Business Summary

After running this fun, socially-focused turn-key franchise for almost five years the owner would like to sell to pursue other life interests. This franchise was described by Time magazine as the "grandmother of fix-and-freeze businesses." If you aren't familiar with the concept: it's like having a meal making party with a group of friends. People (primarily women) arrive at your business - often with other friends - and you prepare recipes together to be taken home by guests, frozen, and later heated and eaten by a family in the coming weeks ahead.

Guests save money because rather than buying grocery-store packaged ingredients in greater quantities than are needed for a recipe (for example, how often do most of us really use Cumin?) this business provides guests with the exact ingredients necessary to make recipes. It also encourages eating more economical meals at home rather than expensive dining out. Most meals created through this business cost guests $4-$6 per portion.

Guests save time in five primary ways: 1, guests don't have to plan their meals, locate recipes, or create shopping lists; 2, Guests don't have to grocery shop for ingredients; 3, all of the ingredients are provided so that Guests simply have to assemble the meals; 4, there is no kitchen clean up; and 5, because multiple meals are assembled at one time during the busy weeks to come, meals simply need to be heated following simple instructions.

Guests get two other benefits: healthy meals (many meals have less than 10 grams of fat and fewer than 350 calories per serving), and a social experience as they connect with you, the business owner, your employees, and other guests. In fact, one of the most rewarding aspects of running this business has been the personal friendships created with loyal guests. If you like playing the role of hostess, like food, and enjoy a social environment you'll love this business.

Guests enjoy and are so grateful for the experience that 80% of our existing customers sign up in to come in the next month and you will appreciate the predictability of income generated by such repeat guests. Speaking of predictability - all guests pay in advance using electronic billing, which means you don't have to mess with invoicing, receivables collection, and you receive payment before buying ingredients which makes purchasing requirements very predictable with very minimal waste, allowing you to have total control over cost of goods sold. An additional ownership benefit is the ability to acquire food for your own family at wholesale prices.

Because this business is part of, and supported by, a well-known national franchise, it is truly a turn-key operation. The franchisor provides the website, marketing materials, a rich variety of menu selections, efficient operational tools - such as automated ingredient calculators and food ordering, monthly operational instruction, on-going training and support, and some level of advertising and national branding. Furthermore, a highly-trained, enthusiastic staff with experience of 1-8 years’ experience, and also active members of the community and, should continue to contribute to the success of the business.

Is there competition? There were a few other companies that launched similar concepts a few years back, but had concepts that were different enough that they failed to resonate with the market, and when combined with trouble with execution, they are no longer in business. There are three other successful stores of this franchise in the Portland Metro area, disbursed geographically so as to not create market conflicts, and it isn't anticipated that the franchisor will add other locations to this geographic market.

An acquisition of this business represents a strong value. Starting a new location would actually likely cost someone more money (not to mention the ramp-up time) than buying this already profitable and predictable operation. The day you close on this transaction you will immediately be generating revenue. There are also proven and tested methods available to take the store to the next level of revenues and profits, if a buyer chooses to pursue them, within the existing client base. There are also untapped corporate and care-giving support communities that can be pursued. Because there are a certain level of fixed costs, the more an enterprising owner chooses to grow the business the more profitable it will likely become as the fixed costs get spread over more guests.

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