2026 FDD Issued Apr 6, 2026, amended Jul 1, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Oct 23, 2026
Crumbl Franchise Cost (2026)
A Crumbl franchise costs an estimated $848,566 – $1,472,533 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $50,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Standard Location. Item 6 lists royalty: 8% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $849K – $1.47MItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $50KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 8% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Liquid capital
- $200KFranchisor website, checked October 29, 2026
- Units (2025)
- 1,101Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 1% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Crumbl
The reported sales sample includes only locations that operated continuously and submitted complete financial reports on time. Late or incomplete reporting therefore changes who appears in the result. The Item 19 average describes that included group, while the opening budget has separate real-estate and equipment allowances that the previous narrative understated.
The financial-performance table presents gross sales before the costs needed to reach net income. Its exclusions and reporting requirement limit the sample, while the Item 7 notes exclude real-property purchase costs and do not credit a landlord improvement allowance. These qualifications affect different parts of the record and remain separate.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Crumbl?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $50,000 for Crumbl. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
These minimums come from the franchisor’s website, not from the FDD, and can change: Crumbl franchise page (checked October 29, 2026). No net-worth minimum is recorded.
Item 5 (PDF pages 15-16) sets the initial franchise fee at $50,000, paid when the franchise agreement is signed. Franchisees also pay the franchisor or an affiliate for an opening tech equipment package ($12,000-$15,000), an opening box and ingredient package ($11,000-$16,000) and an $8,000 initial training fee. An area development agreement requires at least 3 units and an up-front fee of $50,000 per unit, credited toward each initial fee. Fees are non-refundable, except for a partial area development refund if the franchisor ends the agreement early and a discretionary refund if both parties end the franchise before opening.
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 15.
How much does it cost to open a Crumbl franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 28.
Item 7 of Crumbl’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one standard location at $848,566 – $1,472,533. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Opening Tech Equipment Package | $12,000 | $15,000 |
| Opening Box and Ingredient Package | $11,000 | $16,000 |
| Initial training fees, travel, lodging, food | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Real estate and improvements | $350,000 | $700,000 |
| Rent – 3 months | $16,666 | $83,333 |
| Professional fees | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Equipment, furniture, fixtures, décor, and supplies | $268,000 | $306,000 |
| POS system, computer hardware, and software | $5,500 | $18,000 |
| Signs | $12,000 | $32,000 |
| Misc. opening costs | $15,000 | $45,000 |
| Opening inventory | $12,000 | $22,000 |
| Additional funds - 3 months | $61,400 | $100,200 |
| Total | $848,566 | $1,472,533 |
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 28-33) prints $848,566-$1,472,533 for a single location; a separate table for three locations under an area development agreement totals $2,545,698-$4,417,599. Real estate and improvements are $350,000-$700,000; equipment, furniture, fixtures, decor and supplies $268,000-$306,000; additional funds for three months $61,400-$100,200. The total excludes royalties and marketing fees, real-property purchase costs and any landlord improvement allowance.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Crumbl charge? (Item 6)
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 16.
