2026 FDD Issued May 4, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Franchise Cost (2026)
A Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise costs an estimated $698,000 – $954,750 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $40,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Single Scoop Shop. Item 6 lists royalty: 5% of Net Sales, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally before independent verification was complete.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $698K – $955KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $40KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 5% of Net SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Net SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
No franchised shop has opened yet. Item 20 lists only shops run by the parent company and its affiliates through 2025, and the projected-openings table shows a single signed franchise agreement. Item 1 says the franchise company was formed recently, although the parent has run scoop shops for decades.
Item 19 uses company shops and ranks them by profit. It reports net sales, cost of goods and operating costs for corporate shops open all year, then deducts an imputed royalty and brand fund to reach net profit. The bottom quartile lost money on that basis even though its average sales were higher than the quartile above it, so sales alone did not decide results.
The ice cream comes from the parent. Franchisees must buy the proprietary products from the parent company, and Item 19 prices company shops' cost of goods at what the parent would charge. Item 7 also requires the designated architect and a minimum grand opening spend, and build-out is the largest single line.
The clock starts at signing. The 10-year term runs from the day the agreement is signed, so the build-out period uses part of it. Alongside the royalty of 5% of Net Sales and the brand fund contribution of 2% of Net Sales, Item 6 lets the fund and the technology fee rise to set caps. Ending the agreement early triggers lost-revenue damages based on future royalties and fund contributions.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $40,000 for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF page 12): $40,000, paid in a lump sum at signing and not refundable. Before opening you must also buy initial Proprietary Products and supplies from the parent company (estimated $16,000 to $21,000) and pay a $149 gift card set-up fee. An Area Development Agreement replaces the individual fees with a development fee of $105,000 for 3 shops, $140,000 for 4 or $150,000 for 5.
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 12.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, 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 Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17.
Item 7 of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one single scoop shop at $698,000 – $954,750. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Real Estate (3 Months' Rent) | $18,000 | $60,000 |
| Lease and Utility Security Deposits | $6,000 | $20,000 |
| Architect, Permits, Engineers, and Licenses | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $371,000 | $400,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment | $66,000 | $104,000 |
| Décor Package | $3,000 | $9,000 |
| Technology Systems | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| Tools and Supplies | $12,000 | $16,000 |
| Signage | $17,000 | $22,000 |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $500 | $1,000 |
| Professional Fees | $10,000 | $17,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $20,000 | $26,000 |
| Ongoing Inventory (3 months) | $52,000 | $87,000 |
| Insurance (3 months) | $500 | $750 |
| Initial Training Program Expenses | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Additional Funds - First 3 Months of Operation | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $698,000 | $954,750 |
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 17-21) prints $698,000 to $954,750 for one shop; its 18 lines add to that total. Leasehold improvements are the largest line, for about 900 to 1,400 square feet in an upscale center; you must use the designated architect, and the grand opening program requires at least $25,000. For the 7 affiliate shops opened in 2025, leasehold improvements averaged $472,817 and furniture, fixtures and equipment $89,330. An Area Development Agreement prints $763,000 to $1,064,750.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams charge? (Item 6)
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12.
