Pinkberry Yogurt Franchise?

198 Replies

ATTENTION: On October 16, 2007, the firm took in $27.5 million in capital funding from Maveron, the venture fund founded by Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, to expand the firm’s concept nationwide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkberry#History
What does it all mean? Pinkberry has not been sold to a new owner, but Pinkberry, Inc. received new investment fund so that the company can open new stores at a faster rate nationwide. If you’re really interested in the Pinkberry franchise, I would recommend that you have sufficient capital and personal assets to start up the business, and business experience (or a partner who does) to convince the franchiser that you are a good candidate. If all fails, there are dozens of frozen yogurt franchises that require a much lower investment capital. Good luck in your business endeavor!

Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt Company Logo and Franchise
Interested in a Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt franchise? Well, you may need to wait a few more months to even obtain a franchisee prospectus from Pinkberry, Inc. Here is the quick rundown of What’s New in the thriving business:

  • The word is that Pinkberry, Inc. has been acquired by one of the Walt Disney’s Company as of December 2006.
    Update: The acquisition has not been finalized as the owners of Pinkberry did not accept the offer.
  • The two founders, Hye-kyung “Shelly” Hwang and Young Lee are now (or could be) successful multi-millionaires. Congratulations.
  • Prior to the acquisition, Pinkberry, Inc. did not offer prospects with an Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) because the company did not apply with the California Franchise Tax Board.

So you’ve heard of the frozen yogurt from a friend and you ended up trying the product out yourself. Undoubtedly, the frozen yogurt tasted surprisingly good despite the premium price. And for those with the entrepreneurial sense you suddenly wanted to open up your very own Pinkberry store. Eureka, I can become a franchisee! It will not be easy as you think it is and by reading the blog in its entirety, I hope this info could save you the time and energy.

I assume you know what Pinkberry is since you came this far but for those that are still in the unknown zone, these two articles should get you started: LA Times article and Colleen Cuisine’s blog.

Was it a mere coincidence that I picked up that day’s copy of the LA Times? Apparently not because I am here blogging about the business and not operating my own Pinkberry in Victoria Gardens shopping center or somewhere down in Irvine. If I had contacted Shelly the day I read the Times, it might have been a different story. It was late October when I sent off an e-mail to inquire on becoming a franchisee. I didn’t get a response from them but I did get both an e-mail and a phone call from the Fiore Natural Italian Yogurt company which I had contacted at the same time as Pinkberry. But I wasn’t interested in Fiore or investing in a franchise by December.

Based on outside sources, it took only a few days for Pinkberry to attract a line of investors willing to pay an upfront fee (six digit sum) to “reserve” their own store. I doubt the deposits accrued any interest so I am willing to bet that some of the investors were not too happy. An average time to open a single Pinkberry takes longer than three months because of many hoops to go through. Getting a lease agreement finalized from start could take a few weeks in itself. But in mid-November, Pinkberry, Inc. hired a professional real estate firm that specializes in retail leasing (Robert K. Futterman & Associates, LLC) to expedite the whole process.

I did an extensive research on the industry, a break-even analysis, market analysis, and financial planning. I basically wrote a complete business plan on Pinkberry. Thanks goes out to Julie Chun for providing more than a sufficient amount of resources. Thank you very much, really helped out on the business plan. If anyone would like to see the business plan, please give me a call but I am only willing to show the plan face to face due to a few confidential information. Edit: Two of the investors requested that I do not show the business plan to an outside party.
What was interesting during the investigation was the the local competitors of Pinkberry. An infamous company that copied the decor and the product line with the exception of the business name but it isn’t difficult to figure out how the business name was thought out. Kiwiberry (sometimes spelled as Kiwiberri) business was founded by John Bae. You can also find more information about Kiwiberry online (Colleen’s blog) and read mixed reviews from Pinkberry’s loyal fans. Hwang was well aware of Kiwiberry and Bae’s intention to steal their customer base ,and eventually Pinkberry, Inc. had filed a lawsuit against Kiwiberry on November 2006 in the City of Los Angeles.

