The estimated total investment necessary to begin operations for a Vitality Bowls Restaurant ranges from $170,100 and $604,000. This includes between $20,000 and $39,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

    #185 in Franchise 500 for 2021.  Not in Franchise 500 for 2020.