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FLIP FLOP SHOPS
Flip Flop Shops franchises operate retail shops specializing in the sale of flip flops, sandals, casual footwear, and related footwear and beach lifestyle accessories. The business model involves granting franchises to qualified applicants to operate under the Flip Flop Shops System, which includes standardized design, decor, operations, and quality controls. They target consumers interested in beach lifestyle products and casual footwear.
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Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 1% brand fund
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 37 franchised Flip Flop Shops Units in the United States and its territories open for at least one full calendar year in 2024.
* The document states that 37 franchised shops are the subject of the financial performance representations. However, the revenue data is segmented by location type (e.g., '36 were situated in common retail spaces', '2 were located in regional malls', '5 were located in super-regional malls', etc.). The sum of the unit counts for these specific location types (36 + 2 + 5 + 9 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 1 = 74) far exceeds the total of 37 units referenced. This indicates that the categories are overlapping, and therefore a single weighted average or median annual sales volume for all 37 units cannot be accurately calculated from the provided data. No explicit overall average or median for all 37 units is provided. Furthermore, the document explicitly states that the financial performance representation 'reflects only revenue of the Franchise Shops and does not reflect any costs of sales, operating expenses, and other costs or expenses', indicating that profit-related metrics are not provided.
Extracted Item 19 Section
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Unlock financial performance dataFLIP FLOP SHOPS Franchise Analysis
Imagine diving into a beach lifestyle franchise only to find the tide turning against it. Flip Flop Shops' FDD teases earnings insights via Item 19 and a trove of SBA loan records that paint an unexpectedly turbulent picture. Can a casual footwear retailer weather these hidden currents, or is the sand shifting underfoot?
Item 7 lays out the financial entry: initial investment ranges from $93,400 to $151,000, including a $30,000 franchise fee. Ongoing fees hit 5% royalty plus 1% brand fund per Item 6. While Item 19 does disclose earnings—check existing units for average revenues and profitability—specific medians aren't public here, urging a deep FDD review. SBA data flags caution: 26 loans averaging $150,423 carry a 34.6% default rate, far above industry norms, suggesting financing hurdles or operational struggles for some owners.
System health metrics from Item 20 reveal contraction: 49 locations in 2023 dropped to 47 in 2024 (-4% growth), with just 4 projected new units and 3 transfers. This downsizing in a niche beachwear market hints at saturation or seasonal vulnerabilities, despite franchising since 2007. For investors eyeing specialty retail, the low startup cost tempts, but high defaults and shrinkage demand scrutiny—strong beach town sites might thrive, yet broader risks loom large.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How FLIP FLOP SHOPS Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 83% of Specialty Retail franchises
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Specialty Retail
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FLIP FLOP SHOPS Current | $93K – $151K | $30K | 5.0% | 47 |
| MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS | $48K – $260K | N/A | N/A | 797 |
| CORNWELL | $80K – $324K | N/A | N/A | 793 |
| BATTERIES PLUS | $285K – $537K | $50K | 5.0% | 601 |
| PET SUPPLIES PLUS | $537K – $2.0M | $50K | 3.0% | 502 |
| WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED | $227K – $379K | $40K | 4.0% | 340 |
Specialty Retail Average 47 franchises | $284K – $703K | $39K | 5.0% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 47 Specialty Retail 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
+1 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for FLIP FLOP SHOPS franchisees (2011 – 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.
26 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
75 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
75 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 FLIP FLOP SHOPS franchise ranges from $93,400 to $151,000. This includes a franchise fee of $30,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.