Before I go any further about the business, let me share with you a brief history how the founders got their idea and why this business can be a smart investment for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Shelly had early experience in the food industry and had ran a few restaurant franchises on her own. Two of the businesses had failed. Yet she persevered and thought of an idea to open another food service store but at a much smaller scale. She imported the frozen yogurt concept from South Korea and created the Pinkberry brand on her own. In urban cities in South Korea, frozen yogurts were a popular dessert amongst the social hangouts. The Red Mango (website requires the Flash plugin) company is one of the most widely known franchise that makes a wide variety of drinks, yogurts, ice cream, and desserts. Red Mango is one of many other yogurt businesses that have been operating in South Korea. Hwang acknowledged that the very idea of the Pinkberry concept was not her very invention but a product of someone else. Without a doubt, Hwang (the “Entrepreneur”) took the risk of introducing a fairly new concept to the Southern California market by investing her own capital and time and building a new demand in the market.
Strengths

  • Strong Brand (in the local market and quickly expanding); Disney’s acquisition will surely create a stronger brand awareness
  • Excellent Locations; Pinkberry leases only upscale retail locations
  • Attractive Profit Margin; above 50% profit for each sales (variable)

Weaknesses

  • Premium Upfront Fee; franchise fee is in the six digit
  • Easy entrants of competitors; yogurts (Golden Spoons), smoothies (Jamba Juice), ice-cream (Cold Stones), and etc.
  • Fad; people can live without frozen yogurt and there are many alternatives

Important Reminder: Pinkberry, Inc. has not been officially registered with the California Franchise Tax Board. I might be getting some incorrect information but the following information i found on CareerBuilder.com contradicts the franchise aspect of Pinkberry.
4sunkids, Inc. name have been popping in many websites mostly from on job searches. Some pages address the company as the “Nation’s largest franchise of Pinkberry” and it may or may not be true. From what I can tell based on those websites, 4sunkids, Inc. may just be one of the early investors of Pinkberry and the investor(s) created the business entity and posting availability of part-time jobs in their Pinkberry stores.

4sunkids, inc. is the Nation’s largest franchise of Pinkberry, the innovative company that has brought style and panache to the world of frozen desserts with its upscale, modern décor and unique concept. We serve non-fat frozen yogurt with a natural tang that’s not too sweet – top it off with a variety of fresh fruit like mango or blueberry, add some mochi or Cap’n Crunch and you’ll know what all the fuss is about.

4sunkids is opening ten new locations throughout the Greater Los Angeles area over the next three months and we’re looking for qualified Multi-Unit Managers, Store Managers and Assistant Managers with experience in the quick-service industry to help us realize our goals. Come work for a company where your efforts and experience are appreciated and rewarded. We offer a competitive salary, bonus structure and benefits as well as immediate potential for career-minded individuals.
Source: careerbuilder.com; URL is extremely long.

A continuation of the Pinkberry Yogurt Business is being added to help you on your venture. The investor mentioned in the business plan requested that I do not disclose nor share the business plan with anyone.

198 thoughts on “Pinkberry Yogurt Franchise?”

  1. tang

    I’m very interested in becoming a to franchise pinkberry. Could you tell me the requirement to franchise pinkberry in thailand?

  2. Holly Garcia

    Hello, I’m interesting in getting a franchise of Pinkberry. Please e mail me Pinkberry franchise information. I hope to here from you soon. Thank you very much.

  3. Tony N

    HI!
    I am very intrested in becoming a Pinkberry franchise owner. I would like to open a Pinkberry in New York. Please send me more info or contact me at your conviniance. Thank you!

  4. adam p. garcia

    Hi, i think your product is amazing,I would love to open a pinkberry in the los altos area in long beach. Its a high end area near state college. Please send me the information to join your franchise. Thank you

  5. Kristina Kim

    Hi! I heard so much about how great your yogurt is. I currently live near Philadelphia, Pa and would love an opportunity to join your franchise. We could definitely use one this way. Please send me info about how I could joind your franchise. Thank You!

  6. Richard

    Yogurbella is actually the first frozen yogurt business in the U.S. to offer franchising. Headquarters, is in 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133. Second store to open in South Beach, Florida in June 2008.
    Anyone interested, can apply on inquire at www-yogurbella-com
    Plans are to open 200 stores in the next 2-3 years. Yogubella has been written up as the best frozen yogurt business in Florida. Many Pinkberry’s customers are admitting that Yogurbella’s original yogurt is better than Pinkberry!
    Anyway, if interested in being part of a international company, check out Yogurbella Franchise Co.

