2026 FDD Issued May 29, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 2, 2026
Ben & Jerry's Franchise Cost (2026)
A Ben & Jerry's franchise costs an estimated $280,300 – $631,300 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $39,500 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Full-Sized Shop (approximately 750-1,200 sq. ft.). Item 6 lists royalty: 3% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $280K – $631KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $39.5KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 3% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 157Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 4.2% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Ben & Jerry's
Location type shapes the sales picture in Item 19, because the franchisor sorts its shops by the customers they serve. Among shops open all year, tourist-area shops were far more likely than community shops to reach the top sales band, and the average of $664,862 sits above the median, lifted by a few very large shops. The chart contains a single quick-stop shop, so it shows almost nothing about that small-footprint format.
The royalty is low, but both it and the advertising obligation can rise. Item 6 sets the royalty at 3% of Gross Sales with a stated ceiling, and the advertising obligation, now split between a required local spend and the national fund, has its own cap that the franchisor may reallocate. The current percentage charges total 7% of sales. A buyer can ask when either rate last changed and whether an increase is planned.
The franchised count ended 2025 at 155, the same number it started the period with. Every exit in Item 20 was a shop that ceased operating, with no terminations or non-renewals, and owner-to-owner transfers matched or outnumbered those closures each year, so buying an existing shop is a common way in. Satellite shops, smaller extensions sold only to current owners, are counted in separate tables.
The fee schedule bends for insiders. Existing owners pay a reduced fee for an additional shop, shorter terms carry a prorated fee, and managers who buy in through the Manager-to-Franchisee Pathways program can have the fee waived and the royalty waived for a set period. The low end of the Item 7 range uses the satellite fee rather than the standard shop fee, so a new owner's full-sized shop starts higher.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Ben & Jerry's?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $39,500 for Ben & Jerry's. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 22-24): the initial franchise fee for a 10-year Scoop Shop is $39,500, or $19,750 for an existing franchisee's additional Scoop Shop, and is prorated for a shorter term. A non-refundable Preliminary Agreement Deposit of $10,000 ($5,000 for existing franchisees) is credited toward the fee; you then have 12 months, extendable twice by six months, to find a site. A Satellite Shop fee is $8,000 and a Test Shop fee $2,500. Under a Development Agreement, fees are $39,500 for the first shop and $19,750 for each later shop for new franchisees ($19,750 and $16,000 for existing franchisees), with a Development Fee credited toward them. In 2025 initial fees ranged from $0 to $39,500 because of incentive programs; the Manager-to-Franchisee Pathways Program can waive the fee and the royalty for up to 2 years.
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 22.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Ben & Jerry'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 a Ben & Jerry's franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 30.
Item 7 of Ben & Jerry's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one full-sized shop (approximately 750-1,200 sq. ft.) at $280,300 – $631,300. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee (Satellite Addendum to standard Franchise Agreement) | $8,000 | $39,500 |
| Plans, Development & Permits | $4,000 | $13,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements & Construction | $105,000 | $275,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, Casework, and Smallwares | $85,000 | $165,000 |
| Signage | $6,000 | $22,000 |
| Professional Fees | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| POS | $1,800 | $2,300 |
| Online Ordering System Hardware | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| Internet Connectivity, and Telephone | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| Deposits | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Initial Training | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Inventory | $8,000 | $14,000 |
| Insurance | $500 | $2,500 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $50,000 | $75,000 |
| Total | $280,300 | $631,300 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| In-Line Shop (approximately 450-650 sq. ft.) | $228,300 – $435,300 |
| Kiosk Scoop Shop (approximately 100-200 sq. ft.) | $188,300 – $402,300 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 25 restaurants & food records without a source-review hold is $1,297,100.
Item 7 (PDF pages 30-31) prints $280,300 to $631,300 for a full-sized Shop of about 750 to 1,200 square feet; its 15 lines add to that total. The franchise fee line runs from the $8,000 Satellite fee to the $39,500 standard fee, so the low total reflects a Satellite Addendum. The Preliminary Agreement Deposit is credited toward the fee and is not added. Construction is estimated at about $135 to $185 per square foot and may be much higher in large cities, tourist areas and coastal regions (note 4). Separate charts print $228,300 to $435,300 for an in-line Shop (PDF pages 31-33) and $188,300 to $402,300 for a kiosk (PDF pages 33-34).
