Breadsmith vs Bruegger's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Breadsmith Franchise
Bruegger's Franchise
Investment $380,250 - $454,750$389,600 - $591,600
Franchise Fee $30,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 7% - 5%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19931983
Year Franchised 19931993
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee $50025% of then-current franchise fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
Breadsmith Franchise
Bruegger's Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills helpful but not necessary

  • Industry experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Breadsmith Franchise
    Bruegger's Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Breadsmith Franchise
    Bruegger's Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 219.5 hours Classroom Training: 51 hours -
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketingAd slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

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

    		 Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (66% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Breadsmith Franchise
    Bruegger's Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Breadsmith

    While studying in Norway, college student Dan Sterling got his first taste of European bread. Sterling returned to the United States and graduated from Harvard Business School before starting his own company. But he never lost his love of bread, and after volunteering to help a local bakery with its accounting, he decided to launch a bakery of his own. He opened the first Breadsmith location in 1993, and the company began franchising in 1994.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Breadsmith primary franchise store is $380,250 to $449,750 ($377,250 - $451,750 for veterans). This includes $100,000 to $115,000 (less $3,000 if you are a veteran) that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    An additional investment of $95,500 to $163,500 is necessary if a satellite location is opened in connection with the primary store. This includes $5,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee


    "Entrepreneur
    #333 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #333 in Franchise 500 for 2021.



    About Bruegger's

    When Nord Brue and Mike Dressell started Bruegger's in 1983, they actually founded the retail bagel concept. Up until that point, bagels were considered mostly an ethnic food and were not known much outside of New York. At that time, less than one-third of Americans had ever tasted a bagel. From their home base in Burlington, Vermont, Brue and Dressell pioneered a new concept that expanded the traditional bagel bakery into a quick service bakery with premium specialty cream cheeses, custom-made sandwiches, signature soups and exceptional coffee. They worked with a professional bagel baker from New York City for 2 1/2 years to perfect their recipe and baking process. In 2004, Bruegger's welcomed new ownership and expanded beyond bagels into breads, wraps and other lunchtime menu items, and began updating bakeries to reflect the welcoming feel of a New England farmhouse-inspired bakery-cafe that Bruegger's has evolved into. Today, almost 40 years after the first Bruegger's opened in Troy, New York, there are almost 300 Bruegger's locations throughout the U.S., with more on the way.