Great Harvest vs Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Great Harvest vs Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Great Harvest Franchise
Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise
Investment $69,613 - $704,873$159,000 - $475,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$47,500 - $57,500
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 2.5%-
Year Founded 19761998
Year Franchised 19781998
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee -negotiated


Business Experience Requirements

 
Great Harvest Franchise
Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 120 hours Classroom Training: 120 hours Additional Training: When necessary-
    Support Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appRegional advertising
    Operations 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 - 7

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    80% of all franchisees own more than one unit

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

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Great Harvest

    Pete Wakeman had been baking bread most of his life. As a child, he would help his aunt. In high school, he baked for his friends. During summer vacations, he sold bread from the roadside. In 1976, when Wakeman heard about a bakery in Great Falls, Montana, that was going under, he bought it. With the help of his wife, Laura, Wakeman established the Great Harvest Bread Co. and set about baking loaves for people in the Great Falls community. Soon, people from neighboring communities starting asking about setting up their own Great Harvest locations. The first franchise opened in Kalispell, Montana. In 1983, the Wakemans converted their Great Falls bakery into a franchise and moved company headquarters to Dillon, Montana, so they could concentrate on the franchising end of their business. Great Harvest bakeries serve a variety of breads each day including honey whole wheat, white cheddar garlic, sunflower and cranberry orange.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Great Harvest bakery cafe franchise in a “Hub” location is $144,100 to $704,873. This includes $35,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Great Harvest bakery cafe franchise in a “Spoke” location is $69,613 to $447,536. This includes $15,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    If you want development rights, you must pay the franchisor a development fee equal to the full initial franchise fee for the first bakery cafe ($35,000) plus a deposit of $7,500 (of the $15,000 initial franchise fee) for each additional bakery cafe you agree to develop. The total investment necessary to begin operation if you acquire development rights is $151,600 to $712,373. This includes $42,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    Veteran Incentives  15% off franchise fee
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    About Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe

    Are you interested in partnering with a world class food company with the most unique product offering to hit the QSR industry in years? We’re excited about the opportunities too! Beard Papa’s Cream Puff products and operations are proven. Backed by over six years of operating experience and over 240 cream puff stores in Japan and other areas in Asia, we are part of the Muginoho Group family with various restaurant concepts in Japan and other areas in Asia. The trademark of our cream puff specialty stores is a "beard papa" against a bright yellow background. We stuff each crunchy puff with whipped cream custard every time an order is placed. You can watch as they are being created in the store. Everyday we bake choux pastry shells and prepare our special, secret recipe of whipped cream custard in our store. Our motto is to serve only the freshest cream puffs from beard papa's kitchen. Our cream puffs do not contain any preservatives. Only the highest quality ingredients go into making them because we want to serve you only the best. We use only natural-grown vanilla beans.
     
    Since 1999, Beard Papa’s has been baking the world’s best cream puffs. We began in Japan and have expanded to over 400 stores in 15 countries and territories! We are committed to bring you a pastry that is super oishii! (delicious!).