TCBY vs sweetFrog Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of TCBY vs sweetFrog including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$330,000 - $435,000 | $95,600 - $477,500 |
Franchise Fee |
$35,000 | $15,000 - $30,000 |
Royalty Fee |
6% | 5% |
Advertising Fee |
2% | 1.5% |
Year Founded |
1981 | 2009 |
Year Franchised |
1982 | 2012 |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
- | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills | - |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/Yes | -/Yes |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | -/Yes |
Equipment |
No/Yes | -/Yes |
Inventory |
No/Yes | -/Yes |
Receivables |
No/No | -/Yes |
Payroll |
No/No | -/Yes |
Training & Support |
Training |
- |
On-The-Job Training: 24 hours
Classroom Training: 24 hours
Additional Training: As needed
|
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations | Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
Marketing |
Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Co-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. | 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit.
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4.
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators).
|
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
- | No |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
Yes | No |
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 sweetFrog
Shortly after moving to Richmond, Virginia, in 2009, Derek Cha brought the West-Coast frozen yogurt trend to his new home by opening the first sweetFrog store. In addition to a variety of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings, sweetFrog locations offer waffle cones and bowls, Belgian waffles, banana splits and parfaits.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a sweetFrog Shop is
$231,500 - $477,500 for a Shop in Traditional Venue, $95,600 - $304,000
for a Kiosk Shop or Standard Floor Plan Shop in Non-Traditional Venue
and $122,400 - $219,300 for a Truck.
#23 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees
Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.,
Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Central America,
Eastern Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Philippines, South America and Western
Europe
Veteran Incentives 25% off franchise fee (50% off in May and November)