Franchise opportunities compared
Auntie Anne's vs Crispy Cones
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Auntie Anne's
$115,225 – $1,811,400
2026 FDD · Item 7Crispy Cones
$373,650
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Auntie Anne's
$4,800
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29Crispy Cones
$35,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 9Royalty · Item 6
Auntie Anne's
7%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30Crispy Cones
5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Auntie Anne's discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Auntie Anne's: 7, Crispy Cones: 5). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Auntie Anne's
Crispy ConesAuntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
System scale & health
Auntie Anne's
Crispy ConesAuntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Auntie Anne's
Crispy Cones
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Auntie Anne's
Crispy ConesItem 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Auntie Anne's vs Crispy Cones: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Auntie Anne's or Crispy Cones?
- Auntie Anne's: $115,225 – $1,811,400 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Crispy Cones: $373,650 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Auntie Anne's. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Auntie Anne's and Crispy Cones royalties compare?
- Auntie Anne's: 7% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30); Crispy Cones: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Auntie Anne's or Crispy Cones?
- Auntie Anne's: 1,236 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 95); Crispy Cones: 21 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 42). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Auntie Anne's and Crispy Cones disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Auntie Anne's has reviewed Item 19 figures for 7 location groups; Crispy Cones has reviewed Item 19 figures for 5 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching

Full Auntie Anne's report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

Full Crispy Cones report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure


