
#167
At a Glance
Products & Services: Bread bakery
Number of Locations: 211
Total Investment: $112.24K - 599.98K
Founded: 1976
Began Franchising: 1978
About Great Harvest Franchising Inc.
Pete Wakeman had been baking bread most of his life. As a child, he would help his aunt. In high school, he baked for his friends. During summer vacations, he sold bread from the roadside. In 1976, when Wakeman heard about a bakery in Great Falls, Montana, that was going under, he bought it. With the help of his wife, Laura, Wakeman established the Great Harvest Bread Co. and set about baking loaves for people in the Great Falls community.Soon, people from neighboring communities started asking about setting up their own Great Harvest locations. The first franchise opened in Kalispell, Montana. In 1983, the Wakemans converted their Great Falls bakery into a franchise and moved company headquarters to Dillon, Montana, so they could concentrate on the franchising end of their business.
Great Harvest bakeries serve a variety of breads each day including honey whole wheat, white cheddar garlic, sunflower and cranberry orange.
Franchise Units
| Year | U.S. | Canadian | International | Company Owned |
| 2012 | 211 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 212 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 205 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.
Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing
Total Investment: $112,240 - $599,976
Franchise Fee: $38,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4-7%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 10 years, renewable
Franchise Fee: $38,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 4-7%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 10 years, renewable
Financial Requirements
Net Worth: $350,000
Liquid Cash Available: $80,000
Operations
20% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 - 7. Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators).How This Franchise Supports Franchisees
Training: Available at headquarters: 1 week. At franchisee's location: 1 week. At existing locations : 2 weeks.
Ongoing Support: Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives, Lease Negotiation
Marketing Support: Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising,
Other marketing support: PR campaign during opening, monthly marketing promotions, annual marketing plan
Franchise Ranking History
America's Top Global: #151 (2010),
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