Click to Print This Page
Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Marble Slab Creamery

Ice cream, frozen yogurt, baked goods

Background

Founded: 1983 Franchising since: 1984
Founded in 1983, this family-owned, Houston-based company offers homemade, superpremium ice cream that's prepared to order on a marble slab, using a variety of mix-ins.

With flavors like Sweet Cream, Chocolate Swiss, Cheesecake and Amaretto, more than 100 franchisees nationwide are tempting customers with their exotic flavors served in freshly-baked waffle cones. The stores also sell smoothies, shakes, sundaes, banana splits and ice cream cakes and pies. Some franchisees even offer homemade baked goods such as cookies, brownies and apple pie, as well as gourmet coffees.

1346 Oakbrook Dr., #170
Norcross, Georgia 30093
Phone:
(800)524-6444/ (770)514-4500

Franchisee Association
MSL Franchisee Association

Franchisor has 25 employee(s); 8 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 295 52 22 0
2008 280 39 55 0
2007 354 18 11 0
2006 347 20 10 1
2005 305 6 0 1

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, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $220.5K-381K
Franchise fee: $25K
Ongoing royalty fee: 6%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No Yes
Accounts Receivable No Yes
Payroll No Yes

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $250K
Cash liquidity requirement: $75K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience

Operations
  • 65% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 - 10
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 10 days
  • At franchisee's location: 6 days

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks
  • Regional advertising

Other marketing support
  • Market-specific advertising

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#244 (2009); #93 (2007); #297 (2006); #304 (2005);

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#72 (2007); #64 (2006); #91 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#189 (2009); #75 (2007);