Business Description

Retail ice cream stores, featuring super-premium homemade ice cream, cones baked fresh daily, frozen yogurt, frozen pies and cakes, homemade cookies and brownies and specialty coffees. Ice cream is custom-designed for customer on frozen marble slab and made daily in the store.

Franchisor Background

Year Established:  1983

Franchising Since:  1984

Operating Units:
Franchised Units:	519	99.8%
Company-Owned Units:	1	0.2%
Total Operating Units:	520	100.0%
Geographic Distribution: U.S.: 515 99% In 30 States Canada: 5 1% In 0 Canadian Provinces International: 0 0% In 0 Foreign Countries   Total: 520 100.0%

North America:
States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:

Density	Units
1. California	60
2. Florida	40
3. Texas	150

Registered in Following Registration States: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, District Of Columbia

Financial Requirements

Investment:
Minimum Net Worth:	$250K
Cash Investment:	$60K
Total Investment:	$205-313K
Average Total Investment:	$240K
Fees:
Initial Franchise Fee:	$28K
Average Franchise Fee:	$28K
On-Going Royalty:	6%
Average Royalty:	6%
Advertising Fee:	2%

Average Number of Employees: 2 Full-time, 8 Part-time

Space Needs (in square footage): 500-1,800

Preferred Sites: Strip Center, Regional Mall

Other Sites:

Encourage Conversions? Yes

Earnings Claims Provided?: Yes

Franchisee Qualifications
Ranked from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (important):
Financial Net Worth:	5
General Business Experience:	3
Specific Industry Experience:	1
Formal Education:	3
Psychological Profile:	3
Personal Interview(s):	5
Terms of Contract
Term of Initial Contract:	10 Year(s)
Term of Renewal Period:	10 Year(s)
Passive Ownership:	Allowed, But Discouraged
Area Development Agreements?	No
Sub-Franchising Contracts?	No
Franchisees Allowed to Expand Within Territory?	No
Support and Training
International Franchise Association:	Yes
Canadian Franchise Association:	No
Franchisee Association/Member:	Yes, Member
Size of Corporate Staff:	30
Site Selection Assistance?	Yes
Lease Negotiation Assistance?	Yes
Financial Assistance?	No
Marketing Support:
Co-Op Advertising:	No
National Advertising:	No
Regional Advertising:	No
Local Advertising:	No
Marketing Materials:	None Specified
Additional Services:	None Specified
Other Marketing Support:	None Specified
On-Going Support:
Central Data Processing:	Not Applicable
Central Purchasing:	Included in Fees
Field Operation Evaluation:	Included in Fees
Field Training:	Included in Fees
Initial Store Opening:	Included in Fees
Inventory Control:	Not Applicable
Franchisee Newsletter:	Not Applicable
Regional or National Meetings:	Included in Fees
800 Telephone Hotline:	Not Applicable
Training:
1. Franchisor Location	10 Days
2. Franchisee Site	6 Days
Expansion Plans
Projected New Units Over Next 12 months: 120 U.S.: Yes, All United States Canada: Yes, All Canada Overseas: Yes, All Countries	Request Franchisor Info   Submit an online form to receive information from Marble Slab Creamery.