Gymboree vs Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Gymboree vs Big Frog Custom T-Shirts including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Gymboree Franchise
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise
Investment $81,143 - $267,593$114,501 - $244,800
Franchise Fee $45,000$13,500 - $39,500
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee -1.5%
Year Founded 19762007
Year Franchised 19782008
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Gymboree Franchise
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

    • Friendly and outgoing. $50,000 minimum liquidity.

    Financing Options
     
    Gymboree Franchise
    Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/Yes
    Equipment No/No-/Yes
    Inventory No/No-/Yes
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Gymboree Franchise
    Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise
    Training -

    Manuals, online training courses, 5-day Big Frog University in Dunedin FL, 4 days in-store at opening. Online courses, live webinars and recorded videos, Best Practices monthly newsletter, annual FROG-A-Thon convention. On-The-Job Training: 36 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours

    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

    Site selection and lease negotiation, pre-opening manual and online task manager and weekly calls, Intranet and forums, pre-opening marketing program, weekly coaching calls, onsite visits, Grand Opening program, closed Facebook group, marketing calendar and online Ad-builder and dashboard, monthly KPI reports, annual marketing and business planning assistance. Store design drawings, DTG printer installation and training, on-demand business coaching, weekly coaching calls, franchisee peer groups, onsite visits, new product research and development, website and Facebook page, recruiting platform and program, DTG ink sales, pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns, bi-monthly e-mail marketing blasts, garment vendor discounts and other benefits, proprietary point-of-sale (POS) software, IT support vendor, community event programs. Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform

    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 44% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		Number of Employees Required to Run: 2

    Expansion Plans
     
    Gymboree Franchise
    Big Frog Custom T-Shirts Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Gymboree

    San Francisco mother Joan Barnes created the Gymboree Play and Music Program in 1976 when she couldn't find a safe place for new parents and children to play and exercise together. There are now locations across the United States and throughout the world.

    Gymboree Play and Music centers offer different classes each week for children ranging from newborn through 4 years old. Classes are designed to stimulate the senses and encourage children's development.

    About Big Frog Custom T-Shirts

    Big Frog is NOT your father's T-shirt shop! We’re a high-tech retail boutique with rainforest décor, serving consumers, businesses, charities & schools; think “George Jetson meets George of the Jungle”!

    We make custom-designed T-shirts, polos and sweatshirts, gifts and other garments using photos, clip art, text and logos. We use a unique, environmentally-friendly high quality ‘Direct-to-Garment’ (DTG) inkjet printing process for a breathable image that won’t peel, crack or fade. Main consumer selling points are: No minimum quantities (1-100 our specialty!); No setup fees or artwork charges (Free design service while you wait!); delivery within 24-hours; No kidding!

    Big Frog isn’t just a business; it’s a lifestyle! Your 1,200 sq foot store will be open Mon-Fri 9-6 and Sat 9-1, and you’ll have only 2 or 3 employees, hardly any receivables and minimal inventory. Our DTG products have a 75+% gross margin, and we’re one of the fastest-growing, most award-winning concepts in the franchise industry! Great owners network in the community, raising awareness and driving business back to the store.

    We can provide any quantity of shirts using any decorating technique, including DTG, vinyl, UltraPrints, screen printing and embroidery. Our stores focus on the highest level of service and provide an amazing customer experience, going past “satisfying customers” to generating FANS. Customers, employees and the owner all have FUN, and our stores generate over 60% repeat and referral business!

    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    ""   
    In Franchise Business Reviews' Top 200.

    "Entrepreneur
    #474 in Franchise 500 for 2020.