If you are looking for information on the Big Apple Bagel franchise business opportunity, Big Apple Bagels franchises or Big Apple Bagel franchising, then you have come to the right place.
Big Apple Bagel is on the forefront of the recent cafe and bagel boom. We stand apart from the crowd with our continuing advancement and consumer appeal because of our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our business.
Our store operation was designed to delight not only our customers, but franchisees as well. As a franchisee, you'll be able to produce freshly baked bagels from Big Apple Bagels®, gourmet muffins from My Favorite Muffin®, an assortment of delicious sandwiches and salads, and serve Brewster's® brewed coffees and specialty drinks.
Featuring a menu with unlimited appeal, our product line is designed to appeal to a wide range of customers at all times of the day.
Big Apple Bagels looks eagerly toward the future. We strive for ongoing growth and improvement.
At BAB, we actively seek to dynamically reach new ground. This is evident with our recent aggressive lunch menu campaign. Big Apple Bagels now offers unique lunch options to round out our menu and keep our customers coming back. Whether they enjoy our Zesty Pesto Sandwich or the colorful Calypso Salad, there is something for everyone. And, we're only getting better, with the addition of My Favorite Muffin® and Brewster's® Coffee to our menus.
Every January, Entrepreneur Magazine publishes a ranking of franchise companies, their "Franchise 500". On the 2003 listing (The 24th Annual), Big Apple Bagels has once again earned a place. This year It is the only bagel franchise to make the list, placed third in the Bread/Bagels sub-category, and made the top 10 out of all the companies included in the category, "Bakery Products".
Each Big Apple Bagels franchise is actually three businesses in one. The cafe is both a retail center and a production facility where bagels are baked from scratch. It is also a wholesale distributorship, selling bagels in bulk to corporate clients, restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses.
If you've been to a Big Apple Bagels cafe, you've seen -- and tasted -- what keeps our customers coming back for more: Big freshly baked bagels, made from scratch ... enhanced with our exclusive varieties of CLASSIC RECIPE cream cheese, or made into a fresh deli sandwich ... served with a cup of one or our gourmet Brewster's coffees.
America's love affair with the bagel has exploded into a $2.5 billion dollar market whose growth shows no sign of slowing. Sandwich sales now exceed $3 billion a year. The $2 billion specialty coffee industry is undergoing its most rapid growth in history. With high-quality products in each of these growth categories, a streamlined business system and a team of professionals committed to operational excellence, we're well poised for the future.
The information presented may have changed since first published. We recommend that you always verify fees, investment amounts and offers with the business opportunity directly prior to making a decision to invest.
1. What training and ongoing support do you provide?
You want to know what happens after you pay the initial fee. A strong franchisor provides comprehensive pre-opening training, site-selection help, operational playbooks, and continuous assistance with marketing, technology, and supply chains.
2. What is the total initial investment, and did actual startup costs match the estimates in Item 7 of the FDD?
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) lists estimated startup costs in Item 7, but real-world expenses can run higher. Asking how closely current owners tracked to these estimates reveals if you need extra working capital or if hidden fees exist.
3. How do royalties and local/national marketing fees impact profitability?
You need to understand ongoing financial obligations-such as monthly royalty percentages and ad fund contributions-and evaluate whether the brand value and support justify cutting into your profit margins.
4. What are the common challenges new franchisees face, and how do you help them overcome them?
Transparent franchisors will openly discuss real hurdles like local competition, tight labor markets, or supply chain bottlenecks, and show you the exact playbook or field support they offer to solve them as well as allowing you to speak with other franchisees.
5. How many franchise locations have closed or left the system in the past few years, and why?
High turnover, store closures, or quiet franchise exits are major red flags. This question measures system stability, territory health, and whether the corporate team addresses struggling owners or lets them fail.
Food and Beverage Franchises