la Madeleine Cafés
Franchise research report · reviewed 2025 disclosure data
Researching la Madeleine Cafés franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
la Madeleine Cafés: You will operate under the Franchise Agreement as the “Café.
Headline figures
la Madeleine Cafés quick facts
- Is la Madeleine Cafés a franchise?
- Yes. la Madeleine Cafés offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 62 franchised and 29 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71).
- How much does it cost to open a la Madeleine Cafés franchise?
- The la Madeleine Cafés Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $448,250–$856,353 for express café initial investment $448,250 to $856,353 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1); $1,230,360–$2,254,160 for bakery café initial investment excluding real estate $1,230,360 to $2,254,160 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 22). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the la Madeleine Cafés initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee is $40,000 (2025 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 14). Details
- What ongoing fees does la Madeleine Cafés charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 15). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 4% · 3% brand fund, 1% local); non-traditional 0% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 16). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does la Madeleine Cafés disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The la Madeleine Cafés FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2025 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 69). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many la Madeleine Cafés locations are there?
- The FDD reports 91 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is la Madeleine Cafés 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: $448,250 – $856,353 (Express Café initial investment $448,250 to $856,353); $1,230,360 – $2,254,160 (Bakery Café initial investment excluding real estate $1,230,360 to $2,254,160).
- 2Item 19 reports revenue for 25 locations.
- 3Outlets grew by 1 in 2024, to 91 (Coverage not stated in the reviewed record, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
la Madeleine Cafés 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 2 single-unit formats
2025 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Express Café initial investment $448,250 to $856,353PDF p. 1$448,250 – $856,353
- Bakery Café initial investment excluding real estate $1,230,360 to $2,254,160PDF p. 22$1,230,360 – $2,254,160
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
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.
- Standard royalty 5% of Gross SalesMain ongoing fee
3 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?
One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.
25 locations
Revenue · 25 locations
- Who is counted
- 2024 franchised Bakery Cafés at traditional locations, top 50% by gross sales
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.
2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71
Net +4 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 ($448,250 – $2,254,160) vary most by market, and why?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units went from 90 to 91 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. 14
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 69
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 71
"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.