Smoothie King vs Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Smoothie King vs Handel's Homemade Ice Cream including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Smoothie King Franchise
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$234,500 - $814,500
Franchise Fee $30,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 3%-
Year Founded 19871945
Year Franchised 19881989
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Smoothie King Franchise
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • In order to be considered, you must have a net worth of $250,000 and unrestricted capital in the amount of $100,000.

    Financing Options

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise
    Training -On-The-Job Training: 120 hours Classroom Training: 4 hours
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesMeetings/Conventions Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaAd Templates Social media Website development Email marketing
    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)

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 25

    Expansion Plans

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

    "Handels

    Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt is a popular ice cream company franchise founded by Alice Handel in 1945 in Youngstown, Ohio. As of 2020, the company was operating 50 corporate and franchise stores in nine states. Today, it is owned by Leonard Fisher and maintains a corporate headquarters in Canfield, Ohio.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Handel’s Franchise ranges from $234,500 to $714,500. This includes between $170,000 and $230,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to operate multiple Parlors under a form of area development agreement depends on the number of franchises the franchisor grants you the right to open. The total investment necessary to enter into a development agreement for the right to develop three Parlors is $334,500 to $814,500, which includes an initial development fee of $150,000 that is paid to the franchisor, and the total investment to open and commence operations of your initial Parlor. Under the area development agreement, the Development Fee is equal to $50,000 for each Parlor that the franchisor will grant you the right to open and operate under the Development Agreement.

    "Entrepreneur
    #385 in Franchise 500 for 2020.