Wetzel's Pretzels vs Cookie Advantage Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Wetzel's Pretzels vs Cookie Advantage including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Cookie Advantage Franchise
Investment $126,600 - $405,850$75,000 - $100,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 7%5%--3%
Advertising Fee 1%-
Year Founded 19941998
Year Franchised 19962002
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
Cookie Advantage Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Cookie Advantage Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment Yes/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Cookie Advantage Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours -
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform -
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app -
    Operations 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

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

    		Cookie Advantage is a hands-on, owner�operated business that you have to run. The Franchise is not a passive investment. We expect our Franchisees to take an ongoing, active role in their Franchise, but you do not have to be in the bakery all the time.

    Expansion Plans
     
    Wetzel's Pretzels Franchise
    Cookie Advantage Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Wetzel's Pretzels

    Wetzel's Pretzels founded by Rick Wetzel & Bill Phelps, former marketing executives in 1994. 1st Wetzel's Pretzels located in South Bay Galleria in Southern California. First store was opened in 1995 Century City, Hollywood.
    In 1996 Wetzel's Pretzels began franchising. Currently they have locations across United States (Universal City, Staples Center, Dodgers Stadium, Disneyland, Disney world) & internationally. Currently co-branding relationship with Cold Stone Creamery, Swensen's, Juice It Up and more.
    Beginning of 2016 Wetzel's franchise fast food restaurants had 298 locations out of them 269 US locations; 2 in Canada; 19 worldwide; and 8 owned by the company itself.

    Popular products:
    Pretzels, consisting of several different flavors
    Frozen Lemonade, sold in a variety of flavors.
    Frozen Granita, a frozen version of the Italian dessert
     
    The franchisor offers 3 franchise programs:
    1. A single Wetzel's Pretzels Bakery. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Wetzel's Pretzels Bakery ranges from $164,950 to $405,850. This includes approximately between $42,350 and $50,750 that must be paid to the franchisor. If Wetzel's Pretzels grants you a license to operate a Remote Mobile Unit under a Remote Mobile Unit Addendum to your Franchise Agreement, you will also pay it a fee of $5,000 for a Remote Mobile Unit.
    2. Multiple Wetzel's Pretzels Bakeries within a defined area pursuant to a Multi-Unit Development Agreement. There is an initial development fee of $15,000 multiplied by the number of Bakeries which you must open, plus the balance of the initial franchise fee ($20,000) for your first Franchise Agreement. You will pay an initial franchise fee of $35,000 for each Bakery ($22,500 for a second Bakery in the same mall). However, the franchisor will credit the development fee against the initial franchise fees (at the rate of $15,000 for the second and each subsequent Franchise Agreement).
    3. A single Wetzel's Pretzels Concession Truck or Trailer. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Wetzel's Pretzels Concession Truck or Trailer ranges from $126,600 to $275,850. This includes approximately between $9,000 and $14,750 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    "Entrepreneur
    #497 in Franchise 500 for 2020.








    About Cookie Advantage

    Cookie Advantage is a Customer Care Follow-Up Program designed to develop a relationship with your customer by sending to them a gift tin of made from scratch chocolate chip cookies as a way of saying "Thank You". Our program revolves around a designer canister of made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookies which are baked fresh the day they are sent to your customers. Your carefully prepared gift package will include the delicious cookies and two custom designed gift cards. The first card is personalized with your company logo and an individual message. The second card is postage paid customer survey card specifically to include the information you want to know from your customer. Our goal is to place you in the most favorable position to receive repeat and referral business. We do all the work on your behalf and you get all the credit!Cookie Advantage is a great tasting way to say "THANK YOU!"
    Cookie Advantage - Giving you an advantage over the competition with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies! Our program is designed for our franchisees to be able to work around their schedules and still participate in their family life. Our goal is for each of our franchisees to work a four-day workweek, Monday through Thursday, after the territory is fully developed.