  7. A Yamasaki

    Is Pinkberry open for an expansion in Asia, specifically, in Japan? If possible, would like to know details, requirements and willingness to meet. Please advise. Thank you for any help.

  8. Stefanie Isaacs

    We are very interested in any Franchise information that you can send to me. Thanks in advance

  9. Scott B

    Thanks for the very informative article and research. I am also interested in possibly owning a Pinkberry on the east coast. Please contact me at your earliest convenience..

  10. Mr Long

    I am interested to get more information about open a franchise in Bay area. Please email me more information.

    Mr Long

  11. Michiko Jones

    I am interested in reviewing your business plan and information to help me decide to franchisee or not. I am located in Los Angeles CA and ready to meet with you at your time and place. Thank you.
    Michiko

  12. max sotodeh

    hello,
    I would like very much to own and oporate a pinkburry store in a great location in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.
    please let me know what I need to do.
    sincerely
    Max Sotodeh

  13. kathy zheng

    hi, I understand that it may take for a while for u to start on accepting franchise applicaton, but I hope I can be on your waiting list now, and u could notify me when it will be avaliable asap. thanks!

  14. Joyce D. Smith

    So exactly how much is the franchise, six figures is very vague. Am completely adicted to this product and want to buy a franchise as soon as possible. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. We own a television production company in Irvine (20 year old company) and would love to create some commercials for Pinkberry as well. Have some great ideas!
    Thank you for your time,
    Joyce D. Smith

  15. KATHERINE DOMINGO

    VERY INTERESTED – ALREADY HAVE AN UPSCALE LOCATION IN MIND. WOULD LOVE TO MEET IN PERSON TO DISCUSS BUSINESS PLAN. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

  16. KATHERINE DOMINGO

    WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A STORE IN THE BAY AREA PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN SCHEDULE A TIME TO MEET THANK YOU

  17. Deborah Acrich

    I just moved to Las Vegas, Nevada from Los Angeles, California. There are no Pinkberry’s here, its so dissapointing. I had to drive to LA to get one! I would have brought back more but they would have melted. I am 54 years old and I need to open a Pinkberry. I lost my home in LA and now I am renting a house and looking for a job. I’m not getting anywhere and I have some money saved from working years and years. My 86 year old Mother even loves Pinkberry and she could help me run the store. I need a miracle to help my Family. I sincerely think that owning a Pinkberry would be the answer to my prayers. Please consider me and tell me what to do I’m willing and able to be part of your team.
    Sincerely,
    Deborah Acrich

  18. Steve Hansen

    Thank you for the informative article. I am interested information on opening a Pinkberry Franchise. Doesnt seem to be anything like it in my area of San Diego California. I am available to meet with you anytime.

  19. Kevin Kim

    Is the sales still going strong in terms of monthly gross sales? If pinkberry requires you to lay down the same initial franchise fee from two years ago, I’d expect to sell as much cups of them frozen yogurt today too.

  20. Michelle Anderson

    Dear Kevin, I found your article on opening up a pinkberry yogurt franchise very informative. My husband and I would like some more information on the entire process of opening the yogurt franchise in Sacramento, CA and would be very grateful if you could help us check out the business plan of yours. I am willing to pay a gratuity for your help. Please contact me when you are available. Thank you!
    Michelle Anderson
    Sacramento, CA

  21. nordy alcantara

    hi, i am very much interested to franchise pinkberry. my partner and i would like to open one in san diego and some other places here in los angeles.
    please let me know what i need to do. I really love your products.
    please contact me @818 462-xxxx or 818-343-xxxx.

    thank you very much!

    sincerely,
    nordy

  23. Kevin

    Hello and thank you for the useful information. If you’re amenable to doing so, I’d love to arrange a time to review your business plan. I’m a young entrepreneur with experience in retail and small business. I look forward to hearing from you.

  25. JEROME WHEELER

    I am interested in looking over some media from your company. Please send or e-mail me some imformation.

  26. Gaiane Meliksetian

    I am interested in buying a PinkBerry Franchiase in Russia.Please, could you send me the necessary information required i would really appreciate it.
    Thank you
    Gaiane Meliksetian
    e-mail: mlgaiane@yahoo.com
    contact phones: (1646)226-xxxx
    (1347)405-xxxx

  28. Barry S

    I am very interested to read your business plan and would be happy to make a donation to a charity of your choice to show my gratitude.

