Tropical Smoothie Cafe vs The Carving Board Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Tropical Smoothie Cafe The Carving Board
Investment 198500 - 543500 314500 - 621500
Franchise Fee
Royalty Fee 6%
Advertising Fee 3%
Year Founded 1997 2012
Year Franchised 1998 2016
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Tropical Smoothie Cafe The Carving Board
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!!! A great franchise candidate for The Carving Board is not necessarily just someone who has food experience, although that could be a plus. The company is looking for people who are driven, willing to commit to the brand and want to be part of something bigger. Franchisees need the necessary capital to open a location, the willingness to learn and the ability to follow a proven system.

Financing Options
  Tropical Smoothie Cafe The Carving Board
 
Franchise Fees No
Start-up Costs No
Equipment No
Inventory No
Receivables No
Payroll No

Training & Support
  Tropical Smoothie Cafe The Carving Board
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.
Support 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
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

Expansion Plans
  Tropical Smoothie Cafe The Carving Board
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, 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
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board
Franchise Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board
Royalty Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 6%
The Carving Board
Advertising Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 3%
The Carving Board
Year Founded
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1997
The Carving Board 2012
Year Franchised
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1998
The Carving Board 2016
Term Of Agreement
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 15 years
The Carving Board
Renewal Fee
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board


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!!!
The Carving Board A great franchise candidate for The Carving Board is not necessarily just someone who has food experience, although that could be a plus. The company is looking for people who are driven, willing to commit to the brand and want to be part of something bigger. Franchisees need the necessary capital to open a location, the willingness to learn and the ability to follow a proven system.

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Tropical Smoothie Cafe No
The Carving Board No
Start-up Costs
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board
Equipment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe}
The Carving Board
Inventory
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board
Receivables
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board
Payroll
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board

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.
The Carving Board
Support
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
The Carving Board
Marketing
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
The Carving Board
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
The Carving Board

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
The Carving Board 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
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 0
The Carving Board
International Expansion
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
The Carving Board