Southern Maid Donuts vs Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Southern Maid Donuts vs Ben's Soft Pretzels including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Southern Maid Donuts Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Investment $64,000 - $227,000$107,200 - $339,500
Franchise Fee $5,000$30,000
Royalty Fee -6%
Advertising Fee -1.5%
Year Founded -2008
Year Franchised -2013
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Southern Maid Donuts Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Southern Maid Donuts Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/Yes
Start-up Costs -/--/Yes
Equipment -/--/Yes
Inventory -/--/Yes
Receivables -/--/Yes
Payroll -/--/Yes

Training & Support

 
Southern Maid Donuts Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
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 -Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing -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 --

Expansion Plans

 
Southern Maid Donuts Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Southern Maid Donuts

Southern Maid Donuts began in 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Hargrove. A young couple coming out of the throws of the Great Depression, they created Southern Maid because they saw the need in the market for quality donuts. They created their own recipes, which have stood the test of time. Quality ingredients and uncompromised procedures are reason for the continued success of the Hargrove family to this very day.

The product was so well accepted that besides selling donuts in their privately owned shops that they were sought out by individuals wanting to use Southern Maid products in their own bakeries and stores. The Hargrove couple began to license their trademark and to help individuals realize their dreams of owning their own businesses. Today, Southern Maid is used in over 100 stores.

The Southern Maid name came about because of being from the South. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove wanted a name that encompassed a feeling as well as humble southern traditions and memories. Part of this Southern Maid tradition was a large sponsorship for several years of the Louisiana Hayride Show in Shreveport, Louisiana. Many a young entertainer sang the praises of Southern Maid Donuts. An interesting note: Elvis did the only commercial of his life for any product on November 6th, 1954 for Southern Maid Donuts. He sang the jingle. "You can get them piping hot after 4 P.M., you can get them piping hot, Southern Maid Donuts hits the spot, you can get them piping hot after 4 P.M." Elvis frequented the Shreveport store for donuts on his visits to the Louisiana Hayride. Other entertainers that sang the praises of Southern Maid include Minnie Pearl, Johnny Horton, and Johnny Cash. The Johnny Cash version was released on the Best of the Louisiana Hayride Volume 4.

Southern Maid products are also used institutionally in the form of pancake and muffin mixes. The Hargroves had created a pancake mix for home use. Over time, the mix was given to friends and family members. The requests for the mix got so large that they began to package it in 50-pound bags for selling to hotels and restaurants.

Southern Maid has remained a tradition in the South because of the continued use of quality ingredients and procedures. We have been family owned since inception in 1937. Though Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove have since passed on, Southern Maid has evolved into the second and third generations of family ownership and management.

About Ben's Soft Pretzels

Ben's Soft Pretzels is an Amish-roused Pretzel Bakery serving amazing, additive free, hot pretzels and other pretzel items at an incredible esteem. Cushy, a dissolve in-your-mouth taste, and regularly delighted in with a wide exhibit of gourmet plunging sauces, Ben's Soft Pretzels are very nearly 2x the measure of different pretzels and highlight imported salt from Germany. Supported by the Perfect Pretzel Promise, on the off chance that you are not 100% content with your item bring back the uneaten bit and we will re-make it. We will do this until you are 100% cheerful! For franchisee applicants, Ben's Soft Pretzels is quickly extending in prime markets all through the US. Being a piece of the Ben's Soft Pretzels family permits people to wind up entrepreneurs with a demonstrated framework and scrumptious item that is sought after. What's more, Ben's Soft Pretzels offers solid brand mindfulness, hands-on preparing, and many levels of progressing backing for establishment proprietors. Land is accessible at this point. Ben's Soft Pretzels has deliberately adjusted to various landowners to give moment store accessibility.
Looking to turn dough into dough? Come roll with us! Franchising opportunities are available.
Ben’s Soft Pretzels has more than 115+ locations across the US and we are growing rapidly! Have a pretzel day!
Veteran Incentives  50% off franchise fee