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Our Selection Process For
Best Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothie Franchises
Best Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothie Franchises
Best
Top 30 Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothie Franchises
|
Rank |
Company Name |
Industry |
Franchising |
Franchise |
Cash |
Total |
Royalty |
Financing |
Growth Prospect 
|
Marketing Support
|
Training
|
Ongoing Support
|
Value
|
Overall Score 0100GVGE |
Change in Rank |
Key Facts For Juice It Up!
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1995
-
- Franchise Units:
- 80
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 1
-
- Cash Investment:
- $75,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $159,979 - $391,448
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters. At franchisee's location: 50 hours.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- No
-
- Website:
- www.juiceitup.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Nestle Toll House Cafe By Chip
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2000
-
- Franchise Units:
- 137
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 7
-
- Cash Investment:
- $100,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $157,500 - $395,400
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 10 days. At franchisee's location: 4-6 days.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.nestlecafe.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Friendly Ice Cream Corp.
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1935
-
- Franchise Units:
- 492
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 253
-
- Cash Investment:
- $650,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $147,600 - $1,979,350
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 4%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 12 weeks.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.friendlys.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Tropical Smoothie Cafe
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1997
-
- Franchise Units:
- 443
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 1
-
- Cash Investment:
- $100K
-
- Total Investments:
- $195.5 - 427.1K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- 4 week training program. 2 weeks in cafe, 1 week classroom and 1 week on site training at the franchisee's cafe.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Rita's Italian Ice
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1984
-
- Franchise Units:
- 560
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 45
-
- Cash Investment:
- $30K
-
- Total Investments:
- $167.7K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6.5%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.ritasice.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Repicci's Italian Ice & Gelato
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1998
-
- Franchise Units:
- 42
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 7
-
- Cash Investment:
- $15K
-
- Total Investments:
- $39.9 - 99.9K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- $3K/yr.
-
- Training Provided:
- No
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- repiccisitalianice.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Cold Stone Creamery
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1988
-
- Franchise Units:
- 1,423
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 22
-
- Cash Investment:
- $125,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $277,375 - $464,325
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 11 days. At franchisee's location: 3 days.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- coldstonecreamery.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1983
-
- Franchise Units:
- 202
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 13
-
- Cash Investment:
- $40,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $71,700 - $385,050
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 7%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 4 days. At franchisee's location: 1-2 days+. Full & continuous support
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.mauiwowi.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Baskin Robbins
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1967
-
- Franchise Units:
- 7,000
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 345
-
- Cash Investment:
- $20K
-
- Total Investments:
- $125 - 250K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 5.9%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.baskinrobbins.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1989
-
- Franchise Units:
- 159
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 34
-
- Cash Investment:
- $30-94K
-
- Total Investments:
- $225 - 375K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 4%
-
- Training Provided:
- No
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.maggiemoos.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Kona Ice
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2008
-
- Franchise Units:
- 674
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 10
-
- Cash Investment:
- $15,000-$25,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $109,275 - $124,575
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- $3K-4K/yr.
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes, both startup and ongoing training are provided by Kona Ice Corporate and Veteran Franchisees.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.kona-ice.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Island of Treats
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2009
-
- Franchise Units:
- 105
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 5
-
- Cash Investment:
- $45K
-
- Total Investments:
- $125 - 245K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 7%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- islandoftreats.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Peterbrooke Chocolatier
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1983
-
- Franchise Units:
- 14
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 8
-
- Cash Investment:
- 6%
-
- Total Investments:
- $215 - 385K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- $483K
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.peterbrooke.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Paciugo Gelato
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2000
-
- Franchise Units:
- 133
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 64
-
- Cash Investment:
- $31-74K
-
- Total Investments:
- $384K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 4%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- paciugo.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Creamistry Franchise, Inc.
