Mr. Pretzels vs Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
Investment $50,000 - $250,000$160,500 - $442,500
Franchise Fee $20,000$28,000
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 3.5%1-2%
Year Founded 19932009
Year Franchised 19942013
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn 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

 
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support

 
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn 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.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 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.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

 
Mr. Pretzels Franchise
Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion Yes-

Company Overviews

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.

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