Cafe Ala Carte vs Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cafe Ala Carte vs Dunn Bros Coffee including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise
Investment $56,200 - $123,300$406,300 - $608,500
Franchise Fee $25,000$37,500
Royalty Fee 8-5%5%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 19961987
Year Franchised 20001994
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee The then-current franchise fee25% of current fee


Business Experience Requirements

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise
Experience -
  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
    Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
    Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise
    Training -On-The-Job Training: 270-420 hours Classroom Training: 46-61 hours Additional Training: As needed
    Support Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, InternetPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad slicksAd Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    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)

    30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15

    Absentee ownership will be considered, but is not preferred

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 10 - 20


    Expansion Plans

     
    Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
    Dunn Bros Coffee Franchise
    US Expansion -No
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    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 Dunn Bros Coffee

    Dunn Bros Coffee was founded in 1987 by Ed and Dan Dunn, who opened their first store in St. Paul, Minnesota. The second location opened in 1991 in downtown Minneapolis. Since then, Dunn Bros Coffee has expanded steadily, to more than 70 locations, first to Texas in 2004, then to other states, including Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri, North and South Dakota, Tennessee, Kansas, and Nebraska.

    Dunn Bros Coffee franchise is a surefire business opportunity. The support team at Dunn Bros Coffee has decades of experience and expertise in all aspects of successful coffee shop operations, construction, marketing and franchising. In fact, members of their team have been franchisees, so they know what others need to succeed. The franchise experience at Dunn Bros Coffee starts with the top-quality training and support, and Dunn Bros Coffee dedicates the resources to ensure franchisees’ receive the skills and knowledge they need to create the high standard Dunn Bros Coffee shop. After opening, Dunn Bros Coffee provide ongoing support with a franchise business manager, continual assistance with operations, and training in business management, customer service, merchandising and more.

    Seeking new franchise units in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin      

    Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee