Big Apple Bagels vs Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Big Apple Bagels vs Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Big Apple Bagels Franchise
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops Franchise
Investment $298,000 - $405,000$313,600 - $556,100
Franchise Fee $25,000$35,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 3%4.5%
Year Founded 19931983
Year Franchised 19931993
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee -$2.5K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Big Apple Bagels Franchise
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops 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 Our 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.
    		• Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Ad slicks, Regional advertisingCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Big Apple Bagels Franchise
    Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Big Apple Bagels

    Big Apple Bagels is on the forefront of the fast casual dining boom. We stand apart from the crowd with growth and consumer appeal because of our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our business. The Big Apple Bagels restaurant concept was developed to delight not only customers, but our franchise owner-operators as well. As a Big Apple Bagels franchisee, you'll be able to produce freshly baked Big Apple Bagels brand bagels, My Favorite Muffin brand gourmet muffins, a wide assortment of delicious sandwiches and salads, and serve our own Brewster's brand of brewed coffee and specialty drinks. The Big Apple Bagels menu offers a broad range of lunch options to round out our menu and keep our customers coming back. Unlike other sandwich concepts, Big Apple Bagels has a proven breakfast program. With the strength of the Big Apple Bagels, My Favorite Muffin and Brewster's coffee brands your restaurant doubles as a bakery-cafe. As another example of its multiple identities, the restaurant is not only a retail destination, but also a wholesale distributorship from which your baked-from-scratch bagels and muffins can be sold in bulk to corporate clients, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses for resale. If you've been to one of our restaurants, you've seen -- and tasted -- what keeps our customers coming back for more: Big freshly baked bagels, made from scratch ... enhanced with our exclusive varieties of cream cheese, or made into a fresh deli or breakfast sandwich ... served with a cup of one of our gourmet Brewster's coffees.

    The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of your first Big Apple Bagels 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 Big Apple Bagels 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 Big Apple Bagels 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 Big Apple Bagels Store. Under the Area Development Agreement, you must open a minimum of 2 Big Apple Bagels Stores.






    About Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops

    James J. Liautaud established Jimmy John's in Charleston, Illinois, in 1983 when he was 19 years of age. With utilized hardware, a cooler, one meat slicer, a cooler and a stove, Jimmy John Liautaud began his business without even a posted menu or an open air sign. At the time, he offered four sandwich assortments and 25-penny sodas. In the wake of going out sandwich tests all through the school town, Liautuad included conveyance benefit, tables, open air signs, menu sheets and an extended menu. He opened a few more stores and built up a model before diversifying started in 1993. Jimmy John's franchisees prepare bread at every store each day, and each sandwich is made new to arrange in 30 seconds.

    Watching your calories?  Try our 'Unwich'  A sandwich with lettuce for a wrapping, not bread !!

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Jimmy John's Restaurant is $313,600 to $556,100 (including initial real estate lease costs).
    This includes $30,000 to $37,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.
    If you want development rights (for a minimum of 3 Restaurants), you must pay the franchisor a development fee equal to $35,000 (the initial franchise fee for the first Restaurant), plus the $30,000 initial franchise fee due under each additional Franchise Agreement you sign when you sign the Development Rights Rider, plus a deposit of $10,000 for each additional Restaurant you agree to develop but for which you do not sign a Franchise Agreement when you sign the Development Rights Rider.

    "Entrepreneur

    #23 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #72 in Franchise 500 for 2021.