Farmer Boys vs Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Farmer Boys vs Zoup! Fresh Soup Company including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Farmer Boys Franchise
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Investment $1,042,500 - $2,486,500$355,900 - $648,500
Franchise Fee $45,000$39,900
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 3%1%
Year Founded 19811998
Year Franchised 19972003
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods
Term Of Agreement 20 years5 years, Renewable for 3 additional 5 year periods
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Farmer Boys Franchise
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Restaurant experience is helpful but not required
  • Strong Management Skills Important
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Farmer Boys Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Farmer Boys Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 480 hours Classroom Training: 60 hours On-The-Job Training: 72 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 30

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

    		 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 - 14

    Absentee Ownership Allowed


    Expansion Plans
     
    Farmer Boys Franchise
    Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Franchise
    US Expansion YesNo
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Farmer Boys

    During the 1970s, brothers Makis and Chris Havadjias worked in restaurants to earn money for college. They helped the owners of one of those restaurants rebuild the establishment, and later bought it. With the experience they gained at that first restaurant, the brothers bought a poorly performing restaurant in Perris, California, that they built into Farmer Boys. With the help of their three other brothers, the Havadjias expanded Farmer Boys throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California. Each location serves hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and a full breakfast menu. The company began franchising in 1998.

    #128 in Franchise 500 for 2021. Not ranked in 2020.

    About Zoup! Fresh Soup Company

    The first Zoup! opened in 1998 in Southfield, MI, a suburb of Detroit. Over the next five years, the founders opened five more Detroit-area locations, and in 2003 they began to franchise the concept. Zoup! restaurants feature 12 rotating daily varieties of soup, including low-fat, vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options. Made-to-order salads, sandwiches and baked goods are also available.

    Seeking new franchise units in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Midwest, Northeast, West, Canada
    Veteran Incentives  $2,500 off franchise fee

    "Top
    #53 in Gator's Top franchises.