2026 FDD Issued Mar 27, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 2, 2026
Pinkberry Franchise Cost (2026)
A Pinkberry franchise costs an estimated $303,440 – $684,050 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $35,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Traditional or Non-Traditional Restaurant. Item 6 lists royalty fee: 6% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $303K – $684KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $35KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 6% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 62Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 7% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Pinkberry
This is a small system that has only recently stopped shrinking. Item 20 shows the franchised count falling for two years and then edging back to 62 at the end of 2025, with closures concentrated in a single year and a few owners choosing not to renew each year. Kahala, which also franchises other brands, has run the system since 2016.
Item 19 covers most U.S. franchised stores open the full year. Average and median gross sales are nearly identical at about $669,825, so the figure is not driven by a few outliers, but the top fifth of stores sold far more than the bottom fifth. Location type matters, since the same fee schedule covers malls, street fronts and non-traditional sites.
Default carries a steep penalty. Item 6 lets the franchisor raise the royalty far above the standard 6% of Gross Sales while an owner is in breach, for a minimum period. Owners also keep a depository account at a minimum balance for automatic withdrawals and pay the annual meeting fee whether or not they attend.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Pinkberry?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $35,000 for Pinkberry. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 29-30): the Initial Franchise Fee is $35,000 for a traditional or non-traditional restaurant and $17,500 for each later one; a vending machine is $15,000 ($10,000 each when three are bought together). Active or reserve military, honorably discharged veterans and 501(c)(3) organizations get 20% off. The fee is paid at signing and is not refundable. The franchisor also collects $10,000 (traditional) or $5,000 (non-traditional) for grand opening marketing, an optional $2,500 lease review fee and, if it guarantees your lease, 10% of the guaranteed rent up to $10,000. Kahala Franchising has offered Pinkberry franchises since June 2016.
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 29.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Pinkberry, 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 Pinkberry franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 37.
Item 7 of Pinkberry’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one traditional or non-traditional restaurant at $303,440 – $684,050. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $14,000 | $35,000 |
| Lease Review Fee | $0 | $2,500 |
| Architect, Engineer and Other Design Professionals | $10,000 | $21,500 |
| Expenses While Training | $3,000 | $7,500 |
| Acquisition of Real Estate / Deposits and Initial Rent | $9,340 | $23,350 |
| Construction | $100,000 | $221,000 |
| Furnishings | $11,000 | $34,500 |
| Equipment | $97,000 | $243,000 |
| Inventory | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Utility Deposits and Fees | $0 | $3,000 |
| Business License | $300 | $600 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| PCI Compliance Costs | $150 | $1,300 |
| Catering/Delivery Service | $0 | $7,500 |
| Information Systems | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Telephone | $150 | $300 |
| Signage | $8,000 | $17,000 |
| Legal and Accounting | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Depository Account | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Total | $303,440 | $684,050 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Pinkberry Vending Machine | $52,750 – $112,900 |
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 37-40) prints $303,440 to $684,050 for a restaurant, excluding real estate costs and rent beyond the listed deposits; its 21 lines add to that total. The franchise fee line runs from the discounted $14,000 to the full $35,000. Construction and equipment are the largest lines. A vending machine prints $52,750 to $112,900.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Pinkberry charge? (Item 6)
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30.
Item 6 of Pinkberry’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 | 6% of Gross Sales | Every period | 6% of total Gross Sales, withdrawn on the 10th of each month ($200 per month for a vending machine). During a breach or default the franchisor may raise the royalty to up to 18% of Gross Sales for at least 14 days (note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Royalty Surcharge | $10 per week | Every period | Up to $10 per week in addition to the royalty. (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Advertising Fees | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | Currently 2% of monthly Gross Sales ($50 per month for a vending machine); may rise to up to 4% on 30 days' notice (note 7). (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Pinkberry Loyalty Program | Varies | Every period | Up to $160 per month per location, plus $0 to $420 for a scanner and network switch; required except for non-traditional locations. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Additional Persons Training Fee (KTEC) | Varies | When it applies | $750 per person per day for new owner training beyond the two people included. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Additional Persons Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | $1,750 per person ($1,000 for the in-store portion and $750 for new owner training) beyond the two included. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Additional Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | $300 per person per day for required or requested training after the initial program. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Assistance Provided at Your Request | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's out-of-pocket costs and employees' travel, wages and other expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Annual Meeting Registration Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $1,000 plus incidental costs, debited 60 to 90 days before the meeting whether or not you attend (note 6). (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Depository Account | $3,000 | When it applies | A $3,000 minimum balance kept at all times for the franchisor's withdrawals (note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Training Cancellation/Rescheduling Fee | Varies | When it applies | The per-day training fee plus travel for each day on-site trainers cannot train because you are not ready. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Information Systems | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable charges for information services; not yet collected. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| POS System Annual Warranty Service | $1,000 – $2,000 per year | Every period | $1,000 to $2,000 a year for the required warranty plan. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Brink Par Tech Systems | $85 – $200 per month | Every period | $85 to $200 per month depending on terminals and support package. