TCBY vs Blue Sky Creamery Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
TCBY Franchise
Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
Investment $330,000 - $435,000$138,750 - $401,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$25,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 6%-
Advertising Fee 2%-
Year Founded 19812000
Year Franchised 19822004
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
TCBY Franchise
Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    TCBY Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    TCBY Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    TCBY Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 Blue Sky Creamery

    In 2001, TJ and Will successfully demonstrated the Nitro Freeze process with a second-generation prototype at the Iowa State Fair, the Clay County Fair, and the Tulsa State Fair. The second-generation prototype implemented several technology advances improving reliability, ease of use, cleaning, and product quality. In 2002, the concession operation was expanded by adding the Minnesota State Fair. And the first retail location, a new ice cream shop called the Blue Sky Creamery, opened in Ankeny, Iowa. Plans were then completed for a new production model Nitro Freeze machine, the NF-3500. Armed with this new design, the marketing of the machines was launched at the IAAPA trade show in November, in Orlando, Florida.
    In 2004, the Blue Sky Creamery Ice Cream Cafe Franchise concept was rolled out and the first franchise store opened in Minnesota. Additional Blue Sky Creamery locations have been opened in West Des Moines, Iowa and St. Louis, MO. Buy Blue Sky Creamery Ice Cream, Gelto and Coffee Online In 2008 and 2009, Blue Sky Creamery had expanded its mobile operations to more than 25 events and started offering Mobile Franchise opportunities. From Miami to Las Vegas to Columbus to Calgary, the Nitro Freeze process has been sweeping the continent! Mobile Franchise have been granted in Eastern Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina, Phoenix, and Las Vegas so far. In 2009, demand for our ice cream in different parts of the nation led us to offer pints of Blue Sky Creamery ice cream and gelato available online to be shipped right to your door!