[Shane19]

I am in my 2nd year in college and I want to start my own smoothie business. Yes, I know that it will be very difficult but I think if I was able to maintain being a full time student and working everyday (in the past 90 days I have had 3-5 days off) while managing to have fun with friends; at this point I think I can do a lot.

I have some experience with business as I practically ran the business i worked for. OI had been looking into starting my own business for a while now. Posting on different forums and everything.

I was recently contacted by 4 different investors all of them wanting me to come up with something to present to them.

What would be the best thing to do. Start my own smoothie business or start a franchise.

The plan for the smoothie company rather my own or franchise is to be located in a mall (directly across from the food court and right next to the Movie theater). I choose this because I would only have to pay rent an not utilities and such (and traffic is brought to the mall)..

Starting my own company or a franchise? Which is better? Thanks

[diguy]

i think the company way is much better since you're starting everything afresh without any negativity attached to it. However, being a franchise could have better advantages but i would consider it only under conditions where i'll benefit the most.

develop a business plan...

[cashflowportfolio]

I would say that you should start it out as a company and then when it grows you can turn it into a franchise! Create your own limits and dreams don't live by or off of others.

[Shane19]

Originally Posted by cashflowportfolio

I would say that you should start it out as a company and then when it grows you can turn it into a franchise! Create your own limits and dreams don't live by or off of others.

Thanks, that's what I am planning on doing because I was looking at franchises and the creative factor was completely nonexistent. I wanted to create more of a modern design but more vivid colors (rather than black & white)

[dkattis]

If you're interested in a more of a design and vivid colors, I'd check out Freshens. They're a smoothie franchise with a more contemporary feel.

It would also work great in a location of a mall, like you had suggested.

[Vivid Color Zack]

Utilities cost shouldn't be the deciding factor in your location. Do you have a local college or high school close to your mall? Maybe that should be another consideration for your location.

[Shane19]

Originally Posted by Vivid Color Zack

Utilities cost shouldn't be the deciding factor in your location. Do you have a local college or high school close to your mall? Maybe that should be another consideration for your location.

Thanks for your response

I was not allowing the utilities be the deciding factor. (sorry if it sounded like I was). But there is 1 high school 2-3 minutes from the mall. There is 1 high school, 2 middle schools, and 2 elementary schools within 10 minutes of the mall.

I have also did a lot of research and from the malls location there is only 3 smoothie locations within 13 mile radius (74 cir. miles/435 square miles).

The zip code alone has over 65,000 residents. Medium income level is about 65,000/year.
There are also 3 gyms within 3 minutes of the mall and they are building a LA Fitness next to the mall

And I figure with everyone becoming health conscious its better to get in the business now and build a customer base than wait till later when you have to compete with a lot more

Also one of the 3 smoothie locations are located at the line of the 13 mile radius

I have spent a lot of time doing research and everything. Now all I need is the funds to get it going.

[Vivid Color Zack]

Oh awesome, sounds like it's a good location. I forgot about gyms but that's a great customer base to attack. Funding... bah.... i know your pain.

[dkattis]

It's all about money....


Best of luck with your venture

[ronnie11]

i think always, starting a franchise is a safer option...Else you can start some kind of an online business...which takes very less investment...

[ashleyg]

There are advantages as well as disadvantages of franchising over starting your own business from scratch. If you're buying a good business, well-known trademark or brand recognition is already there as well as its cumulative goodwill. You are also buying an established concept so almost always the risk is lesser than a start-up

[hamid_hi]

Just got back from LA....Pink Berry is an amazing smoothie in LA which has been bought by Starbucks,,,that tells you how lucrative Pink Berry gotta be in order for Starbucks to team up with them...check it out

[smhiggins1]

i think that u should make your own business.... with that u might need more money at first but the opportunites that owning your own business has i think its a better choice.. The location sound great..

[Gareth18]

Sorry, I understand you have investors lined up, however, you really need to analyse how much they're looking to invest. This will cost alot of money without a doubt. And the prospect of a franchise is not one that will interest an investor due to the lengthy time delay before any money is seen.

Sorry to be so negative.

-Gareth

[ernest1918]

Originally Posted by Gareth18

Sorry, I understand you have investors lined up, however, you really need to analyse how much they're looking to invest. This will cost alot of money without a doubt. And the prospect of a franchise is not one that will interest an investor due to the lengthy time delay before any money is seen.

Sorry to be so negative.

-Gareth

I would think it would be cheaper by creating your own company because you would be the person responsible for everything instead of a franchise where you are told to buy materials from a certain vendor. It would be cheaper because you wouldn't have to pay royalty's. I don't know how much they charge as I have never owned a franchise. However with the franchise you do get the brand name that goes with it and you know how many people stick to their brands these days.