Wild BIll's Franchise
Audited FinancialsRisk Score
Pending analysis
Investment Range
$155,800 - $214,700
Franchise Fee
$20,000
Total US Locations
21
Business Summary
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC offers a franchise business that sells high-quality soda beverages made with pure cane sugar and less carbonation than other sodas, along with related products. The Wild Bill's business operates from mobile stands at various events like fairs, festivals, and carnivals, featuring collectible stainless steel mugs with unlimited refills of their unique old-fashioned soda. Their soda products are gluten and caffeine-free.
Corporate History
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC was formed as a New Jersey limited liability company in March 2014. The company began offering Wild Bill's franchises in June 2014. In July 2018, Bluewater, LLC, the parent company, merged with an affiliate, Bluewater, Inc., and acquired full ownership of Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC. Bluewater, LLC currently operates seven company-owned Wild Bill's businesses. Before the restructuring, Bluewater, Inc. had offered licenses for Wild Bill's mobile stands, which were not franchises, and also sold bottled soda products under the Wild Bill's brand.
Financial Overview
Investment Range
$155,800 - $214,700
Franchise Fee (Low)
$20,000
Franchise Fee (High)
$40,000
Equipment Costs (Low)
$72,500
Equipment Costs (High)
$111,600
Working Capital
$13,325
Audited Financials
Yes
Offers Financing
Yes
Audit Opinion
Unqualified opinion
Financial Health Notes
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC has shown positive financial results over the past three years, reporting net income of $246,914 in 2024, $297,782 in 2023, and $42,542 in 2022. The company consistently maintains positive working capital, indicating it has sufficient funds to cover its immediate debts. The auditors have not expressed any concerns about Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC's ability to continue as a business. However, Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC relies on its parent company, Bluewater, for funding some of its operations, and a large portion of its revenue and outstanding payments come from a few key franchisees. This concentration of business among a small number of customers could pose a risk if those relationships were to change. While the company generated good cash from its main business activities, its overall cash balance has decreased over the last three years, largely due to money paid out to its owner.
Financing Details
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC may offer direct or indirect financing to its franchisees. This can include upfront payment for event spot fees, which franchisees must reimburse within 30 days of the event, incurring 1% interest. For inventory purchases, the initial order must be paid in full, but ongoing purchases of items like mugs and syrup may qualify for limited credit terms: 50% upfront and the remaining balance within 30 days of shipment. The franchisor may also provide equipment financing up to $150,000 for items like the mobile stand, vehicle, trailer, and generator, based on credit approval. These equipment loans have a 60-month term with interest rates up to 10% per year, requiring a security agreement and a personal guarantee from the franchisee and their spouse. Default on these financing terms can lead to late charges, accelerated loan obligations, 18% annual interest on unpaid balances, collection efforts, and potentially the termination of the franchise agreement. Franchisees may also be required to waive certain legal defenses.
Performance Metrics
Total US Locations
21
Franchised Units
14
Corporate Units
7
Avg Square Footage
500
Franchising Since
2014
Legal & Compliance Analysis
Recent Litigation
No
Bankruptcy
No
Litigation Summary
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC has no litigation to report. The FDD explicitly states that no litigation is required to be disclosed in Item 3.
Bankruptcy History
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC has no bankruptcy history to report. Item 4 of the FDD states that no bankruptcy information is required to be disclosed.
Agreement Terms
Initial Term
5 years
Renewal Term
5 years
Renewal Conditions
To renew their Wild Bill's Soda franchise, franchisees must notify Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC in writing between 6 and 12 months before their current term expires. They must complete all required maintenance and refurbishing of their mobile stands to meet current brand standards. Franchisees must not be in default of any agreement with the franchisor or its affiliates and must have met all financial obligations. They will need to sign the then-current form of franchise agreement, satisfy any updated training requirements, execute a general release of claims against the franchisor, and pay a renewal fee equal to the greater of 15% of the current initial franchise fee or $6,000. Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC also reserves the right to re-evaluate and potentially adjust the territory size during the renewal process.
Training & Support Program
Franchisor Assistance
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC provides pre-opening support by approving a territory for the Wild Bill's business and offering a sample layout for the mobile stand. The franchisor provides initial tuition-free training for up to three people, including the franchisee and their designated manager. They also provide a list of approved vendors, offer consultation on initial inventory, and loan the Operations Manual. Before opening, the franchisor may also provide consultation and advice on various business matters. Once the Wild Bill's business is operating, the franchisor furnishes specifications for required products and services, reviews and approves advertising materials, and administers the Brand Development Fund. Ongoing support may include consultations on menu preparation, merchandising, inventory, sales techniques, and personnel development, delivered via phone, email, intranet postings, or periodic on-site visits. The franchisor may also offer additional or refresher training courses.
Initial Training Hours
32
Training Location
Millington, NJ
Ongoing Support
After opening their Wild Bill's Soda business, franchisees receive ongoing support from Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC. This includes furnishing specifications for required products and services, reviewing and approving advertising and promotional materials, and administering the Brand Development Fund. The franchisor may also provide continuous consultation and advice on various business matters, such as menu preparation, merchandising, inventory management, sales techniques, and personnel development. This advice can be delivered through various methods, including telephone, fax, email, intranet postings, and periodic on-site visits by the franchisor's personnel. Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC also reserves the right to offer refresher courses for franchisees and their employees, which may be optional or mandatory, with tuition charged for these additional trainings.
Franchise Requirements
Ideal Candidate Profile
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC looks for qualified individuals or business entities to become franchisees. The ideal candidate or their appointed Operating Principal, who must be a principal owner, should be prepared for hands-on involvement, dedicating full-time attention and their best efforts to managing and supervising the Wild Bill's franchised business. Both the franchisee (or a principal owner if an entity) and any designated manager are required to complete Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC's training program to the franchisor's satisfaction. Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC emphasizes that personal attention from the franchisee or a designated manager is crucial for the success of the business.
Industry Experience Required
No
Management Experience Required
No
Sales Experience Required
No
Technical Skills Required
No
Operational Details
Location Type
Hybrid
Owner Participation
Full-Time
Territory Type
Non-Exclusive
Territory Size Requirements
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC defines territories based on both population and geography. Each territory will have a minimum approximate population of 2,000,000 people or a radius of 200 miles, whichever is smaller. The specific boundaries are determined by Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC and can be described using street names, contiguous zip codes, town, or county boundaries, or illustrated on a map. Franchisees may be permitted to expand their territory in increments of 1,000,000 people, but the 200-mile maximum radius for the territory remains in effect.
Staffing Notes
Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC requires franchisees to be solely responsible for all employment decisions and functions, including hiring, firing, discipline, supervision, setting employment terms and compensation, and implementing employee training programs in line with the franchisor's standards. Franchisees must clearly communicate to their employees that they, not Wild Bill's Soda Franchising, LLC, are the employer. The Operating Principal, who must be a principal owner, or a designated manager, must dedicate full-time attention and best efforts to managing and personally supervising the Wild Bill's business. Personal attention from the owner or manager is considered critical for the business's success. Employees, along with the designated manager, are required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.