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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Cinnabon vs Mister Softee

    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.

    Cinnabon2026 FDDMister Softee2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Cinnabon

    $29,250 – $1,205,400

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Mister Softee

    $297,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 10

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Cinnabon

    $3,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 30

    Mister Softee

    $7,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Royalty · Item 6

    Cinnabon

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31

    Mister Softee

    $4,045

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Cinnabon discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Cinnabon has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Cinnabon

    $29,250 – $1,205,400
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Mister Softee

    $297,000
    Total $ — $297000
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 10
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Cinnabon

    $3,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 30

    Mister Softee

    $7,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Cinnabon

    6%
    OTHER FEES Type of Fee 1, 5 Amount Date Due Remarks Royalty Fee — 6%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31

    Mister Softee

    $4,045
    Annual royalty, paid monthly under approved payment plan
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Cinnabon

    1%
    l Marketing Obligation Currently each calendar quarter, you must spend not less than — 1% — 1%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 32

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Cinnabon

    1,338
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 104

    Mister Softee

    617
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 26
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Cinnabon

    +364
    Calculated: 974 at end of 2023 → 1,338 at end of 2025

    Mister Softee

    +23
    Calculated: 594 at end of 2023 → 617 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Cinnabon

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Cinnabon

    1986
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Cinnabon

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Cinnabon
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Enclosed mall — 2nd Quartile
    47 bakeries
    other Enclosed mall 2nd Quartile
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 100
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Enclosed mall — Bottom Quartile
    47 bakeries
    other Enclosed mall Bottom Quartile
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 100
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Enclosed mall — Total
    $665,401
    other Enclosed mall Total
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 100
    +12 more groups in the full report
    Mister Softee

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Item 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.

    Cinnabon vs Mister Softee: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Cinnabon or Mister Softee?
    Cinnabon: $29,250 – $1,205,400 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Mister Softee: $297,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 10). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Cinnabon. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Cinnabon and Mister Softee royalties compare?
    Cinnabon: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31); Mister Softee: $4,045 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Cinnabon or Mister Softee?
    Cinnabon: 1,338 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 104); Mister Softee: 617 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 26). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Cinnabon and Mister Softee disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Cinnabon has reviewed Item 19 figures for 15 location groups; Mister Softee makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    Full Cinnabon report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Mister Softee report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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