LEARN MORE ABOUT RITTER'S FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR AREA
THE SWEETEST FRANCHISE IN TOWN
How to Become a Ritter's Franchisee
STEP 1
Submit Inquiry Form and Download e-brochure.
After you fill out the online info request, you will receive a Franchise Brochure to learn more about the Ritter's ownership opportunity.
Today
STEP 2
Introduction call (5-10 mins).
We will reach out to answer initial questions, talk about qualifications, and schedule a more in depth conversation about Ritter's and your goals with our brand.
Within 24 Hours
STEP 3
Schedule Exploratory Call (1 hr).
Talk with our team team to get to know each other further:
- Discuss your goals, desires, and questions.
- Learn more about our Core Values,
- Go over Site Selection/Construction,
- Overview of Basic store operations and the
- Educate you about our Support team.
Base on schedules- usually within 5-7 days
STEP 4
Complete Candidate Profile (10 Mins).
Once Completed we will:
- Send you the FDD
- Start the preliminary real estate trade analysis
7-14 days
STEP 5
Schedule FDD review (30-45 mins).
Speak with our team to ask questions on FDD, Real Estate, Territories, etc.
14-21 days
STEP 6
Schedule Discovery Day.
Visit multiple locations
- Speak with home office support team members
- Try the product
- Ask questions and learn!
21-30 days
STEP 7
Franchise Agreement.
Upon Mutual Agreement, we will send you your Franchise Agreement.
Congratulations you are awarded a franchise! Sign and execute agreements.
30-45 days
STEP 8
YOU are a franchisee of Ritter's.
Plug into our brand, and aggressively start the site selection, training, and on-boarding process!
45-60 days
How We Will Support You
Site Selection
Real estate assistance lease negotiations, restaurant design and construction is provided for all franchisees. Site selection begins immediately following your franchise approval. A Real Estate professional will work with you, as well as with local brokers or developers, to evaluate sites in your market and help identify the proper location for your new Ritter’s Frozen Custard shoppe.
Operational Guidance
In addition to your initial training period, Ritter’s will provide a support team that will coach you in various facets of construction, equipment, marketing, advertising, staffing, and training. Ritter’s Executive Director of Operations will also make regular visits to coach you on business issues such as operating procedures, inventory, cost control, profitability, and marketing.
Financing
Ritter’s does not directly provide business loans to prospective franchises. Ritter’s does however work with several third-party SBA, 401K and unsecured lending professionals. These franchise funding specialists provide candidates with complete business loan services and do so at highly competitive fees and interest rates
Initial Training
All franchisees successfully complete up to a 21 day training program at a certified training store. The program will cover day-to-day operations, cost controls, staffing, labor controls and management skills. All the training will take place in an operating shoppe. To assist in your opening period, we will send one of our Franchise Business Consultants to your shoppe for 7-10 days. Ritter’s also hosts an annual franchisee, which brings franchise owners together to discuss opportunities to improve skills and business profitability. It also allows RFC to communicate with all franchisees about new product marketing issues, and operational improvements.
Our Numbers
| EXPENSE | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Investment Type - Free Standing | $496,500 to $1,107,900 |
| Investment Type - End-Cap/In-Line | $365,000 to $693,900 |
| Investment Type - Scoop Shoppe | $156,000 to $486,500 |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Net Sales |
| Brand Development Fund | 2% of Net Sales |
| Local Advertising | 3% of Net Sales |
FAQs
For a traditional inline or end-cap Ritter’s shoppe you should plan to invest $365,500 to $693,900. Free-standing shoppes are estimated at $501,500 to $1,107,900 in total initial investment and Scoop Shoppe are $156,000 to $486,500.
Ritter’s does not directly provide business loans to prospective franchises. Ritter’s does however work with several third-party SBA, 401K and unsecured lending professionals. These franchise funding specialists provide candidates with complete business loan services and do so at highly competitive fees and interest rates
The franchise fee is $25,000, which is due upon execution of the franchise agreement. Royalties are 5% of gross sales and paid weekly. There is also a 2% Brand Development Fund contribution that must be paid weekly as well. In addition, you are required to invest a minimum of 3% of gross sales over a 12-month period for local marketing and advertising.
The most successful traditional locations have high traffic counts, good visibility, as well as high residential and daytime population density. This principle applies to both traditional and Micro satellite scoop shoppes.
Real estate assistance lease negotiations, restaurant design and construction is provided for all franchisees. Site selection begins immediately following your franchise approval. A Real Estate professional will work with you, as well as with local brokers or developers, to evaluate sites in your market and help identify the proper location for your new Ritter’s Frozen Custard shoppe.
Ritter’s prefers to grant multi-unit franchises, however single-unit development is a consideration. TRUFOODS, LLC will also consider granting an area development for qualified candidates.
Although we fully support purchasing, you actually purchase directly from approved high-quality, low-cost suppliers. To maintain consistent quality and historically low food costs, all franchisees use our leveraged combined company buying power to purchase direct from our approved food distributor which services every market in the United States and Canada.
It depends on multiple factors. Given the importance of a great location, we like to spend the right amount of time finding the best spot for your restaurant. After a lease is negotiated and signed, a store can typically be opened within 3 months.
After you complete our brief Inquiry form, you will chat with our franchise development team to get to know one another and to discuss your local market. You will then have the opportunity to review our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), and set up a personal meeting. At that time you will be able to sample our menu and best-tasting ice cream that has ever touched your lips and meet the TRUFOODS - Ritter's Frozen Custard team. If we all agree on your personal and market potential, you may secure your territory then locate and outfit your shoppe space.
While restaurant experience is always beneficial, it is not required. Years of experience have shown us that hard, familiarity with the trade area, enthusiasm and passion are most important factors to successfully operate one or more restaurants to our high standards.
All franchisees successfully complete up to a 21 day training program at a certified training store. The program will cover day-to-day operations, cost controls, staffing, labor controls and management skills. All the training will take place in an operating shoppe. To assist in your opening period, we will send one of our Franchise Business Consultants to your shoppe for 7-10 days. Ritter’s also hosts an annual franchisee, which brings franchise owners together to discuss opportunities to improve skills and business profitability. It also allows RFC to communicate with all franchisees about new product marketing issues, and operational improvements.
In addition to your initial training period, Ritter’s will provide a support team that will coach you in various facets of construction, equipment, marketing, advertising, staffing, and training. Ritter’s Executive Director of Operations will also make regular visits to coach you on business issues such as operating procedures, inventory, cost control, profitability, and marketing.