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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Waffle Cabin vs Wetzels Pretzels

    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.

    WCWaffle Cabin2026 FDDWetzels Pretzels2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Waffle Cabin

    $91,000 – $189,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Wetzels Pretzels

    $147,000 – $172,125

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available

    Wetzels Pretzels

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Waffle Cabin

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Wetzels Pretzels

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Waffle Cabin and Wetzels Pretzels disclose 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 (Waffle Cabin: 46, Wetzels Pretzels: 10). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Waffle Cabin

    $91,000 – $189,000
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Wetzels Pretzels

    $147,000 – $172,125
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Wetzels Pretzels

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Waffle Cabin

    5%
    Royaltygrosssales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Wetzels Pretzels

    6%
    et-Front Bakery located within a Walmart location, the Royalty Fee may be reduced to — 6%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    Wetzels Pretzels

    1%
    he Manual. See note 2. Advertising Fund Contributions For a Non-Street-Front Bakery, — 1% — 1%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Waffle Cabin

    58
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47

    Wetzels Pretzels

    458
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 87
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Waffle Cabin

    +6
    Calculated: 52 at end of 2023 → 58 at end of 2025

    Wetzels Pretzels

    +71
    Calculated: 387 at end of 2023 → 458 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Wetzels Pretzels

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

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Wetzels Pretzels

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

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Wetzels Pretzels

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    WCWaffle Cabin
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Holiday Valley, NY; 1 Cabin
    1 units
    other Holiday Valley, NY
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Okemo Mountain, VT; 2 Cabin
    2 units
    other Okemo Mountain, VT
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Killington Resort, VT; 4 Cabin
    $612,929
    other Killington Resort, VT
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    +43 more groups in the full report
    Wetzels Pretzels
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mall stores without RMU
    $837,216
    other ZELS Bakeries that operate without an RMU achieve Average Adjusted Gross Revenues of
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 83
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — NTO/transit
    $562,792
    other Adj. Gross Revenues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 82
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Concession truck/trailer
    43 percent
    other % of WETZEL’S PRETZELS Bakeries at or Above Average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 82
    +7 more groups in the full report

    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.

    Waffle Cabin vs Wetzels Pretzels: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Waffle Cabin or Wetzels Pretzels?
    Waffle Cabin: $91,000 – $189,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Wetzels Pretzels: $147,000 – $172,125 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Waffle Cabin. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Waffle Cabin and Wetzels Pretzels royalties compare?
    Waffle Cabin: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); Wetzels Pretzels: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 33). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Waffle Cabin or Wetzels Pretzels?
    Waffle Cabin: 58 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47); Wetzels Pretzels: 458 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 87). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Waffle Cabin and Wetzels Pretzels disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Waffle Cabin has reviewed Item 19 figures for 46 location groups; Wetzels Pretzels has reviewed Item 19 figures for 10 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    Full Waffle Cabin report

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

    Full Wetzels Pretzels report

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

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