Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company vs Ben & Jerry's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company vs Ben & Jerry's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company Franchise
Ben & Jerry's Franchise
Investment $233,326 - $770,532$152,200 - $546,800
Franchise Fee $29,500$16,000 - $37,000
Royalty Fee 6%3%
Advertising Fee 2%4%
Year Founded 19891978
Year Franchised 19931981
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee $5K50% of then current fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company Franchise
Ben & Jerry's Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Are socially conscious, and active in your community.
  • Are passionate about operating an ethical, responsible business.
  • Will apply your full-time best efforts to the business.
  • Have at least two years of business management experience with P&L responsibility.
  • Have excellent business acumen, project management skills, and the ability to build and execute a business plan.
  • Are systems-oriented, and understand and value a franchise system.
  • Have the ability to recruit, train, and motivate staff, according to our standards.
  • Have a competitive drive and are committed to succeed, with realistic expectations.
  • Demonstrate honesty, integrity and humility and are a team player.
  • Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills and are fluent in English.
  • Know how to use a computer and apply technology.
  • Have a college degree or higher (preferred).
  • Have a strong credit history and a minimum net worth of $350,000, with $100,000 in liquidity (cash and securities, not including retirement accounts).
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    Financing Options
     
    Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company Franchise
    Ben & Jerry's 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/YesNo/Yes
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company Franchise
    Ben & Jerry's Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 20 hours Classroom Training: 20 hours We’ve got a great recipe for operating a scoop shop, and a world-class team to provide “scoop-to-nuts” expertise. We guide you every step of the way, beginning with your search for the right location, to training, to marketing, and to ongoing operational support for the life of your business. On-The-Job Training: 24 hours Classroom Training: 35 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing
    Operations 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 - 25

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (67% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 75% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.

    Expansion Plans
     
    Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company Franchise
    Ben & Jerry's Franchise
    US Expansion YesNo
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company

    In the Summer of 1990, Blake Buchanan opened the first Bahama Buck's. He started with one ice shaver and the hope of a college job that didn't involve mowing grass or flipping burgers. Constructing the original store by hand, he enlisted volunteer help from three generations of his family, staffed it with friends and college students and opened the doors. The tropical sensation caught on and with the help of his now partner, Eric Lee, and his wife, Kippi Buchanan, that summer job turned into a full time vocation. Blake has worked to keep the spirit of the original Bahama Buck's alive, making sure that each franchise is operated with the same enthusiasm of the first Buck's. His team strives to ensure that each flavor becomes a favorite and each visit is a great time - every time.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Bahama Buck’s franchised business ranges from $303,700 to $957,838. This includes $144,000 to $223,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliate. If you elect to enter into a Multi-Store Amendment, you will pay the franchisor a development fee equal to 50% of the initial franchise fee for each additional Bahama Buck’s Store to be opened upon signing the Multi-Store Amendment (excluding your first store). This fee is not refundable, but is credited fully against the initial franchise fee for each store when the franchise agreement is executed for that store (except the first store).

    Seeking new franchise units in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming


    About Ben & Jerry's

    Ben & Jerry's is named for its founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who grew up together in Merrick, Long Island. In 1978, they took a $5 correspondence course on ice-cream-making, then leased an old gas station building in Burlington, Vermont to open their first ice cream shop.  Ben & Jerry’s has over 580 franchised ice cream scoop shops and PartnerShops worldwide. We have over 350 scoop shops in the United States and over 350 scoop shops Internationally.

    Seeking new franchise units in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Australia/New Zealand, Canada and Western Europe.

    ""    "Entrepreneur

    #63 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #138 in Franchise 500 for 2021.