Pickles & Ice Cream vs Mainstream Boutique Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Pickles & Ice Cream vs Mainstream Boutique including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Pickles & Ice Cream Mainstream Boutique
Investment 167200 - 366000 160800 - 306350
Franchise Fee
Royalty Fee 6% 7.50%
Advertising Fee 0.50%
Year Founded 1997 1991
Year Franchised 1999 1998
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Pickles & Ice Cream Mainstream Boutique
Experience

Financing Options
  Pickles & Ice Cream Mainstream Boutique
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support
  Pickles & Ice Cream Mainstream Boutique
Training Initial training course at our corporate office in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The course includes classroom instruction and on-the-job training to learn basic operating skills, such as booking and conducting shows, inventory purchase and control, merchandising, customer service, customer relations, basic computer set-up and operations, selling and marketing techniques, financial reporting and much, much more. On-The-Job Training: 50+ hours Classroom Training: 26+ hours Additional Training: Ongoing training as needed
Support You'll receive a copy of the Confidential Operations Manual that covers policies and procedures involved in running your business. You'll also receive periodic visits from a Mainstream Boutique representative who will provide experienced guidance along the way. And, of course, we are only a phone call away to answer your day-to-day questions. Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations Absentee Ownership Allowed

Expansion Plans
  Pickles & Ice Cream Mainstream Boutique
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion 0
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique
Franchise Fee
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique
Royalty Fee
Pickles & Ice Cream 6%
Mainstream Boutique 7.50%
Advertising Fee
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique 0.50%
Year Founded
Pickles & Ice Cream 1997
Mainstream Boutique 1991
Year Franchised
Pickles & Ice Cream 1999
Mainstream Boutique 1998
Term Of Agreement
Pickles & Ice Cream 7 years
Mainstream Boutique
Renewal Fee
Pickles & Ice Cream 33% of then current Fran. fee
Mainstream Boutique


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Pickles & Ice Cream No
Mainstream Boutique No
Start-up Costs
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique
Equipment
Pickles & Ice Cream}
Mainstream Boutique
Inventory
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique
Receivables
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique
Payroll
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique

Training & Support
Training
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique Initial training course at our corporate office in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The course includes classroom instruction and on-the-job training to learn basic operating skills, such as booking and conducting shows, inventory purchase and control, merchandising, customer service, customer relations, basic computer set-up and operations, selling and marketing techniques, financial reporting and much, much more. On-The-Job Training: 50+ hours Classroom Training: 26+ hours Additional Training: Ongoing training as needed
Support
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique You'll receive a copy of the Confidential Operations Manual that covers policies and procedures involved in running your business. You'll also receive periodic visits from a Mainstream Boutique representative who will provide experienced guidance along the way. And, of course, we are only a phone call away to answer your day-to-day questions. Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique Absentee Ownership Allowed

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
Pickles & Ice Cream 0
Mainstream Boutique
International Expansion
Pickles & Ice Cream
Mainstream Boutique