Cafe Ala Carte vs Big Apple Bagels Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cafe Ala Carte vs Big Apple Bagels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$56,200 - $123,300 | $298,000 - $405,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$25,000 | $25,000 |
Royalty Fee |
8-5% | 5% |
Advertising Fee |
- | 3% |
Year Founded |
1996 | 1993 |
Year Franchised |
2000 | 1993 |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
The then-current franchise fee | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
- | General business experience |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | No/No |
Start-up Costs |
No/No | No/No |
Equipment |
No/Yes | No/No |
Inventory |
No/No | No/No |
Receivables |
No/No | No/No |
Payroll |
No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
Training |
- | Our Training Sets Your Business Apart!
Our goal is to help you achieve excellence in every aspect of your business. Towards that ambitious goal, you and your key personnel will receive intensive training that covers all areas of the operation. Our training program, comprised of hands-on learning in our company-owned location and classroom instruction includes:
Day-to-day restaurant operations
Hiring, training, and retaining good employees
Maintaining financial controls
Orientation to your Marketing team that will coordinate your local advertising
Operational training at your location as you open
|
Support |
Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet | Our Support Sets Your Business Apart!
As a franchisor, BAB Systems, Inc. has always focused heavily on the level of support it provides to its franchisees and the importance of open lines of communication to foster strong franchisee relationships. Franchisees know they can count on us to watch our position within the industry and do what it takes to keep up with ever-changing consumer preferences and innovations in franchise support.
Of course, since the first franchise, technological advancements have changed the face of franchising. Accordingly, as its product offering has evolved, so has its franchise support program, which now includes an exclusive franchise intranet web site.
As a BAB Systems, Inc. franchisee, you'll receive guidance and assistance with the key steps involved in getting your new business up and running. Pre-opening support includes:
Site selection assistance.
Restaurant layout and design.
Coordination with national and regional suppliers.
Equipment, merchandise and services at negotiated rates.
Grand Opening marketing campaign.
Full seasonal marketing strategies, complete with compact disc for local production of advertising and other marketing materials.
E-Mail subscription program, through which participating franchisees are kept informed up to the minute on important breaking news as well as surveyed for their feedback.
A password-protected BAB Franchisee Intranet featuring a download center, on-line sales reporting, resource center and trading post.
The BAB Systems, Inc. franchise program is designed to help franchise owners reach their individual growth potential. Whether you are interested in owning one or several BAB Systems, Inc. stores, we'll work with you to determine the growth options that are right for you. |
Marketing |
Ad slicks | Ad slicks, Regional advertising |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home.
International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
- | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
Yes | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Cafe Ala Carte
Since 1996, Cafe Ala Carte provides a unique service to the food and beverage industry by capitalizing on the popularity of specialty coffees. By creating a niche in this market, people are experiencing a new and exciting idea for their events. Most franchises are simply duplicated or reinvented ideas. But Cafe Ala Carte is among the first of its kind. Our system has proven successful, and allows us to capitalize on one of the world's fastest growing trends.
About Big Apple Bagels
Big Apple Bagels is on the forefront of the fast casual dining boom. We stand apart from the crowd with growth and consumer appeal because of our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our business.
The Big Apple Bagels restaurant concept was developed to delight not only customers, but our franchise owner-operators as well. As a Big Apple Bagels franchisee, you'll be able to produce freshly baked Big Apple Bagels brand bagels, My Favorite Muffin brand gourmet muffins, a wide assortment of delicious sandwiches and salads, and serve our own Brewster's brand of brewed coffee and specialty drinks.
The Big Apple Bagels menu offers a broad range of lunch options to round out our menu and keep our customers coming back.
Unlike other sandwich concepts, Big Apple Bagels has a proven breakfast program. With the strength of the Big Apple Bagels, My Favorite Muffin and Brewster's coffee brands your restaurant doubles as a bakery-cafe. As another example of its multiple identities, the restaurant is not only a retail destination, but also a wholesale distributorship from which your baked-from-scratch bagels and muffins can be sold in bulk to corporate clients, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses for resale. If you've been to one of our restaurants, you've seen -- and tasted -- what keeps our customers coming back for more: Big freshly baked bagels, made from scratch ... enhanced with our exclusive varieties of cream cheese, or made into a fresh deli or breakfast sandwich ... served with a cup of one of our gourmet Brewster's coffees.
The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your
first Big Apple Bagels Production Store ranges from $298,000 - $405,000, including
$32,500 you must pay the franchisor or its affiliates.
The total initial
investment necessary to begin operation of your first Big Apple Bagels Satellite
Store ranges from $104,250 - $283,000, including $18,000 you must pay
the franchisor or its affiliates.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of your franchised Big Apple Bagels
Area Development business is from $45,000 to $205,000, all of which you
must pay the franchisor. That investment is in addition to the initial
investment for your Big Apple Bagels Store. Under the Area Development Agreement, you
must open a minimum of 2 Big Apple Bagels Stores.