2026 FDD Issued Mar 27, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Previous source check Oct 16, 2026
Auntie Anne's Franchise Cost (2026)
An Auntie Anne's franchise costs an estimated $157,795 – $835,500 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $10,500 – $71,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Full Shop. Item 6 lists royalty fee: 7% of Net Sales for non-co-branded shops, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $158K – $836KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $10.5K – $71KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 7% of Net Sales for non-co-branded shopsItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% – 3% of Net Sales; rate and allocation depend on location and co-brandItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Auntie Anne's
The Full Shop estimate is separate from the food-truck, trailer and co-branded formats in Item 7. Construction and build-out produce the largest spread in the Full Shop table. Its notes exclude new freestanding drive-through buildings and describe how existing improvements and landlord allowances affect the estimate, so the listed range does not cover every possible site.
Location and co-brand affect the fee schedule. Item 6 distinguishes streetside shops from malls and other locations, and a co-branded shop may allocate sales between franchisors. Required point-of-sale, loyalty and ordering programs also have separate charges. A single technology-fee estimate would hide the choice between purchased and leased equipment and the transaction-based charges.
The enclosed-mall revenue sample excludes co-branded shops, outlets without a full year of sales reports and permanently closed shops. Its $792,496 average therefore describes the included mall sample, not all Auntie Anne's formats or every shop that operated during the year. The FDD reports outlet-center and airport results separately and does not equate Net Sales with owner profit.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Auntie Anne's?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $10,500 – $71,000 for Auntie Anne's. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF page 28) sets the initial fee at $35,500 for a Full Shop, $10,500 for a Concession Shop, and $71,000 for a Cinnabon or Jamba Co-Branded Shop. Of each co-branded fee, $35,500 is paid to the other franchisor. Qualifying veterans or Armed Forces members pay $20,000 for a Full Shop under VetFran. Other reductions are discretionary; the FDD does not promise an automatic $20,000 subsequent-shop fee. Initial fees are non-refundable. Source conflict: the Cinnabon Co-Branded Item 7 table on PDF page 48 prints a $66,000 initial fee, while Item 5 and the Item 7 note on PDF page 50 state $71,000. Both printed statements are retained; no correction is inferred.
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 28.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Auntie Anne's, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open an Auntie Anne's franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 44.
Item 7 of Auntie Anne's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one full shop at $157,795 – $835,500. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,500 | $35,500 |
| Construction and Build Out Costs | $28,620 | $452,200 |
| Permitting | $450 | $8,300 |
| Equipment Package | $25,000 | $65,000 |
| Millwork | $5,000 | $28,000 |
| Furniture | $0 | $2,500 |
| Menu Board, Graphics, and Interior Signage | $250 | $23,000 |
| Exterior Signage | $3,000 | $8,300 |
| Computer System | $10,500 | $32,000 |
| Smallwares | $1,000 | $8,000 |
| Architect/Engineer | $2,000 | $20,000 |
| Rent | $2,000 | $15,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $3,000 | $7,500 |
| Legal and Accounting Fees | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Insurance | $1,575 | $8,200 |
| Misc. Opening Costs/Office Supplies | $13,000 | $25,000 |
| Security Deposits | $0 | $15,000 |
| Management Training Program Fee | $0 | $3,000 |
| Travel and Living Expenses during Training | $3,600 | $5,700 |
| On-Site Training Fee | $0 | $5,300 |
| Opening Inventory | $3,300 | $4,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $15,000 | $54,000 |
| Total | $157,795 | $835,500 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Concession Shop - Food Truck (PDF page 46) | $118,225 – $279,100 |
| Concession Shop - Trailer (PDF page 47) | $115,225 – $261,800 |
| Cinnabon Co-Branded Shop (PDF pages 48-49; fee conflict noted below) | $410,675 – $1,205,400 |
| Jamba Co-Branded Shop (PDF pages 49-50) | $472,375 – $1,811,400 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 25 restaurants & food records without a source-review hold is $1,297,100.
The Full Shop table on PDF pages 44-45 lists construction and build-out of $28,620-$452,200, equipment of $25,000-$65,000, and additional funds for three months of $15,000-$54,000. The estimate does not include a new freestanding drive-through building or an optional Alternative Selling Location. Concession food-truck and trailer formats have separate totals. Source conflict retained: the Cinnabon Co-Branded table on PDF page 48 prints a $66,000 initial fee, while Item 5 and Item 7 note 1 state $71,000. The printed Cinnabon total is retained without a balancing adjustment.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Auntie Anne's charge? (Item 6)
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30.
