- Franchise 500 Rank
-
N/R Not ranked last year
- Initial investment
-
$193K - $378K
- Units as of 2021
-
10 66.7% over 3 years
Winnie Couture is a gown outlet that sells high-quality bridal wear. Chris Lee, the chief executive officer, and his partner, Winnie Chlomin, the chief creative designer, started their company in 2007. Back then, it was a unique boutique in Beverly Hills, California. Now, it is a national franchise. The pair started franchising Winnie Couture's beautifully crafted designs in 2018.
Since beginning to franchise, Winnie Couture has opened several franchises throughout the United States.
Why You May Want To Start a Winnie Couture Franchise
As a franchisee, you'll be responsible for ensuring that you maintain Winnie Couture's high standards and good reputation. For many brides, their wedding day is one of the most important days in their life. Choosing the right gown is a big part of the experience, and as a franchisee, you will be tasked with helping them make the perfect choice.
Winnie Couture is looking for franchisees who want to be directly involved in their business. Naturally, this will mean that they have to work with brides-to-be and their families and friends. Therefore, a potential franchisee should be a people person, a good communicator, tactful, and cheerful. It may also be helpful for franchisees to be knowledgeable about the gown industry and have a background in running a business.
What Might Make a Winnie Couture Franchise a Good Choice?
Winnie Couture may be a known name in the wedding gown industry. The brand has designed dresses for celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Kelly Clarkson, Helen Hunt, and Carrie Underwood. As such, opening a Winnie Couture franchise could offer a more predictable outcome than investing in a completely new brand that may struggle to thrive in an already crowded and competitive industry.
To be part of the Winnie Couture franchise team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.
How To Open a Winnie Couture Franchise
Opening a new business is a big leap, so you should ensure that you are as prepared as possible. First, ensure that there will be a market for a Winnie Couture franchise in your chosen area. Bridalwear is a specialized market, so you need to check the demographics in your locality and see if there is competition.
Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement with the Winnie Couture franchise, you must perform your due diligence. Establish if entering the bridal industry is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the Winnie Couture franchising team questions.
A Winnie Couture franchise agreement usually runs for ten years. You should make sure that you can sustain your business over that time. The Winnie Couture brand may offer continuous support as you go through your franchising journey.
Company Overview
About Winnie Couture
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 2018 (6 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 20 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. |
| # of Units | 10 (as of 2021) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Winnie Couture franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$45,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$192,800 - $377,500 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$250,000 - $500,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$150,000 |
|
Veteran Incentives
|
10% off franchise fee |
|
Royalty Fee
|
6% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
2% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Winnie Couture has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 10 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 54.5 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
No |
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