Great Harvest vs My Favorite Muffin Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Great Harvest vs My Favorite Muffin including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Great Harvest Franchise
My Favorite Muffin Franchise
Investment $69,613 - $704,873$104,500 - $405,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 2.5%3%
Year Founded 19761987
Year Franchised 19781988
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years +10
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years +10
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Great Harvest Franchise
My Favorite Muffin Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    My Favorite Muffin Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    My Favorite Muffin Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 120 hours Classroom Training: 120 hours Additional Training: When necessaryOur Training Sets Your Business Apart! Our goal is to help you achieve excellence in every aspect of your business. Towards that ambitious goal, you and your key personnel will receive intensive training that covers all areas of the operation. Our training program, comprised of hands-on learning in our company-owned location and classroom instruction includes:
  • Day-to-day restaurant operations
  • Hiring, training, and retaining good employees
  • Maintaining financial controls
  • Orientation to your Marketing team that will coordinate your local advertising
  • Operational training at your location as you open
    • Support Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Our Support Sets Your Business Apart! As a franchisor, BAB Systems, Inc. has always focused heavily on the level of support it provides to its franchisees and the importance of open lines of communication to foster strong franchisee relationships. Franchisees know they can count on us to watch our position within the industry and do what it takes to keep up with ever-changing consumer preferences and innovations in franchise support. Of course, since the first franchise, technological advancements have changed the face of franchising. Accordingly, as its product offering has evolved, so has its franchise support program, which now includes an exclusive franchise intranet web site. As a BAB Systems, Inc. franchisee, you'll receive guidance and assistance with the key steps involved in getting your new business up and running. Pre-opening support includes:
  • Site selection assistance.
  • Restaurant layout and design.
  • Coordination with national and regional suppliers.
  • Equipment, merchandise and services at negotiated rates.
  • Grand Opening marketing campaign.
  • Full seasonal marketing strategies, complete with compact disc for local production of advertising and other marketing materials.
  • E-Mail subscription program, through which participating franchisees are kept informed up to the minute on important breaking news as well as surveyed for their feedback.
  • A password-protected BAB Franchisee Intranet featuring a download center, on-line sales reporting, resource center and trading post. The BAB Systems, Inc. franchise program is designed to help franchise owners reach their individual growth potential. Whether you are interested in owning one or several BAB Systems, Inc. stores, we'll work with you to determine the growth options that are right for you.
    		•
    Marketing Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app-
    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)

    		Average Number of Employees: 3 Full-time, 11 Part-time

    Passive Ownership: Allowed, But Discouraged

    Expansion Plans
     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    My Favorite Muffin Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    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 My Favorite Muffin

    There's More In Store Than Ever Before! "Our success begins with fresh, made-from-scratch, premium bakery and baked goods...bagels, breads, muffins, and more. And, because the majority of our restaurants are both manufacturing and retail units, we have a streamlined distribution and operating system. Our unique approach in offering fresh, made-from-scratch food to our customers - coupled with a low initial investment level - is a formula for success. Success from scratch that is..." -- Michael W. Evans President and Chief Executive Officer Since 1993, BAB, Inc. has grown into a nationally-known franchisor of a restaurant concept with complementary products, a reasonable investment level, and an inherent competitive advantage as the low-cost producer in our segment. "We hope you will enjoy browsing our web site for more information about our business, the strength of our franchise organization, specialty holiday and year-round gift-giving opportunities, and investment opportunities. Today and always at BAB...there is more in store than ever before!" As a MY FAVORITE MUFFIN franchisee, you get to create and sell over 300 varieties of our special muffins in both regular and fat-free varieties. Where applicable, you can add BIG APPLE BAGELS and BREWSTER'S COFFEE to complement your wonderful muffins.

    The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your first BAB Production Store ranges from $298,000 - $405,000, including $32,500 you must pay the franchisor or its affiliates.
    The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your first BAB Satellite Store ranges from $104,250 - $283,000, including $18,000 you must pay the franchisor or its affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of your franchised BAB Area Development business is from $45,000 to $205,000, all of which you must pay the franchisor. That investment is in addition to the initial investment for your BAB Store. Under the Area Development Agreement, you must open a minimum of 2 BAB Stores.