Au Bon Pain vs Mr. Pretzels Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Au Bon Pain vs Mr. Pretzels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Investment $2,000,000 - $3,000,000$50,000 - $250,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$20,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 2% Marketing commitment3.5%
Year Founded -1993
Year Franchised -1994
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Experience -$750,000 USD Net Worth

$250,000 USD Liquid Assets

Solid business experience

Multi-unit management

Proven expertise in retail (food and beverage a plus)

Previous franchise experience advantageous


Financing Options
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Training -Comprehensive Training # Extensive Store Training Programs that include a Mr. Pretzels overview, store opening procedures, service training, and training for all levels of staff. # Comprehensive Training Manual that covers all management and staff procedures - from opening to closing - plus information on financial reporting, accounting, inventory, and human resource management.
Support -World-Class Franchisee Support Services Printer-Friendly Pre-Opening and Operation Support * Assistance with every phase of store development: from initial layout through ongoing operations. * Your Mr. Pretzels Consultant will be your direct liaison to our staff at Mr. Pretzels' Support Center. * Expert guidance on store construction, grand opening, building sales, optimizing profits, training, marketing, ongoing research and development, and more.
Marketing --
Operations --

Expansion Plans
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Au Bon Pain

Because we want to prepare our franchise partners for optimal success from the beginning, we only sign Area Development Agreements (ADA) based on a territorial market with a minimum unit potential of 10-20 locations. (We do not sell single unit agreements.) This ADA multi-unit potential enables our franchisees to build a significant business in an area with solid earnings potential. In order to be considered for an Au Bon Pain franchise, you must have the financial and management resources necessary to develop multiple cafes
Criteria include: * Open cafes in one of the listed expansion areas. * Offer quality real estate sites in the selected territory. * Sign an ADA for a minimum of 10 units. * Have a liquid net worth of $350k per unit, or approximately $2-3M. * Provide poof of financing from a bank or other financial institution. * Offer multi-unit restaurant business experience. * Offer an established management infrastructure within the market you wish to franchise. * Willingness to adhere to the Au Bon Pain system. * A strong desire to succeed, work hard and be part of a winning team.

About Mr. Pretzels

Mr. Pretzels currently offers franchising opportunities for individuals and companies that adopt the strategy of multi-unit territory development. This business model enables our partners to build the brand in their territory as well as leverage marketing and purchasing capacity. We require 100% of the first-year development to be funded through allotted capital and, at a minimum, 30% of the next four years (development schedule is 5 years) to be accessible dedicated capital. We seek qualified franchise partners interested in multi-unit development in exclusive territories around the world. Mr. Pretzels is a leading snack food brand with more than 140 retail locations worldwide in 11 countries. Our strong international network allows us to provide outstanding operational support to every franchisee. It is one of the lowest investments in the food business (USD$50,000-$100,000) and the training lasts only two weeks. We are seeking International franchisees interested in exclusive, multi-unit territory development of at least five stores within three years.