Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet
Cookies & cookie arrangementsBackground
Founded: 1983 Franchising since: 1987
When she lost her job, single mother Gwen Willhite had to figure out what to do next. Combining two traditional gifts–flowers and sweets–Willhite developed a new business: Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet. Each bouquet was arranged with custom-molded, hand-decorated sugar and cinnamon brown sugar cookies in baskets for all holidays and occasions. The company, which Willhite started in her home, soon grew into a chain of shops that began franchising in 1987. Within 10 years, Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet had grown to more than 175 shops in 115 cities across the United States.
Franchisor has 25 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 250,000 population
When she lost her job, single mother Gwen Willhite had to figure out what to do next. Combining two traditional gifts–flowers and sweets–Willhite developed a new business: Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet. Each bouquet was arranged with custom-molded, hand-decorated sugar and cinnamon brown sugar cookies in baskets for all holidays and occasions. The company, which Willhite started in her home, soon grew into a chain of shops that began franchising in 1987. Within 10 years, Cookies by Design/Cookie Bouquet had grown to more than 175 shops in 115 cities across the United States.
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1865 Summit Ave., #605 Plano, Texas 75074 |
Phone: (800)945-2665/ (972)398-9536 |
Franchisor has 25 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2009 | 158 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 179 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 190 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | 207 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 226 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 250,000 population
Costs and Fees
|
Total investment: $96.5K-192.5K Franchise fee: $15K-35K |
Ongoing royalty fee: 6% Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | No | No |
| Startup Costs | No | Yes |
| Equipment | No | Yes |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Cash liquidity requirement: $30K
Business Experience:
- General business experience
- Marketing skills
Operations
- 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5
- Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
- Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
- At franchisee's location: 2 days
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Internet
- Field operations/evaluations
Marketing Support
- Ad slicks
- National media