Item 6 of Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 7% of Net Sales for non-co-branded shops | Every period | Currently 7% of Net Sales for shops other than the co-branded exceptions, payable weekly; may increase to 8%. Co-branded Other Locations allocate sales by brand: Auntie Anne's currently 7%, Cinnabon 6%, and Jamba currently 6% (up to 7%). Cinnabon Co-Branded Streetside Locations pay 6%; Jamba Co-Branded Streetside Locations currently pay 6% (up to 7%). See PDF pages 30-31 and Net Sales/location definitions on pages 43-44. (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Advertising Contribution | 2% – 3% of Net Sales; rate and allocation depend on location and co-brand | Every period | Currently 2% for Other Locations other than co-branded shops, and 3% for Streetside Locations. Co-branded Other Locations allocate 2% to Auntie Anne's sales, 2.5% to Cinnabon sales, and 3% to Jamba sales. Required Advertising Contribution plus Local Marketing Obligation may not exceed 5% of Net Sales. Rates may increase on notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Advertising Cooperative Contribution | Varies | When it applies | The amount is set by the advertising cooperative; members have voting rights on contribution amounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Local Marketing Obligation | 1% of Net Sales | Every period | Currently at least 1% of Net Sales each calendar quarter. May change on 60 days' written notice; the Advertising Contribution and Local Marketing Obligation together may not exceed 5% of Net Sales. The franchisor may collect or spend part of this obligation as described in the table. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Promotions and Advertising Materials | Varies | When it applies | Up to 110% of the franchisor's or affiliates' actual costs and expenses for goods purchased from them for required promotional campaigns. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to 110% of actual costs and expenses, including bank return charges, when an electronic draft cannot be covered; additional to interest. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | The lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum legal interest rate on amounts past due. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Late Reporting Fee | $50 per week | When it applies | Currently $50 per week for late, incomplete or inaccurate required reports; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Taxes and Other Payments | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's or affiliates' costs and expenses for the taxes and other payments described in Item 6, due within 10 days after demand. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Subsequent Trainee Management Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $250 per trainee per day for designated replacement personnel trained after opening; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| On-Site Training and Assistance Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $500 per trainer per day plus travel and living expenses for additional on-site training or assistance; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Additional Support/Consulting Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $500 per representative per day plus travel and living expenses for accepted additional consulting services; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Conference/Program Fee | $0 – $2,500 | When it applies | Currently $0-$2,500 per attendee. May also apply to an unexcused required attendee who does not attend; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Training Cancellation Fee | Varies | When it applies | The cancelled program fees and out-of-pocket costs if training is not cancelled at least 14 days in advance or the trainee is not prepared. Rescheduled training may incur another fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Learning Management System License Fee | $170 per year | Every period | Currently $170 per year for the required learning system and access to manuals; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Sublease Administration Fee | $200 per month | When it applies | Currently $200 per month only if the shop is subleased from the franchisor, in addition to rent and other sublease charges; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Lease Renewal/Extension Review Fee | $500 – $2,000 | When it applies | Currently $500 for a lease term of two years or less to $2,000 for five years or more, when charged for an approved lease renewal or extension of at least 12 months; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Lease Documentation Late Fee | $500 per month | When it applies | $500 per month or partial month if the signed lease or modification is not supplied within 15 days after execution. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| ASL License Fee | $5,000 | When it applies | Currently $5,000 per authorized Alternative Selling Location (ASL); subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| ASL Training Fee | $750 | When it applies | $750 if the franchisor provides the described installation and on-site training for an ASL. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Relocation Fee | Varies | When it applies | 10% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee, due before relocation to an accepted site. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Relocation Extension Fee | Varies | When it applies | $1,500 for each year by which the agreement term is extended when relocation and the new lease require an agreed extension, in addition to the Relocation Fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Refresh/Remodel Site Survey and Design Fee | $1,200 – $6,000 | When it applies | Currently $1,200-$6,000 depending on scope. The shop must be refreshed every five years and remodeled every ten years; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Transfer Fee | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee for a Control Transfer; 10% for a related-party transfer or one that is not a Control Transfer. The definition continues on PDF page 36. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | When it applies | 20% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee, due before the renewal agreement is signed. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| Computer Systems Fee | Varies | When it applies | A reasonable fee varying with modifications, enhancements, maintenance and support; charges by the franchisor or affiliates will not exceed 110% of actual costs and expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| POS System License and Lease Fees | Varies | Every period | Currently $159-$397 per month under the purchased-hardware CapEx Program or $302-$967 per month under the leased-hardware HaaS Program. The alternatives cover different services and must not be added together. Includes a 0.5% administrative charge; future charges may not exceed 110% of actual costs and expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| POS System Support Fee | $70 – $250 per month | Every period | Currently $70-$250 per month for required POS software and hardware support; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 36) |
