Loading FDD preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Every FDD, analyzed and searchable
Franchise Disclosure Documents are 200+ page legal filings every franchisor must provide. We've read 1,700+ of them and extracted the key data — fees, revenue, contacts, litigation, and more — so you don't have to.
BRUSTER'S
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream franchises operate retail ice cream stores offering premium ice cream, sherbet, Italian ices, frozen yogurt, frozen desserts, beverages, food products, and related retail items, all made fresh on-site daily. The business model centers on franchising freestanding or end-cap locations (1,400-1,600 sq ft) that provide on-premises dining, carry-out, and approved third-party delivery services using a standardized system of recipes, operations, and Proprietary Marks. They target consumers seeking high-quality, fresh frozen treats in a modern environment, including families and dessert enthusiasts in local communities.
Loading preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 3% ad fund
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Data for 183 franchised outlets open and operating a standard 7-day schedule for Calendar Year 2025, operating a minimum of 358 days, as reported in Table 1.
* Average gross revenue is calculated as a weighted average for Calendar Year 2025 from Table 1, 'Average Unit Volume (AUV) of Franchise-Owned Bruster's Ice Cream Stores'. The calculation uses the AUV for the Top-Range ($1,096,870), Mid-Range ($693,606), and Bottom-Range ($449,474) segments, each corresponding to 61 stores. The weighted average is (61 * $1,096,870 + 61 * $693,606 + 61 * $449,474) / 183 total stores = $746,650. This matches the 'Overall 2025' AUV provided in Table 1. Median gross revenue ($685,840), revenue top quartile ($1,096,870), and revenue bottom quartile ($449,474) are directly extracted from the 'Overall 2025', 'AUV Top-Range', and 'AUV Bottom-Range' rows for 2025 in Table 1, respectively. Average gross profit is calculated by multiplying the average gross revenue ($746,650) by (1 - Average COG %). The Average COG % for franchised locations in 2025 is 23.70% as stated in Table 4, 'Cost of Goods (COG) as a Percentage of Gross Sales of Franchise and Company-Owned Ice Cream Stores'. Therefore, $746,650 * (1 - 0.2370) = $569,693.95. No explicit information on net income, net profit, EBITDA, or overall operating expense ranges (beyond COGS) is provided to estimate net profit ranges.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $746,650
Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
How BRUSTER'S Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Desserts & Ice Cream
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Desserts & Ice Cream
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BRUSTER'S Current | $415K – $1.1M | $40K | 5.0% | 219 |
| RITA'S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC; RITA'S ICE-CUSTARD-HAPPINESS | $315K – $713K | $35K | 6.5% | 569 |
| MENCHIE'S | $180K – $515K | $54K | 6.0% | 295 |
| DIPPIN' DOTS | $139K – $399K | $35K | 6.0% | 260 |
| MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY | $355K – $477K | $25K | 6.0% | 249 |
| HAAGEN DAZS SHOP | $213K – $592K | $30K | 4.0% | 215 |
Desserts & Ice Cream Average 28 franchises | $326K – $656K | $37K | 7.0% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 28 Desserts & Ice Cream franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2025)
Outlets by state across the United States
+10 more states
Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for BRUSTER'S franchisees (2010 – 2025)
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.
109 SBA loans on record
Unlock SBA loan history with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Franchisee Contacts
223 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
223 Contacts Available
Unlock all BRUSTER'S franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Plaintiff claimed injury from products negligently served at a franchised location, with claims against the franchisee, franchisor, and parent company. Litigation is ongoing.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a BRUSTER'S franchise ranges from $414,900 to $1,143,700. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
More Food & Beverage Franchises
Subway
Food & Beverage
MCDONALD'S
Food & Beverage
DUNKIN'
Food & Beverage
DOMINO'S PIZZA
Food & Beverage
Burger King
Food & Beverage
AFC
Food & Beverage