Au Bon Pain vs Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
Investment $2,000,000 - $3,000,000$160,500 - $442,500
Franchise Fee $30,000$28,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 2% Marketing commitment1-2%
Year Founded -2009
Year Franchised -2013
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
Training -o Two Full Weeks of pre-opening training at our corporate support center o One Full Week of training at your location. o Training on our proprietary recipes, production methods, and packaging. o A detailed operations manual to help guide your day-to-day operations.
Support -o Help in locating and setting up your popcorn shop franchise location, whether a kiosk or small storefront. o Local advertising and marketing assistance, including print and online materials, gift cards and customer-loyalty programs, plus social media, email promotions, community networking guidance and more. o Established supplier relationships with approved vendors. o A customized point-of-sale computer system, to guide efficient daily operations and reporting functions. o Ongoing support including remote support, refresher training, and periodic field visits from the corporate team.
Marketing --
Operations -o Stand-alone stores

o In-line stores

o Kiosks

o Multiple revenue streams: retail, fundraisers, corporate gifting, weddings, web

o Owner operators preferred

o 1 � 2 employees

Expansion Plans
 
Au Bon Pain Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

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 Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn

Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Company has taken the nostalgia of hot, fresh movie-theatre popcorn and the old-fashioned idea of providing great customer service and given it a modern twist. The result? A fun and appealing gourmet popcorn franchise opportunity. As a hometown company with a solid history, great brand recognition, and high regard in our community, we have always used the highest quality corn and popped it daily in small batches so it's as fresh as possible for every customer. We can show you how it's done! Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Company is more than a fresh and tasty treat. It can also be the perfect way to say thank-you, convey greetings, or raise money for a worthwhile cause. Discovering the many ways that popcorn can bring happiness to a wide range of customers and even how it can make a positive difference in your local community might just be the most rewarding part of owning your own gourmet popcorn franchise. If you have a taste for a future that's all about making people happy while creating independence for yourself, consider a Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn franchise! Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Company appeals to all types of customer groups: young and old, families and corporations. With our array of delicious flavors, just about everyone can find something to love about our popcorn. Customers can even assemble their own custom assortments of colors and flavors for fundraising, special events, and gift giving. And with popcorn balls or frosted nuts to add to the mix, the possibilities for pleasing your customers are nearly endless! This also means that as a franchise owner, operating your own flexible and streamlined storefront or kiosk-based retail food franchise, your potential revenue sources are also broad and varied. o Stand-alone stores o In-line stores o Kiosks o Multiple revenue streams: retail, fundraisers, corporate gifting, weddings, web