Zoup! Fresh Soup Company vs Melt Shop Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Zoup! Fresh Soup Company vs Melt Shop including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Melt Shop Franchise
Investment $355,900 - $648,500$368,240 - $698,800
Franchise Fee $39,900$35,000
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 1%2%
Year Founded 19982010
Year Franchised 20032017
Term Of Agreement 5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods5 Years +5+5+5
Term Of Agreement 5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods5 Years +5+5+5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Melt Shop Franchise
Experience
  • Restaurant experience is helpful but not required
  • Strong Management Skills Important
  • Melt Shop is seeking well capitalized partners who are entrepreneurial and have a strong knowledge of their market. The ideal franchisee is a proven multi-unit operator in the restaurant industry. At this time we are not offering sub-franchises.

    Financing Options

     
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    Melt Shop Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/Yes
    Equipment No/Yes-/Yes
    Inventory No/Yes-/Yes
    Receivables No/Yes-/Yes
    Payroll No/Yes-/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    Melt Shop Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 72 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours On-The-Job Training: 224 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software 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 National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 - 14

    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 15

    Expansion Plans

     
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    Melt Shop Franchise
    US Expansion NoYes
    Canada Expansion Yes-
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Zoup! Fresh Soup Company

    The first Zoup! opened in 1998 in Southfield, MI, a suburb of Detroit. Over the next five years, the founders opened five more Detroit-area locations, and in 2003 they began to franchise the concept. Zoup! restaurants feature 12 rotating daily varieties of soup, including low-fat, vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options. Made-to-order salads, sandwiches and baked goods are also available.

    Seeking new franchise units in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Northeast, West, Canada
    Veteran Incentives  $2,500 off franchise fee

    "Top
    #53 in Gator's Top franchises.

    About Melt Shop

    Melt Shop believes that one quality, more than any other, determines the success of a concept: the strength of the brand and its connection to guests.
    Melt Shop was built upon that premise
    Seeking multi-unit franchisees with strong restaurant and hospitality experience and a shared dedication to operational excellence who have a strong knowledge of their market. The ideal franchisee is a proven multi-unit operator in the restaurant industry. At this time we are not offering sub-franchises.