Mara's Cafe and Bakery vs Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Mara's Cafe and Bakery Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Investment N/A$107,200 - $339,500
Franchise Fee $25,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee 2% local + 1% Nat'l1.5%
Year Founded 19842008
Year Franchised 20042013
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Mara's Cafe and Bakery Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Experience We are seeking motivated owner-operators with solid restaurant operating experience to join our system. In exchange, we will provide the tools and training you need to run your own Mara�s Caf� & Bakery location. We do, of course, also expect that you have the right amount of capital to invest in the franchise.-

Financing Options

 
Mara's Cafe and Bakery 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

 
Mara's Cafe and Bakery Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
Training Franchise owners and their key management staff will receive at least two weeks and up to three weeks of training, including both classroom and on-the-job 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 Your team will receive five days of onsite help at your own location around the time of your grand opening. You will have access to all Mara's Caf� & Bakery trademarks, recipes and supply chains, and our unique operational procedures. And, we'll provide you with a copy of our confidential operations manual to help you run your caf� properly.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

 
Mara's Cafe and Bakery Franchise
Ben's Soft Pretzels Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Mara's Cafe and Bakery

The concept behind Mara's Cafe & Bakery got its start in 1984 when Mara and Glenn's "mom and pop" business began offering customers the highest quality, delectable desserts made fresh in our own bakery and served with freshly roasted coffee. It was with the encouragement of our family and friends that we began creating delicious desserts from traditional family recipes and Glenn, a coffee perfectionist, distinguished a unique line of roasted coffee products. It wasn't long before we had customers coming in and out daily, requesting more of their favorite tasty treats and coffee beverages!

In 2004, sons Ian and Devan joined the family business with great plans of expansion. After nearly twenty years of establishing a reputation for serving up the best coffee and desserts in town, we knew it was time to expand not only our business, but our menu as well. The first Mara's Cafe & Bakery was opened in Denville, NJ. With the addition of sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more, this simple "mom and pop" concept quickly became a family-run business - and the dining destination of choice during all hours of the day. Customers from all over soon realized Mara's was the best place to enjoy a delicious meal in a cozy atmosphere and began asking for more locations within their own communities. Thus, the idea to franchise our concept was conceived - after all, we couldn't let our customers down!

Now is the time for you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity and bring our amazing concept to your home town. Discover how becoming a Mara's Cafe & Bakery franchise owner can be the greatest reward of your career - and possibly your life. With the help of our team of experts, our exclusive, award-winning recipes, and our time- tested business model, opening your own Mara's Cafe & Bakery could be as easy as.... pie!

We sincerely appreciate your interest in Mara's Cafe & Bakery, The Magley Family

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