Great Harvest vs Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Great Harvest Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Investment $69,613 - $704,873$107,200 - $339,500
Franchise Fee $35,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 2.5%1.5%
Year Founded 19762008
Year Franchised 19782013
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Great Harvest Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/Yes
    Equipment No/Yes-/Yes
    Inventory No/No-/Yes
    Receivables No/No-/Yes
    Payroll No/No-/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 120 hours Classroom Training: 120 hours Additional Training: When necessaryAs a Franchise Partner, you will receive many different forms of hands-on training. We focus on teaching you how to run your business, as well as, how to make our legendary Ben's Soft Pretzel products. We are here to help you every step of the way. * 101 Training (3-Days at Ben's Soft Pretzels University): We walk you through all of the important aspects of starting and managing a successful business. * Reality Training (5-Days at Ben's Soft Pretzels University). In this training we show you everything you need to know about making our delicious pretzel products. * In-Store Training (6-Days). We send a Pretzel Professor to your bakery for 6 days when you open your store to help train your staff in the art of perfect pretzel making. * On-Going Training. We offer multiple training opportunities throughout the year for both Franchise Partners and Bakery Managers. We also offer monthly Franchise Partners conference calls, an online forum, and weekly newsletter to keep you up-to-date with the latest happenings surrounding our business.
    Support Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appHere at Ben's Soft Pretzels we are fortunate to have a brand that customers L-O-V-E. Our easy-to-follow marketing programs allow franchise partners to focus their marketing efforts locally. We assist you in turning customers into raving pretzel-loving fans. From announcing the opening of your bakery, to planning your Grand Opening, to growing your brand online, we help our franchise partners every step of the way. We come along side you to create a finely-tuned marketing plan to connect with customers, influencers and community leaders near your bakery. Throughout the year we offer ongoing marketing training to keep up to speed with the most effective marketing tools and tactics.
    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)

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    Expansion Plans

     
    Great Harvest Franchise
    Ben's Soft Pretzels 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 Ben's Soft Pretzels

    Ben's Soft Pretzels is an Amish-roused Pretzel Bakery serving amazing, additive free, hot pretzels and other pretzel items at an incredible esteem. Cushy, a dissolve in-your-mouth taste, and regularly delighted in with a wide exhibit of gourmet plunging sauces, Ben's Soft Pretzels are very nearly 2x the measure of different pretzels and highlight imported salt from Germany. Supported by the Perfect Pretzel Promise, on the off chance that you are not 100% content with your item bring back the uneaten bit and we will re-make it. We will do this until you are 100% cheerful! For franchisee applicants, Ben's Soft Pretzels is quickly extending in prime markets all through the US. Being a piece of the Ben's Soft Pretzels family permits people to wind up entrepreneurs with a demonstrated framework and scrumptious item that is sought after. What's more, Ben's Soft Pretzels offers solid brand mindfulness, hands-on preparing, and many levels of progressing backing for establishment proprietors. Land is accessible at this point. Ben's Soft Pretzels has deliberately adjusted to various landowners to give moment store accessibility.
    Looking to turn dough into dough? Come roll with us! Franchising opportunities are available.
    Ben’s Soft Pretzels has more than 115+ locations across the US and we are growing rapidly! Have a pretzel day!
    Veteran Incentives  50% off franchise fee