What ongoing royalties and fees does Ben & Jerry's charge? (Item 6)
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 25.
Item 6 of Ben & Jerry'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 | 3% of Gross Sales | Every period | Currently 3% of the prior month's Gross Sales, due on the 15th. The franchisor may change it on reasonable notice, up to 5% of Gross Sales. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Advertising Obligations: Fund Contributions | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | Currently 2% of Gross Sales to the Fund, due with the royalty. Total Advertising Obligations (local, Fund and Cooperative) will not exceed 4% of Gross Sales, and the franchisor may change the allocation. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Advertising Obligations: Local Advertising and Promotion | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | Currently 2% of Gross Sales spent on approved local advertising and promotion, within the 4% total Advertising Obligations; mandatory promotions count toward it. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Advertising Obligations: Cooperative Contributions | Varies | When it applies | Currently none; no Cooperatives exist. If one is formed, the franchisor may require a contribution within the 4% total Advertising Obligations. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Transfer Fee | $7,000 | When it applies | $7,000 before the transfer; $3,000 for a transfer to an entity you form for convenience of ownership. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Renewal Fee | $12,000 | When it applies | $12,000 for a Scoop Shop and $5,000 for a Satellite Shop, before renewal. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Training for New or Replacement Managers | $1,800 | When it applies | The then-current Scoop U Training fee, currently $1,800, for any new or replacement manager after your initial manager. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Refresher Training | Varies | When it applies | The then-current fee for required refresher training, currently $0. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Audit by Franchisor | Varies | When it applies | Inspection and audit costs, including travel, lodging, wages and reasonable accounting and legal costs, if an audit reveals an understatement of 3% or more. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Re-Inspection Fee | Varies | When it applies | Travel, room and board for the franchisor's representatives if an unsatisfactory inspection requires a re-inspection. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Interest on Overdue Payments | Varies | When it applies | 1.5% per month or the maximum lawful rate on overdue amounts; not currently charged. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Fee on Returned Checks | Varies | When it applies | The then-current returned-check fee, currently $0. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Insurance Procurement | Varies | When it applies | The cost of procuring insurance if you fail to and the franchisor does it for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Relocation Fee | $3,000 | When it applies | $3,000 if you relocate your Shop. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Securities Offering | Varies | When it applies | Actual costs, including legal and accounting fees, of evaluating your proposed offering. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's expenses in enforcing or terminating the Franchise Agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement for claims arising from your operation of the Shop. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| National Convention Registration | Varies | When it applies | A registration fee may be charged for each national convention; you or a designated full-time employee must attend the first after opening and may not miss more than 2 in a row, at your own expense. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Refurbishment Expense | $5,000 – $15,000 | When it applies | $5,000 to $15,000 for required updates such as equipment, signs, menu boards and remodeling, no more than once every five years, typically with one year to complete. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Product and Supplier Evaluation and Testing Fee | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's costs of evaluating and testing a product or supplier you propose. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Point of Sale (POS) SaaS License Fee | $100 per month | Every period | Varies by POS vendor; currently $100 per month, due on the 15th. The franchisor may prepay the POS provider as your agent. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Technology Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $0 per month; the franchisor may charge a monthly fee for required technologies of up to $3,500 a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
Among the published restaurants & food records with comparable flat royalties, the median is 6%; Ben & Jerry's lists 3%. This is the site’s sample, not an industry-wide estimate.
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
Start with the recorded Ben & Jerry's inputs, then enter your own operating costs and sales assumptions. The result is a scenario, not an FDD profit forecast.
