Shefield Express vs Van Houtte Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Shefield Express Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Investment $150,000 - $200,000$250,000 - $300,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$27,500
Royalty Fee 5-8%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19961919
Year Franchised 19961983
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Shefield Express Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Shefield Express Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
Equipment No/NoNo/No
Inventory No/NoNo/No
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/NoNo/No

Training & Support

 
Shefield Express Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesMeetings, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op advertising, Regional advertising
Operations

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

5% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


Expansion Plans

 
Shefield Express Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Shefield Express

After finding success with their Shefield & Sons and The Gourmet Cup concepts, founders Dieters and Wolfgang Lehmann decided to merge the two. In 1996 the doors to the first Shefield Gourmet location opened.

Each Shefield Gourmet store sells coffee, tea, cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products.

About Van Houtte

Albert-Louis Van Houtte, a French immigrant, set up his first grocery store in Montreal in 1919. Van Houtte stocked the store with specialty products from Europe, including coffee. Each day he would roast small batches of coffee in the back of his shop, and soon Van Houtte had built up a reputation in Montreal for selling quality coffee. In the more than 80 years since its founder began roasting European coffees, A.L. Van Houtte Cafe-Bistro has grown beyond Montreal and has expanded its menu. Today, each cafe-bistro serves a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as teas, soups and sandwiches.