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2009
-
- Franchise Units:
- 164
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 7
-
- Cash Investment:
- $40,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $277,500 - $581,000
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.creamistry.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Carvel Corporation
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1934
-
- Franchise Units:
- 434
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 15
-
- Cash Investment:
- $30K
-
- Total Investments:
- $35.1 - 354.6K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- $2.22/Gallon
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.carvel.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Smoothie King
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1989
-
- Franchise Units:
- 714
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 26
-
- Cash Investment:
- $90,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $176,300 - $403,550
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- You'll start with a one-day, introductory session, at Smoothie King headquarters, in Metairie, LA, where you'll be introduced the Smoothie King system, culture and pre-opening procedures. Topics include budgets, business planning, financing, site selection, construction, and ordering equipment. Next, is our mandatory, 11-day management training program. This takes place every month, in our Training Center, in Metairie, LA. This comprehensive, hands-on course will familiarize you with our core product knowledge and our operational systems. Finally, We'll send one of our Store Openers out to your location for up to 5 days to train you and your team members. You and your team will learn general store procedures and systems, ordering, budgeting, proper cleaning, as well as opening and closing procedures. The topics covered are required for the opening and operation of your new store. You'll also receive on-going support from an Operations Consultant who will be assigned to your store.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.smoothieking.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Marble Slab Creamery
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1983
-
- Franchise Units:
- 366
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 5
-
- Cash Investment:
- $100,000
-
- Total Investments:
- Franchise fee: $30,000.Minimum cash required: $100,000.Total investment range: $230,085 - $408,135.N
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- marbleslabfranchise.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Yeh Yogurt
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2008
-
- Franchise Units:
- 45
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 3
-
- Cash Investment:
- $25K
-
- Total Investments:
- $210 - 375K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 3%
-
- Training Provided:
-
- Financing Available:
- No
-
- International Opportunities:
- No
-
- Website:
- www.yehyogurt.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Robeks Fruit Smoothies
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1996
-
- Franchise Units:
- 100
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 43
-
- Cash Investment:
- $25K
-
- Total Investments:
- $194.1 - 318K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6-7%
-
- Training Provided:
-
- Financing Available:
- No
-
- International Opportunities:
- No
-
- Website:
- robeksfranchise.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2007
-
- Franchise Units:
- 350
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 1
-
- Cash Investment:
- $25-40K
-
- Total Investments:
- $310 - 320K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.menchies.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Forever Yogurt
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2010
-
- Franchise Units:
- 25
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 6
-
- Cash Investment:
- $40,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $240,000 - $478,450
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 1-2 weeks. At franchisee's location: 1-3 days.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- No
-
- Website:
- www.foreveryogurt.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For All American Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Shops
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1986
-
- Franchise Units:
- 20
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 1
-
- Cash Investment:
- $90,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $191,700 - $494,450
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters: 2 weeks. At franchisee's location: 2 weeks.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- allamericanicecream.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For CUPS Frozen Yogurt
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2010
-
- Franchise Units:
- 334
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 13
-
- Cash Investment:
- $20K
-
- Total Investments:
- $350 - 700K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 7%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- cupsfrozenyogurt.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Scooter's Coffee
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1998
-
- Franchise Units:
- 111
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 25
-
- Cash Investment:
- $30K
-
- Total Investments:
- $237.5 - 445.5K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.scooterscoffee.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Sloan's Ice Cream
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1999
-
- Franchise Units:
- 57
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 4
-
- Cash Investment:
- $150,000 - $225,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $587,952 - $896,600
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 6%
-
- Training Provided:
- Available at headquarters. Available at franchisee's location.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.sloansicecream.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Ben & Jerry's Franchising, Inc.
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1981
-
- Franchise Units:
- 443
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 17
-
- Cash Investment:
- $100,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $174,800 - $450,800
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 3%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- benjerry.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Dairy Queen
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1940
-
- Franchise Units:
- Over 6,000
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 2
-
- Cash Investment:
- $400,000
-
- Total Investments:
- $1,077,225 - $1,833,125
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 4%
-
- Training Provided:
- Field based management and employee training programs available.
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.dairyqueen.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt
-
- Franchising Since:
- 2009
-
- Franchise Units:
- 127
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 72
-
- Cash Investment:
- $30K
-
- Total Investments:
- $282.5 - 467.5K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 5%
-
- Training Provided:
- No
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- sweetfrogyogurt.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Key Facts For Ralph's Famous Italian Ices
-
- Franchising Since:
- 1928
-
- Franchise Units:
- 73
-
- Company Owned Units:
- 1
-
- Cash Investment:
- $35K
-
- Total Investments:
- $125 - 175K
-
- Royalty Fee Rate:
- 5%
-
- Training Provided:
- Yes
-
- Financing Available:
- Yes
-
- International Opportunities:
- Yes
-
- Website:
- www.ralphsices.com
Positive
0%
Negative
0%
Neutral
0%
Evaluation Critieria: Best Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothie Franchise Opportunities
Growth Prospect
Those looking to start an ice cream, yogurt, or smoothie franchise often look for franchises which have a long history of creating attractive and financially proven businesses. During our analysis of each of the franchises featured in our rankings we spend time measuring the overall prospect for financial growth of each franchise.
Marketing Support
During our analysis of ice cream and similar franchises, we often look at the marketing and advertising resources which the franchisors in our list use to assist their franchisees in reaching their target audience. It is important for the marketing to reach an audience interested in the product being offered.
Training
Our independent research team is often involved in the analysis and reviewing of training processes and procedures created by leading franchises offering ice cream, yogurt, and smoothies. A lot of the products require the use of specialized equipment which require employees to be properly trained and educated.
Ongoing Support
A shared concern amongst many looking for an established franchise is the amount of support the franchisor will provide to their individual franchisees. We find it important for a franchisor to continue communicating with and assisting their franchisees in growing and improving their business through new offerings.
Value
It is important for a franchisor to invest in quality branding in order to create a positive and innovative reputation within their industry. Much of the value of a franchise comes from public perception and financial performance. We compare the relative value of a number of different yogurt franchises.
