Tropical Smoothie Cafe vs Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Tropical Smoothie Cafe vs Kilwin's Chocolates including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe Kilwin's Chocolates
Investment 198500 - 543500 177534 - 937415
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 6% 5%
Advertising Fee 3% 1%
Year Founded 1997 1947
Year Franchised 1998 1982
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe Kilwin's Chocolates
Experience Hands on management preferred, restaurant experience preferred (but not required), ability to follow a business system, financial capabilities, general business acumen, ability to work well in a team environment, and passion!!!

Financing Options

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe Kilwin's Chocolates
 
Franchise Fees No No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe Kilwin's Chocolates
Training We believe in setting up our franchisees for success. We provide the following training: four-week training program, consisting of two weeks in a nearby Cafe, one week in a classroom setting at our Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia and one week onsite for your Grand Opening. On-The-Job Training: 173 hours Classroom Training: 43 hours Additional Training: Online training; store visits
Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening 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 Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing
Operations Tropical Smoothie Cafe has a very simple business operation since we do not utilize any fryers, grills, hooding systems or serve alcohol in the cafe. Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 10 - 20 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 10 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe Kilwin's Chocolates
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 Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia,
Canada Expansion 0
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates
Franchise Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates
Royalty Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 6%
Kilwin's Chocolates 5%
Advertising Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 3%
Kilwin's Chocolates 1%
Year Founded
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1997
Kilwin's Chocolates 1947
Year Franchised
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1998
Kilwin's Chocolates 1982
Term Of Agreement
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 15 years
Kilwin's Chocolates 10 years
Renewal Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Hands on management preferred, restaurant experience preferred (but not required), ability to follow a business system, financial capabilities, general business acumen, ability to work well in a team environment, and passion!!!
Kilwin's Chocolates

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Tropical Smoothie Cafe No
Kilwin's Chocolates No
Start-up Costs
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates
Equipment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe}
Kilwin's Chocolates
Inventory
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates
Receivables
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates
Payroll
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates

Training & Support

Training
Tropical Smoothie Cafe We believe in setting up our franchisees for success. We provide the following training: four-week training program, consisting of two weeks in a nearby Cafe, one week in a classroom setting at our Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia and one week onsite for your Grand Opening.
Kilwin's Chocolates On-The-Job Training: 173 hours Classroom Training: 43 hours Additional Training: Online training; store visits
Support
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Kilwin's Chocolates Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Kilwin's Chocolates Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing
Operations
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Tropical Smoothie Cafe has a very simple business operation since we do not utilize any fryers, grills, hooding systems or serve alcohol in the cafe. Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 10 - 20
Kilwin's Chocolates 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 10 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans

US Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 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
Kilwin's Chocolates Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia,
Canada Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 0
Kilwin's Chocolates
International Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Kilwin's Chocolates