Item 6 of Crumbl’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 | 8% of Gross Sales | Every period | 8% of gross sales, paid weekly by Tuesday for the Monday-Saturday sales week. Gross sales include all revenue from the business except sales tax. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Marketing Fund Fee | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | 2% of gross sales, paid weekly with the royalty. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Advertising Cooperative | 1% – 2% of Gross Sales | When it applies | 1%-2% of gross sales paid to a local cooperative if the franchisor forms one; co-op spending counts toward the local marketing requirement. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Local Marketing Requirement | 0% – 2% of Gross Sales | When it applies | Item 6 note 2: the franchisor may require local advertising spending of up to 2% of monthly gross sales on 60 days' notice; the current requirement is 0%. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| New Primary Owner or New Manager Training | $4,000 | When it applies | $4,000 per person per training session, paid in advance, plus trainees' travel and living costs; rescheduling costs are reimbursed. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| Annual Training Fee | $500 | When it applies | $500 per person per session for training or operational reviews the franchisor may require up to twice a year, plus travel costs for attendees and franchisor representatives. Marked as a current fee that may be changed in the Manuals, but not by more than 100% during the term (Item 6 note 1, PDF page 27). (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Additional In-Person Training or Assistance | Varies | When it applies | $500 per day per person, paid in advance, plus travel and living costs. Marked as a current fee that may be changed in the Manuals, but not by more than 100% during the term (Item 6 note 1, PDF page 27). (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Franchise Agreement Transfer Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | When selling a majority or all of the franchise business, before the franchisor signs an approval or new agreement; guarantors remain liable unless released. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Minority Transfer Fee | $500 | When it applies | Reduced fee for transfers among existing owners, or to an entity the owners fully control, that total 50% or less of ownership across the current and prior terms. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Transferee Training Fee | $8,000 | When it applies | $8,000 per training session for a transferee, plus trainees' travel and living costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Relocation Fee | $2,500 | When it applies | If the franchisor approves a requested relocation, to cover documentation, site review and website updates. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Late Fees | Varies | When it applies | $25 per day for each late payment or report, plus 18% interest or the state maximum, whichever is less. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | 18% on any late payment, or the state maximum if less, accruing from the due date. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| NSF Fees | $50 | When it applies | Per bounced check or insufficient or disputed draft, or the state maximum if less. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Successor Franchise Fee | $2,500 | When it applies | Before signing a successor franchise agreement for another 10-year term, if the franchise agreement's requirements are met. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Conference or Seminar Fee | Varies | When it applies | Then-current fee, up to $5,000 per attendee; currently $0, plus travel and living costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Supplier Evaluation Fee | Varies | When it applies | $2,000 before an unapproved supplier is evaluated, plus expenses at cost. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Fees on Default | Varies | When it applies | Attorneys' fees, costs, interest and audit costs the franchisor incurs because of a default. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Audit Charge | Varies | When it applies | Cost of the audit if it shows an understatement of 2% or more of gross sales, if records are unorganized or unavailable, or if gross sales are not reported. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Interim Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | Then-current fee, currently $500 per day per representative plus expenses, royalties and other fees, if the franchisor operates the business during an unapproved closing or absence, incapacity, death or non-compliance. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Interim Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | Then-current fee, currently $500 per day per representative plus expenses, if the franchisor provides additional training because of non-compliance. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| Gift Card Program Fee | 5% – 15% | When it applies | 5%-15% of the redemption value of gift cards and similar transactions, paid with the royalty or on demand. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
| System Non-Compliance Fines | Varies | When it applies | Currently $250-$1,000 per violation under the Manuals, for example $250 for store uncleanliness, poor product quality or a dress-code violation and $1,000 for unauthorized products, packaging or use of trademarks or confidential information (Item 6 note 7). (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Losses, liabilities, costs and attorneys' fees arising from the franchisee's operation of the business (Item 6 note 6). (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Technology Fee | $650 per month | Every period | Currently $650 per month, due by the first Tuesday, in consideration of the right to use the franchisor's intellectual property and system; may be updated in the Manuals (Item 6 note 9). (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Centralized Billing Fee | Varies | When it applies | If the franchisor runs centralized billing for amounts owed to it or vendors, the cost of the services plus a 5%-15% administrative fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Store Inspection Fee | Varies | When it applies | Cost of required third-party inspections plus a 5%-15% administrative fee; two to four inspections a year are currently required, with more after a failed inspection. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Transaction Processing Fee | 2.4% – 4% of each card or electronic transaction | Every period | Currently 2.4%-4% of each transaction. Most is paid to the merchant processor, whose fee currently averages about 2.36%; the franchisor keeps the difference (Item 6 note 8). (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Dispute Resolution Fees | Varies | When it applies | Half of mediation or arbitration fees; the prevailing party recovers legal fees and expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Post-Termination Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | If the agreement is terminated early, other than for non-renewal or mutual termination: average royalty for the prior 12 months multiplied by the lesser of 36 months or the remaining term, reduced to present value at 5% (Item 6 note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| De-identification Fee | Varies | When it applies | If post-termination de-identification is not completed: $500 per day of default plus third-party costs; the franchisor may automatically debit $10,000 on termination toward enforcement costs (Item 6 notes 4-5). (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Tax Reimbursement Fee | Varies | When it applies | A sum equal to any sales, use or other tax assessed on fees paid to the franchisor. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Insurance Procurement Fee | Varies | When it applies | If the franchisor obtains insurance the franchisee failed to maintain, the premiums plus a 10% administrative fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| PCI and DSS Audit Reimbursement Fee | Varies | When it applies | All costs of an audit for non-compliance with payment card security requirements. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Reimbursement Fee | Varies | When it applies | Amounts the franchisor pays to the franchisee's customers, plus a 10% administrative fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Marketing Materials | Varies | When it applies | Cost plus expenses for additional copies of marketing materials. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Document Preparation Fee | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's legal fees and administrative costs, at least $250, for documents about changes concerning the franchisee or business. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Marketing Assistance Fee | Varies | When it applies | $75 per hour or the then-current rate in the Manuals if the franchisee asks for help developing marketing materials or programs. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Area Development Agreement Transfer Fee | $20,000 | When it applies | Before an approved transfer of an area development agreement; guarantors remain liable unless released. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
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.
