Franchises /Food /Bakeries

Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet

At a Glance

Products & Services: Cookies & cookie arrangements

Number of Locations: 160

Total Investment: $111.5K - 187.5K

Founded: 1983

Began Franchising: 1987

About Cookies By Design/Cookie Bouquet

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.

Franchise Units

Year	U.S.	Canadian	International	Company Owned
2009	158	0	0	2
2008	179	0	0	1

Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units in the following states:
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.

Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $111,500 - $187,500
Franchise Fee: $30,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 5 years, renewable

Financial Requirements

Liquid Cash Available: $30,000

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).