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Ben's Soft Pretzels
Ben’s Soft Pretzels Franchising Corporation grants franchises for operating BEN’S SOFT PRETZELS Stores that specialize in fresh soft pretzels, pretzel pockets, soft drinks, and other menu items prepared according to proprietary recipes, specifications, and standards. The business model focuses on franchising small-format stores (290-1,100 sq ft) and mobile units in high-traffic locations like malls, airports, stadiums, or retailers, with support for independently owned operations. It targets consumers seeking quick-service gourmet pretzel snacks in captive and retail venues.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 1.5% ad fund + $279.50/mo POS/technology fee + $200/mo lease administration fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Gross Sales for 62 franchisee-owned stores that were open and operated for the entire 2024 Measurement Period. Specific exclusions mentioned in the FDD (e.g., baseball parks, new stores not open entire year) may account for the difference between this sample size and the total franchised outlets listed in the Systemwide Outlet Summary.
* Calculated average, median, top quartile, and bottom quartile gross revenue from individual Gross Sales figures for 62 franchisee-owned stores for the 2024 Measurement Period. Individual store figures were extracted from the 'Franchisee-Owned Operating Stores' tables across pages 3, 4, and 5 of the FDD. For 'Multi-Store Operators' and 'Venue/Mobile only' sections, individual component sales were used as distinct units if they were clearly delineated and summed up to the main entry's total; otherwise, the consolidated total for the business unit was used as one unit's sales. No information on net income, net profit, EBITDA, or expenses was provided.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $267,127
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Unlock financial performance dataBen's Soft Pretzels Franchise Analysis
Imagine dropping into high-traffic spots like malls or stadiums with a compact pretzel stand that churns out fresh bites—Ben's Soft Pretzels nails that niche. Item 19 lays out revenue snapshots for existing units, while recent FDD data hints at steady expansion amid a snack boom. But with modest growth and some system churn, does this quick-service model deliver the returns to justify the footprint?
Item 7 details the initial investment from $122,200 to $344,500, covering small-format stores (290-1,100 sq ft) or mobile units, with the $30,000 franchise fee upfront. Ongoing fees hit 6% royalty plus 1.5% ad fund, plus fixed $279.50/month POS/tech and $200/month lease admin—keeping costs predictable for high-volume locations. Item 19 shines here: average gross sales $267,127, median $197,995 across franchised units, suggesting solid performance in captive venues like airports, though variability means top performers pull ahead.
System health looks stable at 78 franchise locations (7 corporate), up 4% from 75 in 2023, but watch the 3 terminations, 2 non-renewals, and 4 transfers in the latest FDD year. SBA data backs viability with 10 loans averaging $69,620, ideal for funding builds without massive capital. For a food franchise, these numbers signal low-barrier entry into gourmet snacks—if you nail traffic-heavy sites, revenues could fund quick payback, but softer medians warn against over-optimism in retail settings.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How Ben's Soft Pretzels Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 89% of Fast Food franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ben's Soft Pretzels Current | $122K – $345K | $30K | 6.0% | 78 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| LITTLE CAESARS | $377K – $1.8M | $20K | 6.0% | 3,788 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| KFC (NON-TRADITIONAL) | $1.2M – $4.2M | $45K | N/A | 3,404 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.5M – $2.5M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,120 |
Fast Food Average 132 franchises | $602K – $1.6M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 132 Fast Food franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Ben's Soft Pretzels franchisees (2015 – 2024)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
10 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
73 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
73 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Ben's Soft Pretzels franchise ranges from $122,200 to $344,500. This includes a franchise fee of $30,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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