| POS System Administration Fee | $1,500 – $2,000 | When it applies | Currently $1,500-$2,000 for transfer onboarding and reconfiguration services when provided. Also applies before opening under Item 5; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Non-GoTo Foods Portfolio POS Menu Setup | Varies | When it applies | Currently $500 per day to add or modify a permitted outside co-brand's menu; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Back Office and Polling Software Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently not charged. A future fee is estimated at $100-$200 per month and may be subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Credit Card Fees | Varies | When it applies | Transaction fees estimated at 2.5%-5% of transaction amounts, with other vendor fees possible. This applies to credit-card transactions, not all Net Sales. (Item 6, PDF p. 37) |
| Information Security and Compliance Fees | Varies | When it applies | Currently not charged by the franchisor or affiliates. Third-party security services may be required; franchisor or affiliate charges may be up to 110% of actual costs and expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Gift Card and Loyalty Program Fees | Varies | Every period | Required participation. A distributor retains 7.75% or 12% of the value of gift cards purchased from outside retailers, depending on the retailer. The designated processor currently charges $4.50 per shop per month. Administrative and processing fees may change. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Loyalty App Fee | $54 per month | Every period | Currently $54 per month for required loyalty-program participation; charges may change subject to the stated cost limit. (Item 6, PDF p. 38) |
| Online Ordering Fee | Varies | Every period | Currently $54 per month plus 0.04% per transaction and additional charges based on subscribed services. Participation is required; additional vendor-contract fees may apply. (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Ordering Support Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently 3% of the pre-tax amount of each transaction processed through the online ordering system. Services and fee structure may change. This is not a percentage of all shop sales. (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Technology Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently not collected. A future fee may be a sales percentage, fixed fee or usage charge and may replace or supplement other technology fees, subject to the stated cost limit. (Item 6, PDF p. 39) |
| Purchasing Program Fee | Varies | When it applies | A reasonable membership fee if a designated purchasing program is established. No current purchasing program requires a membership fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Supply Chain Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $0.39-$0.64 per case purchased through certain appointed distributors, collected from those distributors; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Master Insurance Policy Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently not charged and no estimate is provided. A proportionate share may be required if a systemwide master policy is obtained. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Unpaid premiums plus up to 110% of actual costs and expenses if required coverage is not maintained and the franchisor obtains it. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Guest Relations Fee | $30 | When it applies | Currently $30 per untimely response to a guest contact or excessive complaint. Applies if the required response is not made within 72 hours, and may apply to the fourth and subsequent complaint in a month; subject to the disclosed change provisions. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Non-compliance Fee | $25 – $500 | When it applies | Currently $25-$500 for a single violation. May be charged repeatedly, as often as daily, while a violation continues; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 41) |
| Failure to Comply with Standards or Law Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $5,000 plus reasonable inspection and related expenses for the stated violations or failures to cooperate; subject to the Allowed Adjustment. (Item 6, PDF p. 41) |
| Development Deadline Extension Fee | $2,500 | When it applies | $2,500 per missed site approval, construction start or opening deadline, or an extension granted to one of these deadlines. (Item 6, PDF p. 41) |
| Repeated Inspection Fee | Varies | When it applies | $500 non-compliance fee plus third-party inspection, travel, living and other incurred costs for repeated or continuing failures. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable audit expenses if Net Sales were understated by at least 2%. Typical audit costs are estimated at $1,000-$4,000; these are estimates, not a fee cap. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Reimbursement of Services After Default | Varies | When it applies | All reasonable costs and expenses of obligations the franchisor performs after a franchisee default. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | Average monthly royalty over the preceding 36 months multiplied by the lesser of 36 months or the remaining term, subject to the stated post-opening termination and insolvency conditions. If the shop operated less than 36 months, the average uses that shorter period. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Appraiser's Fee | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the appraiser's fee if the franchisor elects to buy assets after termination or expiration and the parties cannot agree on price. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Indemnification of us | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's costs and expenses for the indemnified losses under the franchise agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's costs and expenses in the specified proceedings or defaults, with the exceptions stated on PDF pages 42-43. (Item 6, PDF p. 42) |
