Dippin' Dots vs Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dippin' Dots vs Shake's Frozen Custard including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Dippin' Dots Franchise
Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise
Investment $112,204 - $366,950$162,000 - $287,000
Franchise Fee $15,000$30,000
Royalty Fee Varies5%
Advertising Fee Varies3%
Year Founded 19881991
Year Franchised 20001998
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Renewal Fee Varies50% of initial franchise fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
Dippin' Dots Franchise
Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
    Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
    Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 12 hours Classroom Training: 19 hours As necessary
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks
    Operations 95% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

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

    Expansion Plans
     
    Dippin' Dots Franchise
    Shake's Frozen Custard Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Dippin' Dots

    Research biotechnologist Curt Jones used his expertise in cryogenic freezing processes to find new ways to produce ice cream. After nearly a year of experimenting with the idea of flash-freezing his family's homemade ice cream, Jones created and sold his first cups of Dippin' Dots ice cream in 1988. Because of Jones' flash-freezing process, Dippin' Dots ice cream forms into little balls (hence the term 'dots'), but unlike freeze-dried products, the ice cream can still melt.

    Seeking new franchise units Worldwide.

    Veteran Incentives  15% off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #207 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #276 in Franchise 500 for 2021.




    About Shake's Frozen Custard

    Shake's Frozen Custard was established on three principles: Quality, Service, and Cleanliness. Today, these simple principles serve as the foundation from which Shake's, the Brand, continues to evolve. Our uncompromising dedication to the highest level of quality standards and our deep passion for service are, and will forever remain, the heart and soul of Shake's Frozen Custard. At Shake's Frozen Custard, we have an unrelenting focus on the future but we build our dreams on experience. Don and Debbie Osborne, founders of Shake's Frozen Custard, take great pride in having created a friendly, family oriented business. We realize that business success is fueled by individual customer experiences. Shake's Frozen Custard has an incredible ability to knock down the barriers of time and space in transporting us to those moments in our memory in which we experienced excitement, contentment, satisfaction, fun or any number of the seemingly infinite descriptors of human emotion. Shake's Frozen Custard offers the highest quality, premium ice cream today with the fast, friendly "service with a smile" of days gone by.Shake's Frozen Custard is a vibrant, one of a kind experience driven by a variety of interactive zones and viewing stations all leading to the presentation of the "World's best frozen dessert!" Shake's is much, much more than a simple restaurant. Shake's is a multi-sensory experience in which friends, families and loved ones build long lasting memories of quality, fun, and excitement. Every component of the facility generates a symphonic atmosphere that lends itself to the creation of wholesome, multi-generational, electrifying experiences. Customers of all ages enjoy reliving memories of "homemade" ice cream outings of days gone by with those special people in their lives.
    Shake's Frozen Custard provides our customers with a timeless and exciting experience - creating Memories of pure, powerful joy through a steadfast commitment to uncompromising quality, service, and cleanliness.