Tropical Smoothie Cafe vs sweetFrog Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe sweetFrog
Investment 198500 - 543500 95600 - 477500
Franchise Fee
Royalty Fee 6% 5%
Advertising Fee 3% 1.50%
Year Founded 1997 2009
Year Franchised 1998 2012
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe sweetFrog
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 sweetFrog
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe sweetFrog
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: 24 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: As needed
Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
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 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators).

Expansion Plans

  Tropical Smoothie Cafe sweetFrog
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 Nationwide,
Canada Expansion 0 Nationwide,
International Expansion Worldwide,

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

Investment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog
Franchise Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog
Royalty Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 6%
sweetFrog 5%
Advertising Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 3%
sweetFrog 1.50%
Year Founded
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1997
sweetFrog 2009
Year Franchised
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1998
sweetFrog 2012
Term Of Agreement
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 15 years
sweetFrog 10 years
Renewal Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog


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!!!
sweetFrog

Financing Options

 
Franchise Fees
Tropical Smoothie Cafe No
sweetFrog No
Start-up Costs
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog
Equipment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe}
sweetFrog
Inventory
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog
Receivables
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog
Payroll
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog

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.
sweetFrog On-The-Job Training: 24 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: As needed
Support
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
sweetFrog Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection 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
sweetFrog Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
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
sweetFrog 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% 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
sweetFrog Nationwide,
Canada Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 0
sweetFrog Nationwide,
International Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
sweetFrog Worldwide,