Cafe Ala Carte vs Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise
Investment $56,200 - $123,300$162,000 - $298,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$10,000
Royalty Fee 8-5%4%
Advertising Fee -up to 2%
Year Founded 19961994
Year Franchised 20002007
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee The then-current franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/No-/-
Start-up Costs No/No-/-
Equipment No/Yes-/-
Inventory No/No-/-
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise
Training --
Support Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet-
Marketing Ad slicks-
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)

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Expansion Plans

 
Cafe Ala Carte Franchise
Mountain Mudd Espresso Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion 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 Mountain Mudd Espresso

Mountain Mudd Espresso drive-thru kiosks offer espressos modeled after those served in Naples, Italy, as well as coffee, tea and frozen drinks. Based in Billings, Montana, the company opened its first drive-thru in 1994, and began franchising in 2007. In 2011, Mountain Mudd Espresso was sold to Cafe International.