Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company vs Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company vs Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$1,010,985 - $2,252,846 | $90,000 - $180,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$35,000 | $25,000 |
Royalty Fee |
5% | 6% |
Advertising Fee |
- | - |
Year Founded |
1987 | 1983 |
Year Franchised |
1993 | 1987 |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement |
20 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee |
- | 25% of initial fee |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
*Experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator
*Recognition as a top restaurant operator
*Net worth of $7.5 million
*Liquid assets of $3 million
*Infrastructure and resources to meet our development schedule
*Real estate experience in the market to be developed
*Total commitment to the development of the Panera Bread brand
*Cultural fit and a passion for fresh bread
| General business experience Marketing skills |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | No/No |
Start-up Costs |
No/No | No/No |
Equipment |
No/No | No/No |
Inventory |
No/No | No/No |
Receivables |
No/No | No/No |
Payroll |
No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
Training |
- | - |
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Ad slicks, National media |
Operations |
Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40
- 60
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
30% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | - |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
No | No |
Company Overviews
About Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company
After more than 17 years in the retail industry, Ken Rosenthal changed gears and founded Saint Louis Bread Co. in 1987. His goal was to create a neighborhood bakery where people could pick up fresh-baked bread, meals and snacks. In 1993, Rosenthal sold Saint Louis Bread to Au Bon Pain Co. Six years later, the company was renamed Panera Bread.
The future growth of Panera Bread will be based upon company bakery-cafe development as well as the continued sale of franchise area development agreements.
Panera Bread does not sell single-unit franchises, so it is not possible to open just one bakery-cafe. Rather, we have chosen to develop by selling market areas which require the franchise developer to open a number of units, typically 15 bakery-cafes in a period of 6 years.
Panera Bread franchises must be well-capitalized to open great bakery-cafes and meet this aggressive development schedule. Additionally, they must have a proven track record as excellent multi-unit restaurant operators to operate great Panera Bread bakery-cafes.
#38 on Franchise Rankings.com
About Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet
When she lost her job, single mother Gwen Willhite had to figure out what to do next. Combining two traditional gifts'flowers and sweets'Willhite developed a new business: Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet. Each bouquet was arranged with custom-molded, hand-decorated sugar and cinnamon brown sugar cookies in baskets for all holidays and occasions. The company, which Willhite started in her home, soon grew into a chain of shops that began franchising in 1987. Within 10 years, Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet had grown to more than 175 shops in 115 cities across the United States.
Cookies
by Design offers a low entry cost and scalable confectionery bakery
franchise featuring custom hand decorated cookie bouquets, gourmet
cookies, cupcakes and confectionery treats.
For
over 30 years, Cookies by Design has been delighting people across the
US with a unique and delicious gifting
alternative to flowers.Our ability to create custom cookie bouquet
designs with a personalized message as well as provide local hand
delivery set us apart. Our customers are thrilled with
Cookies by
Design’s
ease of service and creativity that delivers their gift with a personal
touch. We love being a part of people celebrations, special occasions
and life events.
From
start to finish our cookie bouquets are all hand crafted using our
sugar cookie dough, cinnamon brown sugar
dough recipes and signature icing creating an unforgettable, tasty work
of art. With over 300 unique cookie cutter shapes and thousands of
design options Cookies by Design’s potential to
deliver gift items that are unique, special & memorable are
limitless.
Cookies
by Design has incorporated the business of gifting with the love of
baked goods into one successful
franchise. Combining the local bakery retail shop offering personalized
gifts and local hand delivery with the cookiesbydesign.com online
ordering site, gives each location has a national selling
reach with a neighborhood delivery touch.