Great Harvest vs Cookie Advantage Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Great Harvest Franchise
Cookie Advantage Franchise
Investment $69,613 - $704,873$75,000 - $100,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%--3%
Advertising Fee 2.5%-
Year Founded 19761998
Year Franchised 19782002
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Great Harvest Franchise
Cookie Advantage Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Cookie Advantage 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
    Cookie Advantage 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 -
    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)

    		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
     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Cookie Advantage Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 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.