2026 FDD Issued Apr 30, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 2, 2026
Nothing Bundt Cakes Franchise Cost (2026)
A Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise costs an estimated $475,200 – $994,100 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $45,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: New Bakery up to 1,800 sq. ft. (Prototype). Item 6 lists royalty: 6%, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $475K – $994KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $45KItem 5 source and terms
- Brand fund
- 5%Item 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 779Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 0.1% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Nothing Bundt Cakes
Item 19 here goes as far as profit. Besides average net revenues of $1,477,163 for bakeries open at least two years, it reports a franchisor-defined four-wall EBITDA for a large subset that submitted full statements, after costs such as labor, occupancy and the royalty and fund contributions. That figure still excludes owner pay, partly through an estimate, and leaves out debt service, so it is a ceiling on what an owner keeps rather than take-home income.
Almost nothing closes, but more owners are selling. Item 20 shows a single franchised exit in the three years it covers while the franchised count climbed to 771, yet owner-to-owner transfers jumped in 2025. A buyer can ask sellers why they are leaving and what established bakeries are trading for, given that the newest cohort in Item 19 sold well below the mature average.
The fees are mostly percentages on one sales base: a royalty of 6% and a combined marketing contribution, plus a list of small monthly technology and service subscriptions. The build-out is the largest variable in the $475,200 – $994,100 estimate, and its range depends heavily on how much a landlord contributes toward tenant improvements.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Nothing Bundt Cakes?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $45,000 for Nothing Bundt Cakes. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 23-24): the Franchise Fee is $45,000 per Bakery, paid in full at signing and non-refundable. Under a Development Rights Rider you pay $45,000 for the first Bakery plus $22,500 (half the fee) for each additional committed Bakery, with the balance due when each Franchise Agreement is signed. Before opening you also buy about $16,034 of items from NBC Distribution, pay the franchisor $10,000 for the Opening Advertising Program (up to $5,000 more may be required) and $750 for a preliminary floor plan.
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 23.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Nothing Bundt Cakes, 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 Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31.
Item 7 of Nothing Bundt Cakes’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one new bakery up to 1,800 sq. ft. (prototype) at $475,200 – $994,100. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Rent and Security Deposits | $500 | $15,000 |
| Bakery Improvements | $202,000 | $481,000 |
| Architect – Design | $7,500 | $17,800 |
| Fixtures and Equipment | $91,000 | $237,000 |
| Exterior Signage | $5,800 | $22,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Point of Sale System | $7,800 | $12,500 |
| Insurance | $500 | $7,900 |
| Business License and Permits | $600 | $5,900 |
| Professional Fees | $1,000 | $25,000 |
| Opening Advertising Program | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Training Expenses | $3,500 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Total | $475,200 | $994,100 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| New Bakery Larger than 1,800 sq. ft. | $490,900 – $1,156,200 |
| Development Rights Rider | $520,200 – $1,039,100 |
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 31-34) prints $475,200 to $994,100 for a prototype Bakery of up to 1,800 square feet; its 14 lines add to that total. Bakery improvements include $0 to $151,000 of tenant improvements, depending on landlord allowances. A Bakery larger than 1,800 square feet prints $490,900 to $1,156,200, and the Development Rights Rider chart $520,200 to $1,039,100.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Nothing Bundt Cakes charge? (Item 6)
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 24.
Item 6 of Nothing Bundt Cakes’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 | 6% | Every period | 6% of weekly Net Revenues, collected by EFT each Tuesday for the prior week; Net Revenues include delivery, e-commerce and National Account sales (note 2). (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Marketing Production Fund and Paid Media Fund | 5% | Every period | Combined contributions to the Production Fund and the Media Fund of 5% of weekly Net Revenues, collected with the royalty; the franchisor sets the split (note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Local Cooperative Fund | Varies | When it applies | If a Cooperative is designated for your Territory, contributions are credited toward the Production Fund contribution. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Training for Additional or Replacement Operators | $2,500 | When it applies | $2,500 per person plus expenses; two people are trained at no cost. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Additional Training or Assistance During Franchise Term | Varies | When it applies | Currently $300 per trainer per day plus expenses at the franchisor's location, or $500 per day plus expenses in your Territory. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Renewal | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Transfer in the Event of a Sale of the Bakery | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 transfer fee plus $5,000 for a transfer opening advertising campaign, plus broker fees or commissions the franchisor incurs. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Transfer of the Ownership Interests of Franchisee | $5,000 | When it applies | $5,000 plus broker fees or commissions. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Guest Experience Monitor (GEM) | Varies | When it applies | Currently $462 a year, but not presently charged. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Operational Evaluation Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $300 per day per representative plus expenses after a serious guest or mystery-shop infraction. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Prohibited Product or Service Fee | Varies | When it applies | $250 per day of use of unauthorized products or services. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's costs plus an 18% administrative fee if it buys required insurance for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Product Purchases from NBC Distribution | Varies | When it applies | Varies; rejected EFTs can stop orders or require COD, plus late fees and an NSF charge. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Product and Supplier Testing | Varies | When it applies | Costs of testing a product or supplier you propose. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Annual Conference | Varies | When it applies | A reasonable attendance fee based on the franchisor's costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| POS System Ongoing Fees for Support and Software | $3,348 per year | Every period | Currently $3,348 for 12 months, paid annually to the designated vendor. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Online Ordering | $100 per month | Every period | Currently $100 per month for the E-Commerce Program, excluding third-party charges such as card processing. