Great Harvest Bread Co.
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Start Up Costs
What is the typical investment required to open a fun and exciting Great Harvest Bread Co. bakery?

 
Range
Average
Initial Franchise Fee
$35,000
$35,000
Travel & Training Expenses
$381-$12,908
$4,665
Real Estate & Improvements
$8,348-$250,000
$82,163
Equipment
$35,248-$166,801
$81,431
Opening Inventory
(Ingredients & Supplies)
$2,750-$40,171
$10,030
Exterior Signage
$615-$23,793
$6,146
Grand Opening Advertising
$400-$21,749
$3,618
Prepaid Expenses
(City, County, State, Landlord)
$400-$21,749
$6,358
Organizational Costs
(Legal, Utilities)
$425-$42,475
$9,546
Working Capital
(Cash Reserves)
$5,000-$96,500
$17,927
One Month’s Rent
$1,485-$6,450
$3,382
TOTAL ACTUAL INVESTMENT
$107,608-$476,350
$250,466

* The total actual investment is a range of actual investments, not the sum of the numbers in the above table.

Questions & Answers that might be helpful to you
Q: Why is there a wide range of investment cost?
A: Individual needs and desires may vary. For instance, square footage of space, rent per square foot and level of mechanization desired.

Q: Is financing available?
A: It’s not a secret that the banking industry has seen significant changes. The mortgage crisis definitely changed the financial sector. But, that doesn’t mean all lending has come to a screeching halt. In fact, many banks are willing to lend money to a viable business venture.

When looking at how you will finance a business there are different options for you to consider. Our franchisees are using the following ideas, or a combination of them, in order to obtain adequate financing. Your local bank or a SBA approved lender: Banks still want to lend money and franchising is a favorable option. They know there is a proven track record, training systems in place, and continued support from the franchisor. Great Harvest franchisees are eligible for an expedited and streamlined SBA loan processing through the SBA's Franchise Registry Program. Go to www.franchiseregistry.com for more information. Retirement fund roll-overs: Invest in yourself by using your 401K or retirement funds. There are companies, such as Guidant Financial and BeneTrends, which specialize in administering these accounts. There is no early withdrawal penalty with this type of roll-over. Self-financing: Have you received a severance package? Instead of looking for your next career move, invest in yourself and open your own small business. Family members: We have seen a number of occasions when family members were willing to invest or gift the start-up monies needed to make your dream come true. We encourage you to clearly define your payment plan so there are no misunderstandings in the future. (You don’t want to make future Christmas dinners worse than they need to be!)

Start Up Facts
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