Icebox/Soupbox vs Applegate Farm Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Icebox/Soupbox vs Applegate Farm including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
Applegate Farm Franchise
Investment $69,500 - $174,500$137,650 - $322,000
Franchise Fee $14,000 - $20,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee -2%local+2% Nat'l
Year Founded 1995-
Year Franchised 1998-
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 Years +5+5+5
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 Years +5+5+5
Renewal Fee Negotiable-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
Applegate Farm Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    Applegate Farm Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    Applegate Farm Franchise
    Training -80 hours over approximately two weeks. Includes both classroom and on-the-job training.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

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

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    Applegate Farm Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Icebox/Soupbox

    Before opening his first store, Jamie Taerbaum stood outside a Baskin-Robbins store to figure out how many customers an ice cream store could expect at different times of day, on different days of the week, and in different weather conditions. Armed with this research, the young business school graduate opened the original Icebox/Soupbox store in 1995 in Chicago.

    In the spring and summer, Icebox operates as a retailer of Icyfruit, a mixture of fruit juice, sugar, water and chunks of fruit that comes in 20 flavors. Throughout the fall and winter, it becomes a Soupbox store, offering a wide variety of soups.

    About Applegate Farm

    Applegate Farm has grown to be one of the largest retail outlets for ice cream on the East Coast. In 1980, Mrs. Betty Vhay became the new owner of Applegate Farm. In an effort to oversee all aspects of the business the Vhay family moved into the original farmhouse. Mrs. Vhay became Mrs. Wayne Niles in 1991 and eventually transferred ownership to her nephew and his wife Mr. and Mrs. Jason Street. Working together, the entire family contributes to maintaining the century-old tradition of the best homemade ice cream and sweet treats in the 21st century.