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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles 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.

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles2026 FDDMister Softee2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    $189,400 – $454,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

    Mister Softee

    $297,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 10

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    $35,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Mister Softee

    $7,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Royalty · Item 6

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Mister Softee

    $4,045

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Only Gordo's Bubble Waffles has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    $189,400 – $454,000
    Total initial investment — Franchise Agreement
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    $35,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    6%
    Royalty Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    2%
    Brand Marketing Fund Contribution maximum — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    2
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    +1
    Calculated: 1 at end of 2023 → 2 at end of 2025

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Mister Softee

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

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Mister Softee

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bayview affiliate-owned Reporting Business
    $188,985
    other Bayview Cost of Goods Sold
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 43
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Marquette affiliate-owned Reporting Business
    $1,077,048
    other Marquette GROSS SALES
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    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.

    Gordo's Bubble Waffles vs Mister Softee: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Gordo's Bubble Waffles or Mister Softee?
    Gordo's Bubble Waffles: $189,400 – $454,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17); 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 Gordo's Bubble Waffles. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Gordo's Bubble Waffles and Mister Softee royalties compare?
    Gordo's Bubble Waffles: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); 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, Gordo's Bubble Waffles or Mister Softee?
    Gordo's Bubble Waffles: 2 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46); 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 Gordo's Bubble Waffles and Mister Softee disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Gordo's Bubble Waffles has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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

    Keep researching

    Full Gordo's Bubble Waffles 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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