Crispy Cones
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Crispy Cones franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Crispy Cones is a fast-growing dessert franchise serving fresh, grilled dough cones rolled in cinnamon sugar and filled with soft serve ice cream and premium toppings.
Headline figures
Crispy Cones quick facts
- Is Crispy Cones a franchise?
- Yes. Crispy Cones offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 18 franchised and 3 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 41).
- How much does it cost to open a Crispy Cones franchise?
- The Crispy Cones Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $373,650 for total estimated initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 16); $350,650–$594,900 for totals: $350,650 - $594,900 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Crispy Cones initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $35,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 9). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Crispy Cones charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 10). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 2% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 10). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Crispy Cones disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Crispy Cones FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 40). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Crispy Cones locations are there?
- The FDD reports 21 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 41). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Crispy Cones 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
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $373,650 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 5 separate groups: other measures for 18 Franchised locations franchise; other measures for 18 Franchised locations franchise; other measures for 18 Franchised locations franchise; other measures for 18 Franchised locations franchise; other measures for 18 Franchised locations franchise. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 13 in 2025, to 21 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Crispy Cones 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
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 9
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.
- RoyaltyMain ongoing fee
29 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?
5 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
18 locations
Other measures · 18 locations
- Who is counted
- 18 franchise locations that operated as franchise locations at any point in calendar year 2025; Top Quartile (Top 25%)
- Period
- Median Monthly Gross Sales
- Excluded
- No exclusions stated for this representation.
- Method
- Using point of sale and other records from these locations
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of → 3 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 41
Net +19 outlets, 2022–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 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 2026 Item 7 estimate ($373,650) 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 8 to 21 in 2025. 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 (2026 FDD)
- [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 16
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 9
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 18 franchise locations that operated as franchise locations at any point in cal… · PDF p. 40
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 18 franchise locations that operated as franchise locations at any point in cal… · PDF p. 40
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 18 franchise locations that operated as franchise locations at any point in cal… · PDF p. 40
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 18 franchise locations that operated as franchises at any point in calendar 202… · PDF p. 40
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 18 franchise locations that operated as franchise locations at any point in cal… · PDF p. 40
- [8]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 41
"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
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | revenue | $579,308 |
| 2025 | cogs | $31,253 |
| 2025 | gross profit | $548,055 |
| 2025 | net income | $247,356 |
| 2025 | net operating income | $251,964 |
| 2025 | expenses | $296,092 |
| 2024 | revenue | $2,007,733 |
| 2024 | gross profit | $1,844,197 |
| 2024 | net income | $371,738 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
What changed from 2025 to 2026
- Estimated initial investment: $350,650 – $594,900 → $373,650
- Franchise fee: $3,000 → $4,000
- System size: 16 → 21 units
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
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Territory definition: protected territory determined case-by-case; boundaries may use stated geographic demarcations
“The size and scope of the protected territory will be set out in the Franchise Agreement and determined on a case-by-case basis based on population density, the business base in the territory, whether your location is in a metropolitan or rural area, and other comparable factors. We may set the boundaries of your territory based on zip code, county lines, designated market area, radius from a specific address, and/or other recognizable demarcations.”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Exclusive territory: No; protected territory is specified case by case, and the FDD states that no exclusive territory is granted.
“The size and scope of the protected territory will be set out in the Franchise Agreement and determined on a case - by - case basis based on population density, the business base in the territory, whether your location is in a metropolitan or rural area, and other comparable factors. ... you will not receive an exclusive territory.”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 21 · PDF p. 134 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Net Income — Jan–Feb 2025
“Net I nco me 247 356”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 134.
Item 21 · PDF p. 134 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Net Operating Income — Jan–Feb 2025
“Net Operating I 1 nco me 251 964”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 134.
Item 21 · PDF p. 141 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Gross profit — FY2024
“GROSS PROF IT 1,844, 19 7”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 141.
Item 21 · PDF p. 45 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Audited financial statements are attached as Exhibit D for years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023.
“Attached as Exhibit D to this Disclosure Document are audited financial statements as of and for the year s ended December 31, 2025 , December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 .”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 45.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.