Smoothie King vs All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Smoothie King vs All American Specialty Restaurants including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Smoothie King Franchise
All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$195,000 - $265,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 6%3%
Advertising Fee 3%1%
Year Founded 19871986
Year Franchised 19881987
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee -$6K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Smoothie King Franchise
All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaAd slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 9

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 7

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    All American Specialty Restaurants Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Smoothie King

    When visits to various doctors did little to relieve the allergies Steve Kuhnau was suffering from, the nurse began reading up on nutrition, hoping a change in diet would help his symptoms. Once he began eating fresh foods and cutting fat out of his diet, Kuhnau started feeling better. His next task was to find a way to tackle the midday fatigue caused by hypoglycemia. Using his nursing expertise and the drink mixing experience he gained as a soda jerk in high school, Kuhnau began experimenting with high protein drinks. The resulting product combined fresh fruits, vitamins and other supplements and inspired the creation of Kuhnau's company, Smoothie King.
    Each Smoothie King store sells smoothies and a variety of vitamins, minerals, low fat snacks and nutritional supplements. Offering 40 percent off its initial franchise fee agreements for the first 40 agreements in 2013 IN St. Louis.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a traditional Smoothie King Business ranges from for an end-cap or in-line location, $269,550 to $545,035, and for a free-standing drive-thru location, $577,100 to $845,985. This includes $28,250 to $36,990 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you also must pay the franchisor a development fee of $12,500 for each Smoothie King franchise you commit to develop after the first franchise. You must develop a minimum of 5 Smoothie King Businesses under the Area Development Agreement.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    ""  "Entrepreneur

    #14 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #19 in Franchise 500 for 2021.







    About All American Specialty Restaurants

    In the mid-1980s, frozen yogurt was growing in popularity, but there were no shops in the major malls of Idaho, Oregon and Washington serving the treat. Seeing the demand for such shops in the Pacific Northwest, CR Duffie Jr. started the All American Frozen Yogurt Co. in Portland in 1986. The company began franchising one year later.

    To reach a larger customer base, ice cream was added to the menu in 1989, and the stores became known as

    All American Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Shops.   There are now locations in shopping centers throughout the Pacific Northwest and West.