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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of House of Bread vs Ben's Soft Pretzels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $157,000 - $347,000 | $107,200 - $339,500 |
Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $30,000 |
Royalty Fee | 6% | 6% |
Advertising Fee | - | 1.5% |
Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
Year Franchised | 1998 | 2013 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
Renewal Fee | $5K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | -/Yes |
Start-up Costs | No/No | -/Yes |
Equipment | No/No | -/Yes |
Inventory | No/No | -/Yes |
Receivables | No/No | -/Yes |
Payroll | No/No | -/Yes |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | As 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 | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising | Here 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 |
25% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | Yes | Yes |
After spending six years as a lawyer, Sheila McCann decided to do something different with her life. At Harvard Business School, she researched several business ideas before settling on a bread bakery. McCann had fond memories of baking with her grandmother as a child in Montana. Inspired by her grandmother's spirit of independence and endurance, she founded House of Bread in San Luis Obispo in 1996.
The company targets its specialty breads to young professionals, health-conscious consumers and baby boomers looking to increase fiber in their diets. House of Bread lets customers sample its healthful, whole-grain breads and watch the bread being made. All stores feature on-site milling.