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Data Fees | Varies | When it applies | Up to $75 per month for data polling; not yet collected (note 5). (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Renewal Franchise Fee | Varies | When it applies | 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee before discounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Gift Card Redemption Fee | Varies | When it applies | 15% of the amount of each gift card redemption. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Transfer Franchise Fee | $7,500 | When it applies | $7,500 plus training fees and expenses ($5,000 for a vending machine). (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Relocation Fee | $500 | When it applies | $500 if an approved relocation is signed. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Transfer Training Fee | $2,500 | When it applies | $2,500 for two individuals ($500 for each additional) when buying an existing restaurant. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Document Administration Fee | $500 | When it applies | $500 when an amendment must be prepared. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Private Offering | Varies | When it applies | The greater of $5,000 or review costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Default Interest | Varies | When it applies | $50 plus 1.5% per month or the legal maximum on overdue amounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Late Report Fee | $100 | When it applies | $100 per delinquent report. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Sublease Late Charge | Varies | When it applies | 5% of late sublease amounts plus master-lease charges, if you sublease from an affiliate. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Collection Costs | Varies | When it applies | All collection costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Non-Sufficient Funds Fee | Varies | When it applies | $50 per returned electronic transfer; $25 per returned check. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Audit cost plus default interest if you failed to report or understated fees by 5% or more. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| New Supplier Approval Fee | Varies | When it applies | Inspection and test costs, not more than $5,000. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Non-Participation Fee | Varies | When it applies | $100 per day for not taking part in required programs and campaigns. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Reimbursement of Our Expenditures | Varies | When it applies | Amounts the franchisor pays for you and its costs from your default. (Item 6, PDF p. 34) |
| Early Termination Damages | Varies | When it applies | With 90 days' notice: the average monthly royalty and advertising fees for any 12 months in the prior 48, multiplied by the months remaining and divided by 2. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | 6% of Gross Sales plus costs, on top of royalty and advertising, if the franchisor manages the business. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Online Ordering Program | $60 per month | Every period | $60 per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Lease Guarantee Fee (Optional) | Varies | When it applies | 10% of the guaranteed amount, up to $10,000. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
| Reimbursement of Taxes | Varies | When it applies | Taxes the franchisor incurs from your operation or its licensing in your state. (Item 6, PDF p. 35) |
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.
Pinkberry 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: Pinkberry franchised outlet history
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 79.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 62 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 0 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 7% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64 | 1 | 2 | 63 | 3.1% |
| 2024 | 63 | 4 | 8 | 59 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 59 | 6 | 3 | 62 | 5.1% |
Franchised units went from 64 to 62 over 3 years (-2).
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 Pinkberry’s exit rate with other brands.
2 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 totals (PDF page 79) match Table 1 (PDF page 76). Exits were a few non-renewals each year and, in 2024, seven stores that ceased operations. There are no company-owned stores.
How much do Pinkberry franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 75.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Gross Sales, all franchised outlets of $669,825 (December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025, 51 of 62 U.S. franchised stores open the full fiscal year and not temporarily closed; 26 (51%) met or exceeded the average). Pinkberry’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 (6% of Gross Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every Pinkberry 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 Pinkberry’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Pinkberry franchise agreement term?
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 68.
The standard Pinkberry franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 68): for a new or existing restaurant, 10 years from opening if you own or lease the site directly, or the sublease term if you sublease; renewal agreements run 5 years. If not in default you may renew for a single 5-year term with no further renewal.
How long does it take to open a Pinkberry franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Pinkberry 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 52.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from the earlier of signing the Franchise Agreement or the first payment for the franchise to opening: 6-12 months.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Pinkberry’s $303,440 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Restaurants & Food. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Marco's Pizza $286K – $811K Restaurants & Food
- Papa Johns $281K – $890K Restaurants & Food
- Ben & Jerry's $280K – $631K Restaurants & Food
- Crave Cookies $328K – $735K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe $276K – $771K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Subway $263K – $630K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
Compare other restaurants & food franchises
Sources
Kahala Franchising, L.L.C. 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. 29
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 30
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 37
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 75
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 79
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 68
Page references for Pinkberry 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 March 27, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Independently checked against the March 27, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD: cover, Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 36 rows (the draft had 7), including the default royalty increase. The franchise fee now shows the $35,000 first-restaurant fee. Added the opening time, term and renewal details, Item 19 sample and Item 20 notes; removed unsupported founding dates. Rewrote the analysis.