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Ben & Jerry's
BEN & JERRY'S was started in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. They soon became popular for their funky, chunky flavors, made from fresh Vermont milk and cream. The scoop shops feature a fun environment with a varied menu including cakes, gifts, baked goods and coffee drinks created from ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet flavors. Community involvement is an important element in being a successful BEN & JERRY'S franchisee.
Franchisor Background
Year Established:
1978
Franchising Since:
1981
IFA Member
Operating Units:
Franchised Units:
796
99.4%
Company-Owned Units:
5
0.6%
______
_____
Total Operating Units:
801
100%
Geographic Distribution:
U.S.:
584
72.6%
In 39 States
Canada:
20
2.5%
In 5 Canadian Provinces
International:
200
24.9%
In 19 Foreign Countries
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_____
Total:
804
100%
North America:
States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:
Density
Units
1. California
50
2. Florida
26
3. New York
22
Registered in Following Registration States:
California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington
Financial Requirements
Investment:
Minimum Net Worth:
$350K
Cash Investment:
$80-120K
Total Investment:
$175.3-451.3K
Average Total Investment:
$113K
Fees:
Initial Franchise Fee:
$32K
Average Franchise Fee:
$32K
On-Going Royalty:
3%
Average Royalty:
3%
Advertising Fee:
4%
Average Number of Employees:
2 Full-time, 10 Part-time
Space Needs (in square footage):
1,000
Preferred Sites:
Free-standing Building, Storefront, Strip Center, Regional Mall
Ad Slicks, Brochures, Catalogs, Coupons/rebates, Direct Mailers, Emails, Promotional Items, Radio Ads, Site Signs, Television Ads, Trade Show Exhibits, Videos