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Remodeling of Bakery | Varies | When it applies | Costs of remodeling or redecorating to current standards on written notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Insufficient Funds, Interest, Late Fees, Collection Costs, and Default | Varies | When it applies | $50 per late payment (doubling every 30 days, up to the legal maximum), 18% interest, audit costs if fees are understated by more than 2%, and $500 per day plus expenses if the franchisor steps in or must reschedule opening assistance. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | If terminated for cause: average royalty and fund contributions per four-week period over the prior 24 months, multiplied by the lesser of 26 or the periods remaining, capped at $125,000 per Bakery (note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Claims arising from your Bakery or misuse of the marks and system. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Site Evaluation | Varies | When it applies | $500 plus travel for each site evaluation after the first free one. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Fee for Unauthorized Sales | Varies | When it applies | 100% of Net Revenues from sales in another franchisee's territory, paid to that franchisee, plus $500 per incident to the Fund. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Real Estate Review and Coordination Expenses | $3,000 | When it applies | $3,000 for site selection and non-legal lease review, if required. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Audit Fee | Varies | When it applies | Audit cost and expenses if Net Revenues or fees are understated by more than 2%. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Financial Accounting Fee | Varies | When it applies | $100 a year for the financial reporting site, not presently charged. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Master Architect Program Fee | $750 | When it applies | $750 for the designated architect's final plan review if you use an architect outside the approved list. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Refrigeration Monitoring Fee | $20 – $40 per month | Every period | Activation of $500 to $600 plus $20 to $40 per month to the designated vendor. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Monthly Music Fee | $20 per month | Every period | Currently $20 per month, plus $12 per month for a media player lease. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| Digital Menu Board Service | $35 per month | Every period | Currently $35 per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| VoIP Phone Service | $100 per month | Every period | Currently $100 per month plus taxes. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| Technology Services Fee | $65 per month | Every period | Currently $65 per month, paid to the franchisor. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| Failure to Maintain Insurance Fee | Varies | When it applies | The premium plus an administrative fee of 18% of the insurance cost. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
Among the published restaurants & food records with comparable flat royalties, the median is 6%; Nothing Bundt Cakes lists 6%. This is the site’s sample, not an industry-wide estimate.
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
Start with the recorded Nothing Bundt Cakes inputs, then enter your own operating costs and sales assumptions. The result is a scenario, not an FDD profit forecast.
Nothing Bundt Cakes startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Over a 10-year period, startup investment plus modeled recurring fees for Nothing Bundt Cakes total approximately $2,174,359 – $2,695,659. Based on the average net revenues, franchised bakeries open at least 24 months (part i) disclosed in Item 19 ($1,477,163, fiscal year 2025 (December 30, 2024 to December 28, 2025)), recurring fees come to about $169,916 – $170,156 a year:
| Expense Component | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup investment (Item 7) | $475,200 | $994,100 |
| Recurring fees × 10 years (Item 6) | $1,699,159 | $1,701,559 |
| Startup + modeled fees | $2,174,359 | $2,695,659 |
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 Nothing Bundt Cakes.
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 7 (startup inputs), PDF p. 31.
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 6 (fee inputs), PDF p. 24.
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 19 (sales input), PDF p. 72.
Item 20: Nothing Bundt Cakes franchised outlet history
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 92.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 771 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 8 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 0.1% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 459 | 83 | 0 | 542 | 0% |
| 2024 | 542 | 101 | 0 | 643 | 0% |
| 2025 | 643 | 129 | 1 | 771 | 0.2% |
Franchised units went from 459 to 771 over 3 years (+312).
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 Nothing Bundt Cakes’s exit rate with other brands.
117 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 figures are as of the franchisor's fiscal year end. Table 3 totals (PDF page 92) match Table 1 (PDF page 81). The only franchised exit in three years was one 2025 closure, while owner-to-owner transfers rose sharply in 2025. Company-owned bakeries fell from 17 to 8 in 2025.
How much do Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 72.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Net Revenues, franchised Bakeries open at least 24 months (Part I) of $1,477,163 (fiscal year 2025 (December 30, 2024 to December 28, 2025), 545 franchised Bakeries open at least 2 full fiscal years, averaging 7.4 years old; 222 (41%) met or exceeded the average). Besides sales, Nothing Bundt Cakes’s Item 19 reports “Average 4-Wall EBITDA, franchised Bakeries with complete financial statements (Part III)” and “Median 4-Wall EBITDA, franchised Bakeries with complete financial statements (Part III)”. 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.
See every Nothing Bundt Cakes Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Estimate your payback for Nothing Bundt Cakes using Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Nothing Bundt Cakes’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise agreement term?
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 64.
The standard Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 64): the term begins when the franchisor signs and runs until 10 years after the Bakery opens, with one additional 10-year term if you give 3 to 9 months' notice and meet the renewal conditions. A purchased Bakery keeps the seller's remaining term.
How long does it take to open a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Nothing Bundt Cakes 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 49.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from the effective date of the Franchise Agreement to opening: approximately 6 to 9 months.
The franchise agreement requires opening within 270 days of the Effective Date.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Nothing Bundt Cakes’s $475,200 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
NBC Franchisor LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 23
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 24
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 31
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 71
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 92
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 64
Page references for Nothing Bundt Cakes 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 April 30, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Independently checked against the April 30, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD: cover, Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 33 rows (the draft had 8). Item 19 now adds the franchisor-defined 4-Wall EBITDA figures with their owner-payroll adjustment and notes count discrepancies. Added the opening time, renewal terms and Item 7 and Item 20 notes, and removed an unsupported founding year. Rewrote the analysis.