| Reinstatement Fee | Varies | When it applies | 10% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee plus royalties that would have been payable between termination and reinstatement after a cured health-and-safety default, if reinstatement is agreed. (Item 6, PDF p. 43) |
| De-identification Fee | Varies | When it applies | Actual costs and expenses plus interest and a 15% administrative fee if the franchisee fails to remove branding after termination and the franchisor or affiliates do so. (Item 6, PDF p. 43) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Auntie Anne's startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. The earlier source-check date does not clear this hold. Item 6 rates depend on location and co-brand; several required technology programs combine fixed, transaction-based or alternative charges. These obligations cannot be represented by one sales percentage plus a generic monthly technology fee. The fee table preserves those conditions instead of producing a combined annual illustration. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Auntie Anne's franchised outlet history
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 101.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 1,236 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 11 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,135 | 58 | 37 | 1,156 | — |
| 2024 | 1,156 | 75 | 49 | 1,182 | — |
| 2025 | 1,182 | 92 | 38 | 1,236 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
86 units changed owners in 2025.
PDF page 101 prints the Table 3 national franchised-outlet totals and Table 4 affiliate-owned totals. Transfer totals are on PDF page 97. These outlet tables cover shops open and operated at year-end; they exclude signed-but-unopened shops and agreements terminated before opening.
How much do Auntie Anne's franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 91.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average net sales for enclosed mall franchises open full year of $792,496 (2025, 489 enclosed mall franchises open all 52 weeks in fiscal 2025). Auntie Anne's Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Auntie Anne's Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Auntie Anne's Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Auntie Anne's franchise agreement term?
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 86.
The standard Auntie Anne's franchise agreement runs 20 years, with renewal terms of 20 years.
The Full Shop term is 20 years with one 20-year renewal subject to the listed conditions. A Concession Shop has a 10-year term with no renewal option (PDF page 86).
How long does it take to open an Auntie Anne's franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Auntie Anne's 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 64.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the franchise agreement to opening: 3 to 12 months.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Auntie Anne's $157,795 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Restaurants & Food. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Menchie's Frozen Yogurt $180K – $515K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Cinnabon $196K – $715K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
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Frequently Asked Questions about Auntie Anne's
This record has unresolved source-review issues. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- What does the Auntie Anne's Full Shop investment estimate cover?
- Item 7 estimates $157,795 – $835,500 for a Full Shop. Food-truck, trailer and co-branded formats have separate tables. The Full Shop estimate excludes a new freestanding drive-through building and an optional Alternative Selling Location.
- How much revenue do Auntie Anne's enclosed-mall franchises report?
- The selected $792,496 figure is average Net Sales for the enclosed-mall sample in Item 19. The median is a separate measure shown in the financial-performance table. Neither measure is owner income or profit, and the sample excludes co-branded mall shops and shops without full-year sales reports.
- Do all Auntie Anne's shops pay the same ongoing fees?
- No. Item 6 distinguishes streetside, other-location and co-branded arrangements. It also lists separate POS, loyalty and ordering charges, with different bases and conditions. Those fees cannot be summarized as one uniform technology charge.
Sources
Auntie Anne's Franchisor SPV LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 28
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 30
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 44
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 91
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 101
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 86
Page references for Auntie Anne's use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- October 29, 2026: Record updated.
- October 23, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- October 19, 2026: Source review hold recorded: A source conflict remains in the Cinnabon Co-Branded opening estimate: Item 5 (PDF page 28) and the Item 7 note (PDF page 50) state a $71,000 initial fee, while the Item 7 table (PDF page 48) prints $66,000. The printed figures are retained; an authoritative correction is needed. The October 19 review corrected the fee schedule, format totals, text and PDF anchors but does not replace a complete brand verification.
- October 16, 2026: Previous source check recorded. The later source review hold below supersedes its clearance.
- October 16, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued March 27, 2026).