Great American Cookies
Franchise research report · reviewed 2024 disclosure data
Researching Great American Cookies franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Great American Cookies franchise specializes in freshly baked cookies, brownies, and decorated cookie cakes, operating primarily in mall locations and high-traf
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Great American Cookies franchise?
- The Great American Cookies Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $308,500–$484,650 for total initial investment (traditional restaurant): $308,500–$484,650 (2024 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 36); $205,800–$359,150 for total initial investment (non-traditional restaurant): $205,800–$359,150 (2024 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 37). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Great American Cookies initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $0 (2024 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 23). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Great American Cookies charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2024 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 24). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $4 (2024 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 25). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Great American Cookies disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Great American Cookies FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2024 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 90). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2024 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $308,500 – $484,650 (Total Initial Investment (Traditional Restaurant): $308,500–$484,650); $205,800 – $359,150 (Total Initial Investment (Non-Traditional Restaurant): $205,800–$359,150); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 7 separate groups: other measures for 258 locations; other measures for 145 locations; other measures for 93 locations; other measures for 20 locations; other measures for 93 locations; other measures for 258 locations; other measures for 20 locations. They are not combined.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
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 2 single-unit formats
2024 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total Initial Investment (Non-Traditional Restaurant): $205,800–$359,150PDF p. 37$205,800 – $359,150
- Total Initial Investment (Traditional Restaurant): $308,500–$484,650PDF p. 36$308,500 – $484,650
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2024 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 23
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 percentage of total net salesMain ongoing fee
38 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?
7 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 258 locations
- Who is counted
- Great American Cookies-only and Great American Cookies restaurants co-branded with Marble Slab Creamery or Pretzelmaker; U.S. franchised restaurants; January 1–December 31, 2023
- Period
- Table 3 food cost as % net sales
- Excluded
- 99 restaurants not open for the entire 12-month period; 15 international locations, including Canada; 33 franchised restaurants that did not report sales and cost information. Separate co-branded and GAC-only tables remain distinct.
- Method
- Unaudited internal/franchisee-reported financial and operating data; calendar year 2023; 12 full months; U.S. franchised locations
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 145 locations
- Who is counted
- Great American Cookies-only U.S. franchised restaurants; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- Table 1 net sales
- Excluded
- 52 restaurants not open for the entire 12-month period; 4 international locations, including Canada; 18 franchised restaurants that did not report sales and cost information.
- Method
- Unaudited internal/franchisee-reported financial and operating data; calendar year 2023; 12 full months; U.S. franchised locations
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 93 locations
- Who is counted
- U.S. franchised restaurants with Marble Slab Creamery co-branded operations; combined restaurant operations, with GAC as the smaller portion; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- Table 1 net sales
- Excluded
- 42 restaurants not open for the entire 12-month period; 11 international locations, including Canada; 12 franchised restaurants that did not report sales and cost information.
- Method
- Unaudited internal/franchisee-reported financial and operating data; calendar year 2023; 12 full months; U.S. franchised locations
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 20 locations
- Who is counted
- U.S. franchised restaurants with Pretzelmaker co-branded operations; combined restaurant operations, with GAC as the smaller portion; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- Table 2 net sales range
- Excluded
- 5 restaurants not open for the entire 12-month period; no international locations; 3 franchised restaurants that did not report sales and cost information.
- Method
- Unaudited internal/franchisee-reported financial and operating data; calendar year 2023; 12 full months; U.S. franchised locations
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 93 locations
- Who is counted
- U.S. franchised restaurants with Marble Slab Creamery co-branded operations; combined restaurant operations, with GAC the smaller portion; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- population sample size
- Excluded
- 42 not open for the full 12 months; 11 international locations; 12 did not report sales and cost data.
- Method
- Historical unaudited data for full calendar year 2023; restaurants operating 12 full months
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 258 locations
- Who is counted
- Great American Cookies-only and Great American Cookies co-branded U.S. franchised restaurants; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- population sample size
- Excluded
- 99 not open for the full 12 months; 15 international locations; 33 did not report sales and cost data.
- Method
- Historical unaudited data for full calendar year 2023; restaurants operating 12 full months
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 20 locations
- Who is counted
- U.S. franchised restaurants with Pretzelmaker co-branded operations; combined restaurant operations, with GAC the smaller portion; full calendar year 2023
- Period
- population sample size
- Excluded
- 5 not open for the full 12 months; no international locations; 3 did not report sales and cost data.
- Method
- Historical unaudited data for full calendar year 2023; restaurants operating 12 full months
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Coverage not stated in the reviewed record · counts as of year end of each year.
2024 FDD · Item 20 ·
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 2024 Item 7 estimate ($205,800 – $484,650) 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?
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 (2024 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 23
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Great American Cookies-only and Great American Cookies restaurants co-branded w… · PDF p. 90; PDF p. 89
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Great American Cookies-only U.S. franchised restaurants; full calendar year 2023 · PDF p. 93; PDF p. 94; PDF p. 89
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — U.S. franchised restaurants with Marble Slab Creamery co-branded operations; co… · PDF p. 90; PDF p. 91
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — U.S. franchised restaurants with Pretzelmaker co-branded operations; combined r… · PDF p. 92; PDF p. 93
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — U.S. franchised restaurants with Marble Slab Creamery co-branded operations; co… · PDF p. 88
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Great American Cookies-only and Great American Cookies co-branded U.S. franchis… · PDF p. 88
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — U.S. franchised restaurants with Pretzelmaker co-branded operations; combined r… · PDF p. 89
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
250 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
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.
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At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
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.