About Us
Founded in 1991, Pretzelmaker® has been offering fresh, hand-twisted pretzels, pretzel dogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and cold beverages for 22 years. With over 300 stores worldwide, including stores currently operating as Pretzel Time, customers around the globe enjoy Freshness with a Twist.
What Sets Us Apart
- Innovator of the Mini Pretzel Dog and popular portable Pretzel Bites
- With strong product innovation focus and a compelling look and feel, we’re not “just the pretzel concept in the mall”
- Marketing, social media, and public relations initiatives, including national press coverage, drive increased customer visits to your store
- Opportunity to co-brand with other brands in the Global Franchise Group portfolio
- Proprietary products and built-in supply chain to control cost of goods
- Research and Development team constantly creates new menu offerings - such as our Flavored Pretzel Bites and Pepperoni Pretzel Roll - to keep the brand fresh and "now"
Ideal Candidate
In addition to meeting the minimum financial criteria, we are looking for franchisees with a committed, positive attitude, willing to follow a system and work for success, not just create a job. For single store operators, you need strong customer service skills and the ability to manage a team. Many of our most successful franchisees started as single store owner-operators and grew into multi-unit and multi-brand owners. If this is your goal, you need the drive to grow the business.
How Much Does It Cost?
- Liquid Capital Required/Minimum Investment: $100,000
- Net Worth Required: $250,000
- Total Estimated Investment: $129,300 - $224,950
FAQ's
Q: What is the typical size and location of a store?
A: The typical size of a Pretzelmaker is between 500 and 900 square feet. We also have a kiosk program to expand your store's reach. Kiosks average 250 square feet. We find that areas such as regional malls, outlet centers, lifestyle centers, entertainment complexes and transit centers make excellent locations...anywhere with strong foot traffic and a grab-and-go snack demand.
Q: Can I own more than one Pretzelmaker location?
A: Absolutely! The low start-up costs and simple operation make it easy to own multiple Pretzelmaker stores. Many of our franchisees are multi-unit operators and we highly encourage additional development.
Q: How long will it take to open my store?
A: From the time you contact us with interest in Pretzelmaker, 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 opening stores as quickly as possible after your franchise agreement is signed. The average time to secure a location, sign a lease, and get the store built is 181 days.
Q: Do I bake my pretzels fresh in the store?
A: Yes, and you even mix your own dough from our proprietary dry mix. It’s very easy and your employees learn the perfect pretzel process in no time at all. Your customers will appreciate receiving fresh product, and no one walking by can resist the smell of fresh-baked pretzels!
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 ongoing royalty is 7% plus 1.5% 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 Pretzelmaker Patriot Program – a 25% discount off the first store franchise fee.
Q: How do I take the first steps?
A: Once you fill out the request for 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.