Item 6 of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams’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 | 5% of Net Sales | Every period | 5% of Net Sales, paid weekly by electronic debit. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Brand Fund Contribution | 2% of Net Sales | Every period | 2% of Net Sales, paid weekly; may change but cannot exceed 4% of Net Sales. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Technology Fee | 0.25% of Net Sales | Every period | 0.25% of Net Sales, paid monthly; may change but cannot exceed 1% of Net Sales. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Additional Attendees at Initial Training Program | Varies | When it applies | $1,000 per attendee beyond the first three, for later shops or for a new Shopkeeper the franchisor must train; may rise up to 10% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Additional Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | $500 per trainer per day plus costs; may rise up to 10% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Site Evaluation Fee | $2,000 | When it applies | $2,000 plus costs for each site visit after the first. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Interest on Late Payment | Varies | When it applies | The lesser of 1.5% per month or the legal maximum. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $100 | When it applies | The lesser of $100 or the legal maximum per occurrence. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Transfer Fee | $25,000 | When it applies | $25,000; transfers to your own entity or to a surviving spouse pay processing costs instead. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Relocation Fee | $7,500 | When it applies | $7,500 plus costs for an approved relocation. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Non-Approved Product or Vendor Testing | Varies | When it applies | Costs of evaluating vendors or products you propose. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | 120% of premiums if the franchisor buys required insurance for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Franchise Meeting Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $1,500 per person for a mandatory meeting, charged even if you do not attend. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Mystery Shoppers | Varies | When it applies | Costs of an independent shopping service the franchisor engages. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Audit Fee | Varies | When it applies | Audit costs if reports are late or Net Sales are understated by more than 2%. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Interim Operations Fee | Varies | When it applies | Net Sales above the shop's expenses, plus costs, if the franchisor operates the shop on an interim basis. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Damages and costs of claims related to your shop. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | Costs and fees if the franchisor prevails in a dispute. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Tax Reimbursement | Varies | When it applies | Taxes the franchisor must pay because of your operation or payments. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Lost Revenue Damages | Varies | When it applies | If the agreement ends for your default or you end it without cause: the present value of royalties and brand fund contributions to the earlier of the 2nd anniversary of termination or the end of the term. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Deficiency Correction | Varies | When it applies | Costs of de-identifying the premises if you do not after the agreement ends. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
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.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 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. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchised outlet history
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 58.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 0 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 94 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF page 58) shows no franchised outlets in 2023-2025. Table 4 (PDF page 59) shows shops owned by the parent company and affiliates: 75 at the start of 2023, 89 at the end, 87 at the end of 2024 and 94 at the end of 2025; Table 1 prints the 2023 start as 74. Table 5 lists 1 franchise agreement signed but not opened, 5 projected franchised openings and 5 projected company-owned openings.
How much do Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 52.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average annual Net Sales, corporate-owned Shops of $983,258 (Fiscal 2025 (ended January 4, 2026), 85 corporate-owned Shops open all of fiscal 2025; 36 (42.4%) met or exceeded the average). Besides sales, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams’s Item 19 reports “Average annual Gross Profit, corporate-owned Shops (Net Sales less COGS)”, “Average annual Net Profit, corporate-owned Shops (after an imputed 7% royalty and brand fund)” and “Median annual Net Profit, corporate-owned Shops”. These profit figures cover company-owned units, not franchised ones, so they do not show a franchisee’s results. Each figure follows the franchisor’s own definition in Item 19, which decides which costs are deducted and whether an owner’s salary is one of them. None of them is necessarily an owner’s take-home pay.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 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 Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise agreement term?
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 44.
The standard Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 44): 10 years from signing the Franchise Agreement; if you meet the conditions you may renew for 2 successive 5-year terms, with 180 to 270 days' notice, remodeling to current standards and a renewal fee of 50% of the then-current initial fee.
How long does it take to open a Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 29.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing (the franchisor's estimate and deadline) to opening: within 6 months of signing the lease or 12 months of signing the Franchise Agreement, whichever is earlier.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams’s $698,000 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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Sources
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Franchise, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 4, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 12
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 12
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 17
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 51
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 58
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 44
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Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued May 4, 2026).
- November 3, 2026: Rechecked against the May 4, 2026 Minnesota FDD: Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 22 rows (the draft had 8); the renewal fee is now recorded as 50% of the then-current fee. Added median sales and profit figures to Item 19, moved the Area Development total into notes, added the opening deadline and rewrote the analysis. The Item 20 Table 1 company-count conflict remains and is disclosed.
- November 2, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner directed on November 2, 2026 that every remaining batch 6 brand go live, including brands whose FDDs print conflicting figures. Each record was rechecked against its FDD on November 3, 2026; the unresolved source conflicts remain disclosed and the record is not marked verified.