Ice Cream & Dessert Franchise Opportunities
Ice cream and dessert franchise costs typically range from under $100,000 for kiosk and mobile concepts to around $500,000 for full storefront shops. Hard-scoop ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen custard, gelato, and Italian-ice concepts are grouped together here, and the table draws every figure — investment, franchise fee, royalty, and Item 19 sales — from the official FDD rather than a marketing sheet. Filter by budget to compare a seasonal kiosk against a year-round storefront before you commit.
All Ice Cream & Dessert Franchises
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 Handles Food & Beverage · Est. 2022 | Disclosed | $30K | $250K - $657K | 6% | 31 | |
| Abbott’s Frozen Custard Food & Beverage | Disclosed | $37K | $494K - $1.8M | 5.5–6% | 24 | |
| Baskin-Robbins Food & Beverage · Est. 2006 | Disclosed | $25K | $307K - $627K | 0.5–5.9% | 967 | |
| Beard Papa's Food & Beverage · Est. 2002 | None | $45K | $201K - $477K | 5% | 34 | |
| Bruster's Real Ice Cream Food & Beverage · Est. 1993 | Disclosed | $40K | $1.2M - $2.7M | 5% | 219 | |
| Carvel Food & Beverage | Disclosed | $36K | $39K - $1.1M | 6% | 359 | |
| Chocolate Bash Food & Beverage · Est. 2019 | None | $25K | $213K - $395K | 6% | 15 | |
| Chocolate Fish Coffee Food & Beverage · Est. 2023 | Disclosed | $30K | $229K - $495K | 6% | 0 | |
| Cold Stone Creamery Food & Beverage | Disclosed | — | $121K - $655K | — | 992 | |
| Crispy Cones Food & Beverage · Est. 2021 | Disclosed | $35K | $374K - $582K | 5% | 18 | |
| Dairy Queen Food & Beverage · Est. 1962 | Disclosed | $45K | $1.5M - $2.6M | 4% | 1,983 | |
| Dippin' Dots Food & Beverage · Est. 1999 | None | $35K | $79K - $399K | 6% | 259 | |
| Dumont Creamery and Café Food & Beverage · Est. 2024 | Disclosed | — | $148K - $291K | — | 0 | |
| Edible Arrangements Food & Beverage · Est. 2012 | Disclosed | $30K | $214K - $587K | 5% | 588 | |
| Endless Summer Sweets Food & Beverage · Est. 2023 | None | $35K | — | 6% | 1 | |
| Freddo Food & Beverage · Est. 1969 | Disclosed | $20K | $163K - $455K | 5% | 23 | |
| Go Greek Yogurt Food & Beverage · Est. 2022 | None | $40K | $292K - $960K | 50% | 6 | |
| Great American Cookies Food & Beverage · Est. 2007 | Disclosed | $25K | $309K - $652K | 6% | 389 | |
| Handel's Food & Beverage · Est. 1998 | Disclosed | $50K | $461K - $997K | 6% | 145 | |
| Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Food & Beverage | Disclosed | $40K | $698K - $955K | 5% | 0 | |
| Jeremiah's Italian Ice Food & Beverage | Disclosed | $30K | $295K - $744K | — | 144 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an ice cream franchise cost?
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.
What is the cheapest dessert franchise to open?
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.
Are ice cream franchises profitable?
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.
What royalty do dessert franchises charge?
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.