Ben & Jerry's Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1977

Franchising Since: 1981

Headquarters: South Burlington, Vermont

Estimated Number of Units: 155 (US only)

Franchise Description: Ben & Jerry’s Franchising, Inc. is the franchisor. Franchisees operate a “Ben & Jerry’s” ice cream scoop shop featuring a menu of ice cream, ice milk, sorbet, frozen yogurt, frozen desserts, toppings, confections, novelties, fountain drinks, and other food and beverage items. Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops may vary in size, assortment of products offered, design and layout, based on a variety of factors, including the size of the premises, the ability to provide for customer seating, and the type of location and business where the shop will be operated (such as free standing buildings, in-line units, and self-contained kiosks). Under a separate FDD, the franchisor offers a franchise program to individuals and businesses that operate as contract feeders and providers of food and other managed services to various types of facilities, institutions and other special purpose venues (the “Special Venue Scoop Shop Program”).
Training Overview: The franchisor will provide initial Scoop U Training for up to two trainees prior to the opening of the shop, and for one additional trainee within the first six months of opening. Scoop U training for scoop shops consists of three full days of instruction conducted at the franchisor’s central office headquarters in South Burlington, Vermont, along with pre-work prior to arriving in Vermont and supplemental remote/virtual instruction as needed. The franchisor will determine the level and duration of opening services franchisees receive, based both on the results of their performance and evaluations received during Scoop U Training as well as its assessment of their level of readiness in opening the new shop. Franchisees, their manager and other employees may also be required to attend additional courses, seminars, and other training programs as the franchisor may require from time to time. Every five years, franchisees must also attend such additional courses, seminars, and other training programs as the franchisor may require.

Territory Granted: Franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory. The Franchise Agreement will specify an authorized location for the shop. The size and scope of the territory will be determined on a case-to-case basis. The factors that the franchisor considers in determining the size of a territory include current and projected market demand, demographics and population, traffic patterns, access and visibility, location of other scoop shops and the franchisor’s future development plans. During the term of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisor will not establish or operate, nor license any other person to establish or operate a shop in the territory except as may be permitted under the Franchise Agreement.

Obligations and Restrictions: During the term of the franchise, except as the franchisor otherwise approves in writing, franchisees must devote their “full time and best efforts” to the management and operation of the shop, which consists of a minimum of 40 hours per week with certain additional availability to attend to issues that arise outside of the normal business hours that they determine need to be addressed. Franchisees may hire one or more fully trained managers who have completed Scoop U Training to assist them with the operation of the shop so long as the franchisee maintains their full-time role as the operator of their shop(s). Either franchisees, or their fully trained manager who has completed Scoop U Training to the franchisor’s satisfaction, must, at all times, provide supervision of the shop. If the franchisees are a corporation, a partnership, or a limited liability company, they must have a person who has a minimum of 20% beneficial interest in the entity that is the franchisee devote his/her full time and best efforts to the management and operation of the shop. Franchisees must not use the premises of their shop for any other purpose or activity that is not provided for in the Franchise Agreement without first obtaining the franchisor’s written consent. Franchisees must keep the shop open and in normal operation for the minimum hours and days is required by their lease (or, if the lease does not state minimum hours and days, then the minimum hours and days that the franchisor may specify in the manual or otherwise in writing). Franchisees must sell only those products that the franchisor has expressly approved in writing, and which meet its current standards as established in the manual or otherwise in writing. Franchisees must not sell any other kind of service or product without first obtaining the franchisor’s written consent.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The term of the franchise agreement is 10 years for scoop shops (unless the franchisor agrees to a shorter period). Franchisees may renew for one additional period of 10 years for scoop shops (unless the franchisor goes to a shorter period), if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor will not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or obligation.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Preliminary Agreement Deposit (to be credited towards initial franchise fees)	$5,000	$10,000
Initial Franchise Fee	$19,750	$39,500
Plans, Development & Permits	$3,500	$12,000
Leasehold Improvements & Construction	$55,000	$230,000
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, Casework, & Smallwares	$65,000	$135,000
Signage	$5,000	$17,500
Professional Fees	$3,000	$6,000
POS	$1,800	$2,300
Online Ordering System Hardware	$1,000	$1,500
Internet Connectivity and Telephone	$1,000	$1,500
Deposits	$3,000	$8,000
Initial Training	$1,000	$3,000
Inventory	$6,000	$14,000
Insurance	$500	$2,500
Grand Opening Advertising	$3,000	$3,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$50,000	$75,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL*	$218,550	$550,800

*Range covers from in-line scoop shops up to full-sized scoop shops.

Name of Fee	Low	High
Preliminary Agreement Deposit (to be credited towards initial franchise fees)	$5,000	$10,000
Initial Franchise Fee	$19,750	$39,500
Plans, Development & Permits	$1,500	$5,000
Leasehold Improvements & Construction	$5,500	$65,000
Kiosk base fee — includes front and back counters, lighting, sinks, sneeze guards, & delivery	$45,000	$65,000
Equipment and Smallwares	$24,000	$35,000
Menu Board Systems	$1,600	$3,500
Signage	$1,000	$7,500
Professional Fees	$3,000	$6,000
POS	$1,800	$2,300
Online Ordering System Hardware	$1,000	$1,500
Internet Connectivity and Telephone	$1,000	$1,500
Deposits	$3,000	$8,000
Initial Training	$1,000	$3,000
Inventory	$6,000	$10,000
Insurance	$500	$2,500
Grand Opening Advertising	$3,000	$3,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$50,000	$75,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL**	$168,650	$333,300

**Range is for kiosk scoop shops.

Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	Currently 3% of gross sales.
Advertising Obligations	Total: Varies but total will not exceed 4% of gross sales. Current Allocation: local advertising and promotion: 2%; fund contributions: 2%; cooperative contributions: none.
Transfer	$6,000
Renewal Fee	$12,000
Training for New or Replacement Manager(s)	The then-current fee for Scoop U Training (currently $1,800).
Refresher Training	The then-current fee for refresher training (currently $0).
Audit by Franchisor	Cost and expenses connected with inspection and audit (including travel, lodging, and wage expenses, and reasonable accounting and legal costs).
Re-Inspection Fee	Will vary under circumstances.
Interest on Overdue Payments	1.5% per month, or maximum rate permitted by law.
Fee on Returned Checks	The then-current fee for returned checks (currently $0).
Insurance Procurement	Cost of procuring insurance for the franchisee.
Relocation Fee	$3,000
Securities Offering	Will vary under circumstances.
Costs and Attorneys' Fees	Will vary under circumstances.
Indemnification	Will vary under circumstances.
National Convention Registration	Will vary.
Refurbishment Expense	In the range of $5,000-$15,000 for required changes.
Product and Supplier Evaluation and Testing Fee	Cost and expenses incurred by the franchisor in connection with the product/supplier evaluation and testing.
Point of Sale (POS) SaaS License Fee	Will vary depending on POS vendor. Currently: $100 per month.
Technology Fee	Varies, but shall not exceed $3,500 annually. Currently: $0 per month.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Ben & Jerry's (Scoop Shops). Year of FDD: 2025.
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