    I look forward to your response

  29. James

    I am very interested in the PinkBerry Franchise and seriously consider acquirint the franchise. I would love to see see your business plan . I am available to meet you in person. Please contact me at your earliest convenient. Thank You

  30. Manish

    Hello,

    I would be interested to meet you to discuss the business plan. I am thinking of doing it internationally. Let me know if you would want to meet me. I can meet you in LA or San Diego.

    Thanks,
    -Manish

  32. Rick Mogul

    Hello,
    I am interested in gaining information regarding obtaining a Pinkberry franchise. Please contact me at my email or 510-725-xxxx. Thank you !

  33. Juls

    I realize this blog entry is rather old, but I am doing research on opening a Pinkberry for my Business management class at a local university. I am currently trying to find any type of franchise information and/or financial information, but am having a hard time finding anything. I have to prepare a SWOT analysis, financil summary and business proposal, but I am having a hard time finding any type of online information that could help me. If you wouldn’t mind emailing me in regards to this would appreciate it. Maybe you could help me or direct me to a webpage or someone who has more information about Pinkberry.

    Your feedback in appreciated! :)

    Thanks!
    Hottpinkjuls@aol.com

  34. MARIO VALENCI

    HATE TO SOUND LIKE EVERYONE IN HERE BUT I AM INTERRESTED IN SOME INFO ABOUT THE PINKBERRY FRANCHISE AND THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL I NEED TO GET STRTED.
    THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
    MARIO

  35. Kim Kay Allen

    Im interested in opening a pinkberry franchise in Bakersfield Californa. Could you give me more information. Is the six figures closer to a hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand?
    Thank you for your time.
    You may reply via e-mail @ coryringer@hotmail.com

  36. Andrea Anderson

    Hi there, I am very interested in opening a pink berry somewhere in Dallas, I think it would do wonderfully and I’ve got the money and the man power to get it done in a short amount of time….let me know any developments

  37. Kathy Le

    Hello, I’m in Orange County and like everybody here are very interested in Pinkberry franchise. Please contact me at your earliest convienience.
    Thanks

  38. Teddy

    I’m interested in getting the master frachise of Pinkberry in Thailand. Would you plase give me more details?

  39. DAVID AGAZARYAN

    Hello, i am very interested in the oppurtunity to open a pinkberry. I am in the valley area of Los Angeles and i would like to meet and discuss a couple of things. I am investing in many types of bussines from Dental labs, to Home health cares and poultry stores.

  40. Andy

    Kevin I would love to see the business plan you prepared on Pinkberry. Unfortunately I am on the east coast and cannot meet with you in person. Please forward it to me at your earliest convenience as I will be looking forward to hearing from you.

  41. darren

    Hi,
    Would like to meet to discuss business plan. I can provide airfare and hotel accomodations if interested on Oahu. Look forward to your reply.

    Mahalo,
    Darren

  42. Brighterday

    Hi:
    I’m currently designing several frozen yogurt stores in CA with different concepts. I do all the preliminary designs, lease negotiations, construction document and interior design as well as permit expediting and construction admnistration.
    I would like to network with potential frozen yogurt business owners as well as investors, I have several Frozen yogurt business plans with different concepts.

    brighterday@gmail.com

  43. Ivonne Sabrina

    Hi,

    I reside in NYC area, I am very interested in the opportunity for overseas. Please reach me at your early convenience to discuss about the Business Plan. Thank You very much.

  44. Jay Xu

    Hello, I am very interested in the opportunity to open a pinkberry . I am in Naples of south Florida and i would like to meet and discuss a couple of things. Willing to meet and discuss the Pinkberry business plan. Please email me on how to get more information.
    Thank you very much!

  45. James B

    Hi there, like many other wrote. I am very interested in opening Pinkberry store in Anaheim.
    Please send me any additional information and looking forward on meeting you to discus more about business plan
    thank you

  46. G

    Hello, I am not sure if you still respond to comments on this blog but I am very Interested in the opportunity to open few Pinkberry Restaurants. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss about the business plan. Thank you.

  47. Hrudraksh Patel

    I’m interested in getting the master frachise of Pinkberry in INIDA. Would you plase give me more details..
    Thank you..

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