Southern Maid Donuts Cost Comparisons

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.

Baked Goods Franchise Opportunities

Below is a quick comparison of Southern Maid Donuts against other Baked Goods franchises and business opportunities. For an in depth comparison of Southern Maid Donuts with another opportunity including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options click on the name of the company to view the detailed comparison.

Franchise Franchise Fee Royalty Advertising Fee Development Costs
A Grande Finale $35,000-$60,000 5%-6% 2% local 1% corp. $125,938-$237,750
Arizona Bread Company $25,000 5% $149,000-$341,500
Atlanta Bread Company $40,000 5% $629,700-$806,300
Auntie Anne's Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels $30,000 7% 1% $98,350-$445,000
Bagel Bagel $20,000-$25,000 5% 2% $170,000-$425,000
bagel BAR, The $32,000 5% 2% $240,000-$320,000
Baldinos Giant Jersey Subs $10,000 4.5% 0.5% $100,000-$200,000
bb's Coffee and Muffins $26,000 7% $145,000-$280,000
Beard Papa's Sweets Cafe $47,500-$57,500 5% $159,000-$475,000
BeaverTails $30,000 5% 3% $15,000-$500,000
Ben's Soft Pretzels $30,000 6% 1.5% $107,200-$339,500
Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Cafe $22,500-$25,000 5% -7% up to 2% $313,000-$416,000
Big Apple Bagels $25,000 5% 3% $298,000-$405,000
Big Dad's Pies N/A $220,000-$250,000
Blue Chip Cookies Drive N/A $11,000-$15,000
Bountiful Bread $37,500 $750,000-$1,200,000
Bread Basket $20,000 $172,400-$294,450
Bread Poets Baking Company $24,000 4% $166,000-$259,000
Breadsmith $30,000 7% - 5% $380,250-$454,750
Bru-Go's Take-N-Bake Pizza Company $19,500 4-5% $76,200-$137,950
Bruegger's $30,000 5% $389,600-$591,600
Cheesecake Shop, The N/A 9% 2% $150,000-$700,000
Chock full o' Nuts $3,000-$20,000 5% $272,500-$425,900
CHURROMANIA $30,000 8% $135,000-$335,000
Cindy's Cinnamon Rolls $25,000 5% $69,000-$130,500
Cinnabon $30,000 6% 1.5% $23,100-$430,900
Cinnaholic $35,000 5% 2% $178,000-$308,500
Cinnamon City $25,000 6% $79,900-$119,900
Cinnzeo $15,000 7% $214,000-$621,000
COBS Bread $25,000 7% 3% $400,000-$750,000
Coffee Time Donuts $25,000 5% $210,000-$395,000
Cookie Advantage $25,000 5%--3% $75,000-$100,000
Cookie Factory Bakery $15,000 5% $98,000-$237,500
Cookie Man N/A 0 $250,000
Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet $25,000 6% $90,000-$180,000
Corner Bakery Cafe $25,000 5% $854,000-$2,375,000
Croissant Plus $30,000-$40,000 $175,000-$500,000
Crumb & Get It Cookie Co. $30,000 6% 2% $128,700-$178,500
Cupcakes $50,000 $267,500-$381,000
Dixie Cream $25,000 6% $196,000-$413,000
Don Pan Bakeries $35,000-$58,750 6% 2% $150,000-$800,000
Donut Baker, The $20,000 6% 2%local +2%Nat'l $68,000-$150,000
Donut King $55,000 7% 3% $295,000-$340,000
Dreamy Donuts $60,000 7% 3% $300,000-$400,000
Duck Donuts $30,000 5% 2% $348,350-$568,000
Dunkin' $40,000-$90,000 5.9% 5% $199,700-$1,688,200
