Kilwin's Chocolates vs Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

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


Business Experience Requirements

  Kilwin's Chocolates Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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

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

Training & Support

  Kilwin's Chocolates Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Training On-The-Job Training: 173 hours Classroom Training: 43 hours Additional Training: Online training; store visits 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 Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations 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) 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

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


Business Experience Requirements

Experience
Kilwin's Chocolates
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!!!

Financing Options

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

Training & Support

Training
Kilwin's Chocolates On-The-Job Training: 173 hours Classroom Training: 43 hours Additional Training: Online training; store visits
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.
Support
Kilwin's Chocolates Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Kilwin's Chocolates Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations
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)
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

Expansion Plans

US Expansion
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,
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
Canada Expansion
Kilwin's Chocolates
Tropical Smoothie Cafe 0
International Expansion
Kilwin's Chocolates
Tropical Smoothie Cafe