Search, filter, and compare every ice cream & dessert franchise we've analyzed. Select up to four to compare side by side.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 HandlesFood & Beverage· Est. 2022 | Disclosed | $30K | $250K - $657K | 6% | 31 | |
| Abbott’s Frozen CustardFood & Beverage | Disclosed | $37K | $494K - $1.8M | 5.5–6% | 24 | |
| Baskin-RobbinsFood & Beverage· Est. 2006 | Disclosed | $25K | $307K - $627K | 0.5–5.9% | 967 | |
| Beard Papa'sFood & Beverage· Est. 2002 | None | $45K | $201K - $477K | 5% | 34 | |
| Bruster's Real Ice CreamFood & Beverage· Est. 1993 | Disclosed | $40K | $1.2M - $2.7M | 5% | 219 | |
| CarvelFood & Beverage | Disclosed | $36K | $39K - $1.1M | 6% | 359 | |
| Chocolate BashFood & Beverage· Est. 2019 | None | $25K | $213K - $395K | 6% | 15 | |
| Chocolate Fish CoffeeFood & Beverage· Est. 2023 | Disclosed | $30K | $229K - $495K | 6% | 0 | |
| Cold Stone CreameryFood & Beverage | Disclosed | — | $121K - $655K | — | 992 | |
| Crispy ConesFood & Beverage· Est. 2021 | Disclosed | $35K | $374K - $582K | 5% | 18 | |
| Dairy QueenFood & Beverage· Est. 1962 | Disclosed | $45K | $1.5M - $2.6M | 4% | 1,983 | |
| Dippin' DotsFood & Beverage· Est. 1999 | None | $35K | $79K - $399K | 6% | 259 | |
| Dumont Creamery and CaféFood & Beverage· Est. 2024 | Disclosed | — | $148K - $291K | — | 0 | |
| Edible ArrangementsFood & Beverage· Est. 2012 | Disclosed | $30K | $214K - $587K | 5% | 588 | |
| Endless Summer SweetsFood & Beverage· Est. 2023 | None | $35K | — | 6% | 1 | |
| FreddoFood & Beverage· Est. 1969 | Disclosed | $20K | $163K - $455K | 5% | 23 | |
| Go Greek YogurtFood & Beverage· Est. 2022 | None | $40K | $292K - $960K | 50% | 6 | |
| Great American CookiesFood & Beverage· Est. 2007 | Disclosed | $25K | $309K - $652K | 6% | 389 | |
| Handel'sFood & Beverage· Est. 1998 | Disclosed | $50K | $461K - $997K | 6% | 145 | |
| Jeni's Splendid Ice CreamsFood & Beverage | Disclosed | $40K | $698K - $955K | 5% | 0 | |
| Jeremiah's Italian IceFood & Beverage | Disclosed | $30K | $295K - $744K | — | 144 |
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Ice cream and dessert franchise costs range from under $100,000 for kiosks, carts, and mobile units to roughly $500,000 for a full retail storefront. Equipment and buildout drive most of the range. Item 7 of each FDD lists the exact initial investment.
The most affordable ice cream and dessert franchise opportunities are usually kiosk, cart, or mobile formats that avoid a full storefront lease, and some start well under $100,000. Sort the table above by lowest investment to compare entry costs.
Frozen desserts carry strong margins but are often seasonal, so location and climate matter. Brands that disclose Item 19 let you review actual average sales before you invest. Use the Item 19 filter to find dessert franchises that publish revenue data.
Ice cream and dessert franchise royalties generally run 4% to 6% of gross sales, often with an advertising-fund contribution. Every ongoing fee is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. Compare rates across brands in the table above.
This page is part of VetMyFranchise. View all pages: llms.txt · llms-full.txt