Crumbl startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Some recurring charges depend on a sales subset, usage or another amount not supplied by the annual sales figure. We do not combine them into an all-sales percentage or estimate total fees. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Crumbl franchised outlet history
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 80.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 1,101 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 0 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 1% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 689 | 288 | 7 | 970 | 1% |
| 2024 | 970 | 100 | 12 | 1,058 | 1.2% |
| 2025 | 1,058 | 52 | 9 | 1,101 | 0.9% |
Franchised units went from 689 to 1,101 over 3 years (+412).
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 Crumbl’s exit rate with other brands.
82 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF pages 76-80) prints national totals on PDF page 80. Company-owned outlets come from Table 4 (PDF page 81); transfers from Table 2 (PDF pages 72-75).
How much do Crumbl franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 70.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average gross sales for franchised bakeries open full year of $1,139,162 (2025, 776 franchised bakeries open all 12 months in 2025). Crumbl’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 (8% of Gross Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every Crumbl 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 Crumbl’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Crumbl franchise agreement term?
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 60.
The standard Crumbl franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 60): 10 years from signing. A franchisee in good standing may apply for a successor franchise for another 10 years on then-current terms, paying a $2,500 successor fee.
How long does it take to open a Crumbl franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Crumbl 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 42.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the franchise agreement and paying the initial franchise fee to opening: 5 to 6 months.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Crumbl’s $848,566 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Restaurants & Food. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
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- Paris Baguette $728K – $1.86M Restaurants & Food
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Frequently Asked Questions about Crumbl
- How much does it cost to open a Crumbl bakery?
- Item 7 of the 2026 FDD estimates $848,566 – $1,472,533 for one location, including the initial franchise fee of $50,000. Real estate and improvements are the widest line in the estimate.
- What ongoing fees does Crumbl charge?
- Item 6 lists a royalty of 8% of Gross Sales and a marketing fund fee of 2% of Gross Sales, both paid weekly, plus a monthly technology fee and a processing fee on each card transaction. Many other fees apply only on events such as a transfer, a missed report or a compliance violation.
- How long is a Crumbl franchise agreement?
- The franchise agreement runs 10 years from signing. Item 17 allows a successor franchise on the terms then offered if the franchisee is in good standing.
- What sales does Crumbl report in Item 19?
- Item 19 reports average gross sales of $1,139,162 for locations open all of 2025 that reported on time. These are sales before costs, not owner profit.
Sources
Crumbl Franchising, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 6, 2026, as amended July 1, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 15
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 16
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 28
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 70
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 80
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 60
Page references for Crumbl 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 check completed against the recorded FDD.
- October 23, 2026: Complete source recheck against the newest Minnesota filing, the April 6, 2026 FDD as amended July 1, 2026 (the record previously cited the April 28 amendment): cover, Item 1, Item 5, all 38 Item 6 rows and notes (PDF pages 16-28), Item 7, Item 17, Item 19 and Item 20 Tables 1-4. Completed the Item 6 schedule, which had omitted ten rows and misdescribed the technology and successor fees; added the amendment's supplemental 2026 sales; removed an unstated founding year; updated page citations to the amended PDF. The source hold is cleared.
- October 19, 2026: Source review hold recorded: The October 19 audit corrected conflicting Item 7 prose, selected financial-performance labels and PDF references. The fee schedule and remaining record sections still require a complete source recheck; the historical source-check date is not renewed by these targeted corrections.
- October 16, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 6, 2026).
- July 1, 2026: Amendment date recorded for the source FDD.