TCBY vs Baskin-Robbins Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of TCBY vs Baskin-Robbins including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
TCBY Franchise
Baskin-Robbins Franchise
Investment $330,000 - $435,000$123,952 - $558,830
Franchise Fee $35,000$12,500 - $25,000
Royalty Fee 6%5.9%
Advertising Fee 2%5%
Year Founded 19811945
Year Franchised 19821948
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
TCBY Franchise
Baskin-Robbins Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    TCBY Franchise
    Baskin-Robbins Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    TCBY Franchise
    Baskin-Robbins Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 2.5 weeks Classroom Training: 2.5 weeks
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    Expansion Plans
     
    TCBY Franchise
    Baskin-Robbins Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About TCBY

    TCBY Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1981 by Frank Hickingbotham. Hickingbotham got the idea after he tried frozen yogurt for the first time, exclaiming, 'This can't be yogurt!' The initials of that outburst became the name of the company. Now renamed to stand for 'The Country's Best Yogurt,' TCBY has locations across the United States and in more than 60 countries. In 2000 TCBY merged with Capricorn Investors, the principal shareholder of Mrs. Fields' Holdings Inc. The merger allows TCBY to partner with Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies and other members of the Mrs. Fields family, including Pretzel Time and the Great American Cookie Co. Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, TCBY offers franchise units in both traditional and nontraditional locations. It has co-branding relationships with Subway, Blimpie's and Taco Bell.
     
    TCBY is the original and most well-known frozen yogurt brand, leading the market in nutrition, taste and product quality. Serving communities nationwide for 40 years, TCBY is a successful model that has fueled the growth of a thriving industry. TCBY, which currently has over 250 franchise locations worldwide, offers an extensive product line, with most yogurt flavors in varieties that are low in fat, nonfat, or no sugar added. TCBY launched its unique frozen yogurt classification "Super FroYo" in 2011, which is still the most nutritious frozen yogurt product available in the market, as well as was the first brand to market Greek Frozen Yogurt. Also based in Broomfield, Colorado, TCBYhas been a frozen yogurt innovator from the day its first shop opened in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    About Baskin-Robbins

    As a teenager in the 1930s, Irv Robbins managed an ice cream shop in Tacoma, Washington. Bored with serving traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, Robbins began experimenting, mixing fruit and candies into the ice cream. After serving in World War II, Robbins bought an ice cream parlor in Glendale, California. Three years later, he convinced his brother-in-law, Burt Baskin, to join the business. The two men flipped a coin to see whose name would go first on the sign. Baskin won, and in 1945, Baskin-Robbins was born. Today, Baskin-Robbins has locations in more than 50 countries, each serving the company's famous 31 flavors of ice cream as well as frozen yogurt, sherbet, cakes and drinks. Baskin-Robbins is a subsidiary of Allied Domecq, parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Togo's. Franchisees may operate combination stores, co-branding Baskin-Robbins with either Dunkin' Donuts or Togo's. 

    Veteran Incentives  First-store franchise fee waived; royalty fee reduced for first 5 years
    "Top    ""    "Entrepreneur
    #100 in Canada's Top franchises.          
                                                                                                   
    "franchiserankingscom"
    #30 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #13 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #38 in Franchise 500 for 2021.