Mister Softee
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Mister Softee franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Mister Softee operates mobile soft-serve ice cream businesses using branded trucks that travel through neighborhoods and attend local events. Drivers serve customers directly from the trucks with soft ice cream and related frozen treats.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Mister Softee franchise?
- The Mister Softee Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $297,000 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 10). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Mister Softee initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $7,500 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 8). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Mister Softee charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $4,045 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 9). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Mister Softee disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Mister Softee FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Mister Softee locations are there?
- The FDD reports 617 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 26). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $297,000 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets grew by 16 in 2025, to 617 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
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
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 10
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8
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.
- Annual royalty, paid monthly under approved payment planMain ongoing fee
14 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?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Mister Softee has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 26
Net +23 outlets, 2023–2025
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 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 ($297,000) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Mister Softee reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units went from 601 to 617 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?
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. 10
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 8
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 26
"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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | accounts receivable | $44,994 |
| 2024 | current portion of loans receivable | $40,000 |
| 2024 | total current assets | $135,246 |
| 2024 | loans receivable, net of current portion | $60,000 |
| 2024 | due from affiliate | $2,761,229 |
| 2024 | total assets | $2,956,475 |
| 2024 | current portion of deferred franchise fees | $31,875 |
| 2024 | total current liabilities | $43,551 |
| 2024 | deferred franchise fees, net | $127,916 |
| 2024 | total liabilities | $753,462 |
| 2024 | member's equity | $2,203,013 |
| 2024 | total liabilities and member's equity | $2,956,475 |
| 2024 | royalties | $1,548,581 |
| 2024 | advertising income | $53,923 |
| 2024 | paint fund income | $274,457 |
| 2024 | total revenues | $1,912,888 |
| 2024 | licensing fee | $450,000 |
| 2024 | miscellaneous | $12,917 |
| 2024 | paint fund | $71,762 |
| 2024 | travel and entertainment | $11,307 |
| 2024 | total expenses | $1,748,814 |
| 2024 | income from operations | $164,074 |
| 2024 | other income | $21,500 |
| 2024 | net cash provided by operating activities | $105,547 |
| 2024 | issuance of loan receivable | -$100,000 |
| 2024 | net increase | $5,547 |
| 2024 | cash and cash equivalents - end of year | $50,252 |
| 2024 | paint fund liability | $581,995 |
| 2024 | auto expense | $780 |
| 2024 | current assets cash and cash equivalents | $50,252 |
| 2024 | dealers meetings | $505 |
| 2024 | legal and professional fees | $114,799 |
| 2024 | liabilities and member's equity current liabilities accounts payable | $11,676 |
| 2024 | franchise fees | $35,927 |
| 2024 | advertising | $221,333 |
| 2024 | credit services | $335 |
| 2024 | filing fees | $76 |
| 2024 | management fees | $865,000 |
| 2024 | member's equity - end of year | $2,203,013 |
| 2024 | net income | $185,574 |
| 2024 | net cash used in financing activities | -$100,000 |
| 2024 | member's equity - beginning of year | $2,017,439 |
| 2024 | cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | $44,705 |
| 2023 | current assets cash and cash equivalents | $44,705 |
| 2023 | due from affiliate | $2,761,229 |
| 2023 | total assets | $2,858,246 |
| 2023 | current portion of deferred franchise fees | $34,625 |
| 2023 | total current liabilities | $34,625 |
| 2023 | paint fund liability | $676,391 |
| 2023 | total liabilities | $840,807 |
| 2023 | total liabilities and member's equity | $2,858,246 |
| 2023 | royalties | $1,424,421 |
| 2023 | paint fund income | $310,357 |
| 2023 | licensing fee | $450,000 |
| 2023 | management fees | $650,000 |
| 2023 | paint fund | $101,430 |
| 2023 | total expenses | $1,586,560 |
| 2023 | income from operations | $214,431 |
| 2023 | net cash used in financing activities | -$205,203 |
| 2023 | net increase | -$99,003 |
| 2023 | cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | $143,708 |
| 2023 | cash and cash equivalents - end of year | $44,705 |
| 2023 | accounts receivable | $52,312 |
| 2023 | deferred franchise fees, net | $129,791 |
| 2023 | total revenues | $1,800,991 |
| 2023 | total current assets | $97,017 |
| 2023 | franchise fees | $64,213 |
| 2023 | member's equity | $2,017,439 |
| 2023 | auto expense | $1,205 |
| 2023 | advertising income | $2,000 |
| 2023 | legal and professional fees | $102,239 |
| 2023 | miscellaneous | $12,070 |
| 2023 | advertising | $257,049 |
| 2023 | credit services | $531 |
| 2023 | filing fees | $76 |
| 2023 | travel and entertainment | $11,960 |
| 2023 | net cash provided by operating activities | $106,200 |
| 2023 | net income | $239,880 |
| 2023 | member's equity - beginning of year | $1,982,762 |
| 2023 | other income | $25,449 |
| 2023 | member's equity - end of year | $2,017,439 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $2,292 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $11,676 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$8,052 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$4,625 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$22,813 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$105,107 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $7,318 |
| — | operating cash-flow change in paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$94,396 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
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
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.