Franopolis

    Kilwins

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Reviewed sources

    Kilwins franchise specializes in handcrafted chocolates, fudge, and premium ice cream through charming retail locations that combine traditional confectionery w

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    Headline figures

    Kilwins quick facts

    Is Kilwins a franchise?
    Yes. Kilwins offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 362 franchised and 12 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 59).
    How much does it cost to open a Kilwins franchise?
    The Kilwins Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $405,045–$522,096 for scoops and sweets total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimate (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $484,638–$522,096 for full-line store total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimate (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $484,638–$880,295 for full-line total investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 22). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What ongoing fees does Kilwins charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 3% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Kilwins disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Kilwins FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 54). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Kilwins locations are there?
    The FDD reports 374 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 59). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Kilwins 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

    1. 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $405,045 – $522,096 (Scoops and Sweets total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimate); $484,638 – $522,096 (Full-Line Store total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimate); $484,638 – $880,295 (Full-Line total investment); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 22 separate groups: revenue and other measures for 143 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 4 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 33 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 12 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 12 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 3 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 10 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 3 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 16 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 5 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 5 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 5 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue for 139 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; other measures for 139 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; other measures for 143 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue for 143 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 8 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue and other measures for 4 Franchised full-line only; no company-owned; no Scoops&Sweetsresults locations; revenue for 143 locations; revenue for 143 locations; revenue and other measures for 139 locations; other measures for 143 locations. They are not combined.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 30 in 2025, to 374 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Franchises under $500kOther brands whose disclosed Item 7 low end fits this budget.Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Kilwins head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

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    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

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.

    • Scoops and Sweets total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimatePDF p. 21$405,045 – $522,096
    • Full-Line Store total initial investment excluding real estate — lower estimatePDF p. 21$484,638 – $522,096
    • Full-Line total investmentPDF p. 22$484,638 – $880,295

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    RoyaltyMain ongoing fee

    71 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?

    22 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.

    143 locations

    Revenue and other measures · 143 locations

    Who is counted
    All States
    Period
    Median
    Excluded
    10seasonal,2withoutfullcooking,22notopenfull12months,2atypicalformat.
    Method
    Unaudited internal records from franchisees; reported grosssales net exclusionsItem6; states only3+stores displayed,allqualifyingstatesincludednational.

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year end of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59

    Net +46 outlets, 2023–2025

    0328202334420243742025+16+30

    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 ($405,045 – $880,295) 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 344 to 374 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. [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All States · PDF p. 54
    2. [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Colorado · PDF p. 54
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Florida · PDF p. 54
    4. [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Georgia · PDF p. 54
    5. [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Illinois · PDF p. 54
    6. [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Indiana · PDF p. 54
    7. [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Michigan · PDF p. 54
    8. [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — New York · PDF p. 54
    9. [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — North Carolina · PDF p. 54
    10. [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Pennsylvania · PDF p. 54
    11. [11]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — South Carolina · PDF p. 54
    12. [12]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Virginia · PDF p. 54
    13. [13]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Cost of sales · PDF p. 54
    14. [14]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Non-owner payroll · PDF p. 54
    15. [15]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Transaction value · PDF p. 54
    16. [16]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Allstates143 · PDF p. 55
    17. [17]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Texas · PDF p. 54
    18. [18]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Tennessee · PDF p. 54
    19. [19]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Kilwins Full-Line Stores in the All States group that operated throu… · PDF p. 55
    20. [20]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Kilwins Stores included in the All States 2025 Gross Sales group · PDF p. 55
    21. [21]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Kilwins Stores in the All States group with applicable 2024 financia… · PDF p. 55
    22. [22]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Kilwins stores in the All States group · PDF p. 55
    23. [23]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 59

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD

    Territory & operations

    247 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

    Loading…

    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.

    CinnabonBaskin-RobbinsRRemaxKIKona IceAAAuntie Anne'sShipley Do-Nuts

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Kilwins vs CinnabonKilwins vs Baskin-RobbinsKilwins vs RemaxKilwins vs Kona IceKilwins vs Auntie Anne'sKilwins vs Shipley Do-Nuts
    Compare reviewed facts

    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 19 · PDF p. 55 · 2026 FDD

      Our summary: Transaction value average — All States 2025

      “All States (143 stores) $18.11 $18.09 71 50%”

      Note: PDF p.55 labels the All States Transaction Values row as 143 stores, but Note 5 on PDF p.57 says the Transaction Value table represents 128 franchised stores. The source does not settle which sample count applies to these metrics.

    • Item 19 · PDF p. 55 · 2026 FDD

      Our summary: Transaction value median — All States 2025

      “All States (143 stores) $18.11 $18.09 71 50%”

      Note: PDF p.55 labels the All States Transaction Values row as 143 stores, but Note 5 on PDF p.57 says the Transaction Value table represents 128 franchised stores. The source does not settle which sample count applies to these metrics.

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.

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