Icebox/Soupbox vs SweetDuet Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
SweetDuet Franchise
Investment $69,500 - $174,500$104,250 - $405,000
Franchise Fee $14,000 - $20,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 1995-
Year Franchised 1998-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee Negotiable-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
SweetDuet Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Icebox/Soupbox Franchise
    SweetDuet 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
    SweetDuet Franchise
    Training -Our 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 Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesOur 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 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
    SweetDuet 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 SweetDuet

    SweetDuet Frozen Yogurt & Muffins, as its name implies, is a fusion concept, pairing self-serve frozen yogurt with our exclusive line of My Favorite Muffin gourmet muffins, broadening the shop's offering and therefore differentiating itself from the numerous frozen yogurt outlets already populating the market.
    SweetDuet Frozen Yogurt & Muffins shops will also include Brewster's Coffee and a streamlined breakfast menu. Franchisees will have the added benefits of opportunities for outside muffin sales as well as muffin gift-baskets.

    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.