FAQ
What kind of experience do I need to be considered as a Ben & Jerry's franchisee?
We are seeking franchisees who share our commitment to operating great Scoop Shops in a socially responsible way. We look for such things as; at least 2 years of prior restaurant or retail management experience (ideally in QSR) within the past 10 years, solid business acumen, upstanding community involvement, ability to meet our financial qualifications, and a desire to follow our systems, requirements and guidelines.
Do I have to be involved in the business full-time?
Yes. We are seeking franchisees who will commit their full-time best efforts to developing their business. This includes managing the day-to-day operations of the store, executing a local store marketing plan, building a catering and special events business, and activating the brand and social mission through community involvement. Although multi-unit operators will need to build a management team as their business grows, they are still required to be involved in the business on a full-time basis.
What are the financial requirements to become a Ben & Jerry's franchisee?
For a single store, you will need a strong credit history as well as access to between $350,000 and $450,000 in capital, of which $100,000 needs to be liquid. Preferably, there will be a secondary source of income to cover personal living and business expenses during the start up phase of the business.
Does Ben & Jerry's provide financing?
We do not currently offer financing.
How long does it take to become a Ben & Jerry's franchisee?
Most of that depends on you and how much time you have to dedicate to our recruitment process. On average, it should take between 6 - 8 weeks for you to fully evaluate our concept, for us to get to know you, and to mutually decide whether or not the "fit" is right. You need to wait 14 days once you receive the final version of the franchise agreement before signing it. From this point there is a minimum of 2 weeks training. Once you have the occupancy rights for a site you could be open in approximately 6 - 8 weeks.
When can I review your Franchise Agreement and Disclosure Document?
We'll provide our Franchise Agreement and Franchise Disclosure Document at our second meeting once you have completed your business plan.
What locations are available to develop new scoop shops?
We are seeking new franchise candidates in select locations around Australia. We only want to put our Scoop Shops in the best locations and we will not compromise on site selection.
What if Ben & Jerry's is not currently available in my state?
There are a variety of reasons why your state may not be open for development. If you meet our basic criteria, and submit your contact information, we will keep this information on file for at least six months. We will do our best to notify you when an opportunity becomes available in your state.
Can I open more than one location?
Ben & Jerry's actively supports multi unit franchising however we will only grant you one Ben & Jerry's location at a time. Our operating system supports both multi-unit and single-store development. It is important to note that we do not guarantee your right to open an additional scoop shop. Each application for an additional scoop shop will be assessed based on a range of factors including the performance of your existing store(s).
What type of training and support does Ben & Jerry's provide to franchisees?
We provide initial training plus on ongoing training and support. Your training will start with a hands on period in one of our existing stores where you will get to know all there is to know about scooping the world's best ice-cream. We will also assist you with onsite training when your scoop shop is ready to open. Throughout your tenure as a Ben & Jerry's franchisee, you will also benefit from regularly scheduled visits from our field-based support team. In addition, a variety of support staff members are just a phone call away.
Does Ben & Jerry's provide assistance with site selection?
Perhaps the most challenging and important decision that you will make is choosing a location. Although our franchisees are responsible for leading the search, our team will guide you through understanding our site selection criteria and process and give you access to some helpful tools. You will complete a detailed site evaluation package for each site you submit for consideration. Ultimately, a location must be approved by our Site Evaluation Committee to move forward.
What is the size of a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop?
We have a few different store models that can worked to fit a range of sites. Our target range is for stores of between 80sqm and 140sqm. Our franchise development team will guide you through our design & build process and help you evaluate and maximize each proposed location.
What are the royalties and fees?
Our initial franchise fee is $50,000. The royalty is 6% and there is a 4% marketing contribution.
How much money can I make as a franchisee?
The profitability of a Scoop Shop can vary greatly, depending upon many factors. These include the location of the store, sales volume, occupancy costs, the terms of financing, and other operating costs. Furthermore, the franchisee's aptitude at building and managing staff, marketing the store, and overseeing all the financial aspects of the business will have a large impact. We do not predict the sales or profitability of any new location. As part of our franchise recruitment process we will supply some information on other locations in the network so you can understand the performance of other scoop shops but it is your responsibility to determine the likelihood of success of your specific scoop shop.
Ben & Jerry's does not make any guarantees about the amount of profit you will make as this largely depends on factors outside our control such as your location and your business management ability.
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