Ben & Jerry's startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Over a 10-year period, startup investment plus modeled recurring fees for Ben & Jerry's total approximately $757,703 – $1,108,703. Based on the average reported gross sales, scoop shops open all 12 months (chart 1) disclosed in Item 19 ($664,862, 52 weeks ending December 31, 2025), recurring fees come to about $47,740 a year:
| Expense Component | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup investment (Item 7) | $280,300 | $631,300 |
| Recurring fees × 10 years (Item 6) | $477,403 | $477,403 |
| Startup + modeled fees | $757,703 | $1,108,703 |
Calculated model, not a disclosed FDD total. Assumes flat sales at the disclosed figure. Excludes rent, payroll, food or product costs and taxes, which the FDD does not set. Change the assumptions in the calculator · Estimate your payback for Ben & Jerry's.
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 7 (startup inputs), PDF p. 30.
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 6 (fee inputs), PDF p. 25.
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 19 (sales input), PDF p. 80.
Item 20: Ben & Jerry's franchised outlet history
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 88.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 155 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 2 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 4.2% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 155 | 2 | 8 | 149 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 149 | 10 | 7 | 152 | 4.7% |
| 2025 | 152 | 7 | 4 | 155 | 2.6% |
Franchised units went from 155 to 155 over 3 years (+0).
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. Compare Ben & Jerry's exit rate with other brands.
5 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3(A) Scoop Shop totals are on PDF page 88; Table 1(A) (page 83), Table 2(A) transfers (pages 84-85) and Table 4 company-owned shops (page 90) match. Every exit in the three years is listed under ceased operations - other reasons; there were no terminations, non-renewals or reacquisitions. Satellite Shops are reported separately in Tables 1(B) and 3(B) (14 at the start of 2023, 16 at the end of 2025) and are not in these counts; 17 Special Venue Scoop Shops are covered by a separate FDD. Table 1(A) prints the 2025 total-outlet change from 154 to 157 as +2.
How much do Ben & Jerry's franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 80.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average reported Gross Sales, Scoop Shops open all 12 months (Chart 1) of $664,862 (52 weeks ending December 31, 2025, 126 continuously operating Scoop Shops that reported sales each month; 61 (48%) reported $600,000 or more). Ben & Jerry's Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees such as the royalty (3% of Gross Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every Ben & Jerry's Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Estimate your payback for Ben & Jerry's using Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Ben & Jerry's Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Ben & Jerry's franchise agreement term?
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 70.
The standard Ben & Jerry's franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF pages 70-71): a Scoop Shop term is 10 years unless the franchisor agrees to a shorter period, with one additional 10-year term. A Satellite Shop runs 5 years with one 5-year renewal; a Test Shop generally runs 6 to 12 months. Renewal requires notice, compliance, a release, signing the then-current agreement and paying the renewal fee.
How long does it take to open a Ben & Jerry's franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Ben & Jerry's 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 56.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement for an authorized site to opening: approximately 15 to 25 weeks.
Item 11 gives the same estimate for a Satellite Shop. Before signing the Franchise Agreement, a new franchisee has a 12-month Evaluation Period under the Preliminary Agreement to find a site (Item 5).
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Ben & Jerry's $280,300 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Restaurants & Food. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Papa Johns $281K – $890K Restaurants & Food
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe $276K – $771K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Marco's Pizza $286K – $811K Restaurants & Food
- Subway $263K – $630K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Pinkberry $303K – $684K Restaurants & Food
- Wayback Burgers $256K – $859K Restaurants & Food
Compare other restaurants & food franchises
Sources
Ben & Jerry's Franchising, Inc. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 29, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 22
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 25
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 30
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 78
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 88
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 70
Page references for Ben & Jerry'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
- November 2, 2026: Source check completed against the recorded FDD.
- November 2, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued May 29, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Independently checked against the May 29, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD: cover, Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 22 table rows (the draft had 8), with the royalty recorded at its current 3% and its 5% ceiling in notes. Added the opening time, in-line and kiosk Item 7 totals, satellite-shop Item 19 figures and Item 20 scope notes; removed the seasonal-shop figure because Item 19 states two different sample sizes for it. Rewrote the analysis. The Item 6 table cites notes 5 to 8, which the FDD does not print.