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Frios
Frios Franchising Company, LLC offers franchises for mobile gourmet pops businesses operating Sweet Ride Vans, Happiness Hauler Trailers, or Nelson Carts that serve specialty gourmet ice pops and other menu items, with an option for wholesale sales to businesses within a designated territory. Franchisees must follow the Frios System, using proprietary products, supplies, and procedures to ensure brand consistency. The business model targets consumers seeking unique frozen desserts in a highly competitive, seasonal market against food trucks, ice cream shops, and other dessert vendors.
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Franchise Costs
Fixed weekly royalty ($125+ depending on territories/weeks) + up to 2% brand fund (currently not assessed) + $250/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Data based on 50 Operational Franchise Outlets that provided 'Number of Pops Purchased' for the 2024 Calendar Year.
* The provided financial performance representation for Operational Franchise Outlets in Item 19 consists solely of 'Number of Pops Purchased' for the 2024 Calendar Year, not dollar-denominated revenue or profit figures. Therefore, all dollar-amount financial metrics (average_gross_revenue, median_gross_revenue, revenue_top_quartile, revenue_bottom_quartile, average_net_income, average_net_profit, average_ebitda, best_guess_profit_low, best_guess_profit_high) are set to null as per the instructions which require dollar amounts for these fields. The 'Number of Pops Purchased' for the 50 Operational Franchise Outlets had an overall average of 29,972 and a median of 26,592, as reported in Tables 2, 3, and 4.
Extracted Item 19 Section
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Unlock financial performance dataFrios Franchise Analysis
Imagine rolling into the frozen treats market with a mobile gourmet pops empire that's exploding in popularity, yet demands far less capital than most food trucks. Frios' FDD unveils Item 19 earnings data that could reshape your view of profitability in this seasonal niche, alongside a lean fee structure and SBA lending activity hinting at real-world financing paths. But with competition from every ice cream truck on the block, does this low-barrier model deliver the chills or just a cold shoulder?
Item 7 lays out the financial entry: $71,615 to $90,654 total investment, with a $37,500 franchise fee covering initial training and territory rights for Sweet Ride Vans, Happiness Hauler Trailers, or Nelson Carts. Ongoing fees skip traditional percentage royalties for a fixed weekly rate starting at $125 (scaling with territories and weeks), a $250 monthly technology fee, and up to 2% brand fund (currently waived). