Mister Softee Franchise
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Mister Softee Franchise franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Mister Softee franchise operates mobile ice cream trucks that serve neighborhoods across the United States, bringing frozen treats directly to customers with it
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Mister Softee Franchise franchise?
- The Mister Softee Franchise 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 Franchise 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 Franchise 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 Franchise disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Mister Softee Franchise FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Mister Softee Franchise 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 royaltyMain ongoing fee
15 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 Franchise 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 Franchise 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. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
188 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
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $44,994 |
| 2024 | current portion of loans receivable | $40,000 |
| 2024 | loans receivable, net of current portion | $60,000 |
| 2024 | due from affiliate | $2,761,229 |
| 2024 | total assets | $2,956,475 |
| 2024 | liabilities and member's equity current liabilities accounts payable | $11,676 |
| 2024 | total current liabilities | $43,551 |
| 2024 | paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $581,995 |
| 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 | advertising | $221,333 |
| 2024 | auto expense | $780 |
| 2024 | credit services | $335 |
| 2024 | filing fees | $76 |
| 2024 | legal and professional fees | $114,799 |
| 2024 | miscellaneous | $12,917 |
| 2024 | paint fund | $71,762 |
| 2024 | total expenses | $1,748,814 |
| 2024 | income from operations | $164,074 |
| 2024 | net income | $185,574 |
| 2024 | member's equity - end of year | $2,203,013 |
| 2024 | accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $7,318 |
| 2024 | accounts payable | $11,676 |
| 2024 | deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$4,625 |
| 2024 | paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$94,396 |
| 2024 | net cash provided by operating activities | $105,547 |
| 2024 | net cash used in financing activities | -$100,000 |
| 2024 | net increase | $5,547 |
| 2024 | cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | $44,705 |
| 2024 | cash and cash equivalents - end of year | $50,252 |
| 2024 | issuance of loan receivable | -$100,000 |
| 2024 | current assets cash and cash equivalents | $50,252 |
| 2024 | total current assets | $135,246 |
| 2024 | current portion of deferred franchise fees | $31,875 |
| 2024 | deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $127,916 |
| 2024 | member's equity - beginning of year | $2,017,439 |
| 2024 | franchise fees | $35,927 |
| 2024 | dealers meetings | $505 |
| 2024 | licensing fee | $450,000 |
| 2024 | other income | $21,500 |
| 2024 | management fees | $865,000 |
| 2024 | travel and entertainment | $11,307 |
| 2023 | current assets cash and cash equivalents | $44,705 |
| 2023 | accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $52,312 |
| 2023 | total current assets | $97,017 |
| 2023 | due from affiliate | $2,761,229 |
| 2023 | current portion of deferred franchise fees | $34,625 |
| 2023 | total current liabilities | $34,625 |
| 2023 | deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $129,791 |
| 2023 | paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $676,391 |
| 2023 | member's equity | $2,017,439 |
| 2023 | royalties | $1,424,421 |
| 2023 | paint fund income | $310,357 |
| 2023 | franchise fees | $64,213 |
| 2023 | total revenues | $1,800,991 |
| 2023 | auto expense | $1,205 |
| 2023 | credit services | $531 |
| 2023 | filing fees | $76 |
| 2023 | legal and professional fees | $102,239 |
| 2023 | licensing fee | $450,000 |
| 2023 | management fees | $650,000 |
| 2023 | miscellaneous | $12,070 |
| 2023 | paint fund | $101,430 |
| 2023 | travel and entertainment | $11,960 |
| 2023 | total expenses | $1,586,560 |
| 2023 | income from operations | $214,431 |
| 2023 | other income | $25,449 |
| 2023 | net income | $239,880 |
| 2023 | member's equity - beginning of year | $1,982,762 |
| 2023 | member's equity - end of year | $2,017,439 |
| 2023 | accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $2,292 |
| 2023 | accounts payable | -$8,052 |
| 2023 | deferred franchise fees, netMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$22,813 |
| 2023 | net cash provided by operating activities | $106,200 |
| 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 | total assets | $2,858,246 |
| 2023 | advertising income | $2,000 |
| 2023 | total liabilities and member's equity | $2,858,246 |
| 2023 | distributionsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$205,203 |
| 2023 | total liabilities | $840,807 |
| 2023 | advertising | $257,049 |
| 2023 | distributionsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$205,203 |
| 2023 | paint fund liabilityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$105,107 |
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.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. 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 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2023 — End
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is a Franchised ownership row of Item 20 Table 1, rather than the national/systemwide Total row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2024 — Start
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is a Franchised ownership row of Item 20 Table 1, rather than the national/systemwide Total row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2025 — Start
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is the Franchised row of Item 20 Table 1, rather than the national/systemwide Total row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2023 — Start
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is a Franchised ownership row of Item 20 Table 1, rather than the national/systemwide Total row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2024 — End
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is the Franchised row of Item 20 Table 1, rather than the national/systemwide Total row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 26 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 1 Franchised 2025 — End
“Franchised 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 Company/Affiliate Owned 202 3 0 0 0 202 4 0 0 0 202 5 0 0 0 Total Outlets 2023 591 594 +3 2024 594 601 +7 202 5 601 617 +16 ”
Note: This is an ownership-category row in Item 20 rather than a national/systemwide Total row. Per the Item 20 rule, it cannot be verified.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.