About Us
Since 1983, customers around the globe have enjoyed Marble Slab Creamery's super-premium, hand-mixed ice cream. We were the inventor of the now popular frozen slab/mix-in technique where customers can create their own, one-of-a-kind ice cream treat. All Marble Slab Creamery stores make the ice cream fresh in small batches using local dairy and flavor ingredients from around the world.
What Sets Us Apart
- Superior brand name recognition with more than 30 years as a leader in ice cream industry
- #1 Limited-Service Restaurant Chain in Nation’s Restaurant News 2012 Consumer Picks
- Innovative products such as ice cream cupcakes and ice cream pizza
- Construction department who negotiates equipment and materials to lower total investment cost below most other ice cream and frozen yogurt brands
- Mobile food truck option as a satellite to expand the reach of your store
- Ability to co-brand with Great American Cookies, another franchise in the Global Franchise Group portfolio
Ideal Candidate
Owning an ice cream shop is all about being part of the community, so our ideal candidate is an active, hands-on owner with strong ties to the community. In addition to meeting the minimum financial requirements, you need to have a desire to grow the business through local marketing initiatives. The ability to manage a team of smiling, energetic staff and create a great customer experience is a must.
How Much Does It Cost?
- Liquid Capital Required: $100,000
- Net Worth Required: $250,000
- Total Estimated Investment: $230,000 - $408,000
FAQ's
Q: Can I serve anything else besides ice cream?
A: You bet! While ice cream in a freshly baked waffle cone is our main product, we offer many dessert alternatives including nonfat frozen yogurt, smoothies, shakes and malts, sundaes, banana splits, and ice cream cakes and pies.
Q: What is the typical size and location of a store?
A: The typical size of a Marble Slab Creamery is about 1,200 square feet. We find that areas such as lifestyle centers, entertainment complexes, and restaurant clusters make excellent locations. Proximity to schools and children-oriented businesses is a plus. Because we sell a premium product, we look for minimum median household income of $50,000 in the area.
Q: How long will it take to open my store?
A: From the time you contact us with interest in Marble Slab Creamery, expect to spend 30-60 days in our Discovery Process, at the end of which we will award a franchise if the fit is right for both sides. We pride ourselves on getting stores open as quickly as possible after finalizing your franchise agreement. Our average time to secure a location, sign a lease, and get the store open is 181 days.
Q: What is the franchise fee and royalty structure?
A: The first store franchise fee is $30,000, after which we have a tiered structure of lowered fees for additional stores. The franchise fee covers use of our trademarks, proprietary recipes and systems, initial training, real estate assistance in selecting and negotiating a site, and construction project management to get your store built and open at the lowest possible cost. The minimum investment required for this opportunity is $100,000.
The ongoing royalty is 6% plus 2% marketing fund contribution. This covers all ongoing support from a dedicated franchise business consultant, online training and webinars, research and development of new products, marketing materials, media placement, and public relations campaigns.
Q: Do you honor U.S. military veteran's discount?
A: We are proud to participate in the VetFran Program and find that military veterans make excellent franchisees. We invite military veterans to consider becoming a part of our system by offering the Marble Slab Patriot Program – a 25% discount off the first store franchise fee.
Q: How do I take the first step?
A: Once you fill out the request form to receive more information, you will receive an email that includes a link to our comprehensive online brochure. You will also receive a call from the Development Manager for your area, to discuss your business goals and answer any initial questions you have about the business model.