Ben & Jerry’s
Franchise research report · reviewed 2025 disclosure data
Researching Ben & Jerry’s franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Ben & Jerry’s: The franchise is owned by more than one individual or a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, we require that there be an owner, shareholder, partner, or member (who is reasonably acceptable to us) who will have responsibility and decision-making authority regarding the Shop’s operations and your business.
Headline figures
Ben & Jerry’s quick facts
- Is Ben & Jerry’s a franchise?
- Yes. Ben & Jerry’s offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 152 franchised and 2 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 81).
- How much does it cost to open a Ben & Jerry’s franchise?
- The Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $156,900–$333,300 for total — kiosk shop, range where stated (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 33); $206,800–$386,300 for total — in-line shop, range where stated (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31); $238,800–$550,800 for total — full-sized shop, range where stated (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 30). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Ben & Jerry’s initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $39,500 (2025 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 21). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Ben & Jerry’s charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 3% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 24). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 2% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 24). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Ben & Jerry’s disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Ben & Jerry’s FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2025 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 77). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Ben & Jerry’s locations are there?
- The FDD reports 154 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 81). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Ben & Jerry’s a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2025 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $156,900 – $333,300 (TOTAL — Kiosk Shop, range where stated); $206,800 – $386,300 (TOTAL — In-Line Shop, range where stated); $238,800 – $550,800 (TOTAL — Full-Sized Shop, range where stated); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 11 separate groups: other measures for 1 Franchised locations; other measures for 40 Franchised locations; other measures for 124 Franchised locations; revenue for 15 Franchised locations; other measures for 83 Franchised locations; other measures for Franchised locations; other measures for 16 Franchised locations; other measures for 17 Franchised locations; other measures for 1 Franchised locations; revenue for 124 Franchised locations; revenue for 17 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 3 in 2024, to 154 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Ben & Jerry’s head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 3 single-unit formats
2025 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Kiosk Shop, range where statedPDF p. 33$156,900 – $333,300
- In-Line Shop, range where statedPDF p. 31$206,800 – $386,300
- Full-Sized Shop, range where statedPDF p. 30$238,800 – $550,800
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 21
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty currentMain ongoing fee
33 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
11 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
1 locations
Other measures · 1 locations
- Who is counted
- Full-year Scoop Shops — Quick Fix
- Period
- Full-year Scoop Shops
- Excluded
- Excludes Satellite,Test,Special Venue,company-owned Shops,15 incomplete-year Shops and2 weather-closed Shops
- Method
- Unaudited franchisee reports, not independently verified or GAAP. Counts and percentages retained as printed; no recomputation. Malformed $300,00/$200,00 band labels retained.
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2024-12-31 of each year.
2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81
Net −3 outlets, 2022–2024
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2024 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2025 Item 7 estimate ($156,900 – $550,800) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units went from 151 to 154 in 2024. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2025 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 21
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-year Scoop Shops — Quick Fix · PDF p. 77
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-year Scoop Shops — Tourist · PDF p. 77
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-year Scoop Shops — Total group · PDF p. 77
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Satellite Shops · PDF p. 79
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-year Scoop Shops — Community · PDF p. 77
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seasonal Scoop Shops — Quick Fix · PDF p. 77
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seasonal Scoop Shops — Tourist · PDF p. 77
- [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seasonal Scoop Shops — Total group · PDF p. 77
- [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seasonal Scoop Shops — Community · PDF p. 77
- [11]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-year Scoop Shops · PDF p. 78
- [12]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seasonal Scoop Shops · PDF p. 78
- [13]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 81
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.