Erik's DeliCafe $35,000 5% $303,500-$521,600
Factory Donuts $20,000 5% 2.5% $213,300-$341,300
Fractured Prune, The $27,500 5% 1% $143,950-$270,450
Frullati Cafe & Bakery $30,000 6% $145,900-$446,000
GFG Bakery-Cafe $25,000 $187,100-$1,311,000
Gigi's Cupcakes $35,000 5% 2.5% $226,700-$425,500
Grand Traverse $25,000 5% $400,000-$500,000
Great American Bagel $20,000 4% 2% $230,000-$300,000
Great American Cookie Company $15,000-$35,000 6% 1.5% $177,700-$476,135
Great Canadian Bagel $20,000 $85,000-$350,000
Great Harvest $35,000 5% 2.5% $69,613-$704,873
Honey Dew Donuts $35,000 $125,000-$400,000
House of Bread $35,000 6% $157,000-$347,000
Hurts Donut Company $35,000 7% 2% $553,000-$1,076,000
Insomnia Cookies $25,000 6% $65,600-$111,400
Jo to Go $25,000 7% $82,500-$786,000
Joey Bag a Donuts $30,000 5% 1% $207,700-$587,800
Just Fresh $25,000 5% $475,000-$650,000
Kettleman's Bagel $25,000 6% $300,000-$450,000
Krispy Kreme $12,500-$25,000 4.5% 1.5% $200,500-$4,115,000
LaMar's Donuts $28,500 5% $288,500-$366,500
Le Macaron French Pastries $45,000 6% 0.5% $131,500-$361,500
Lee's Sandwiches $35,000-$75,000 6.9% 2%local +2%Nat'l $235,830-$1,830,000
Lox of Bagels $19,000 $135,000-$165,000
Michel's Baguette $40,000 $350,000-$800,000
Mister Donut $34,500-$41,400 5% 3% $480,000-$620,000
Mrs. Fields $30,000 6% $166,806-$410,500
Mrs. Powell's Bakery Eatery $25,000 5% 3% $125,000-$160,000
Muffin Break N/A $195,000-$245,000
Muffins Plus $30,000-$40,000 $175,000-$500,000
My Favorite Muffin $25,000 5% 3% $104,500-$405,000
Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip $30,000 6% 1.5% $43,900-$499,100
Nothing Bundt Cakes $35,000 5% 4% $431,587-$600,387
NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop $29,500 5% $300 - $600 $119,000-$208,000
Original Cupcakes $50,000 $267,500-$381,000
Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company $35,000 5% $1,010,985-$2,252,846
Paradise Bakery & Cafe $40,000 5% $480,000-$1,205,000
Paris Baguette $50,000 3% - 5% 1% $719,271-$1,401,546
Peace, Love & Little Donuts $40,000 6% 1% $121,200-$235,100
Quack Daddy Donuts $50,000 $236,200-$333,000
Ricky's Candy, Cones & Chaos $30,000 5% $378,500-$563,800
Rise'n Roll $95,000 3% 1% $485,500-$1,597,000
Robins Donuts $25,000 $325,000
Saint Cinnamon $25,000 6% $144,100-$264,700
San Francisco Bread Company $35,000 5% $370,000-$450,000
Shipley Do-Nuts $35,000-$50,000 5% $410,000-$771,500
Smallcakes A Cupcakery $30,000 3% $70,000-$120,000
Sprinkles Cupcakes N/A $576,000-$1,075,000
Subs Plus $12,000 $140,000-$170,000
T.J. Cinnamons $5,000 Varies $22,100-$39,200
Treats $25,000 7% 1% $121,000-$260,000
UCBC Bagels $29,900 5% 2% $182,900-$433,900
Waffle Cabin $17,500 5% of Gross Sales $117,700-$301,100
We're Rolling Pretzel Company $15,000 5% 2% $91,000-$223,000
Wetzel's Pretzels $35,000 7% 1% $126,600-$405,850
WOOPS! $15,000-$25,000 4% $58,875-$390,675
Yummy Cupcakes $35,000 5% 1% $185,679-$325,665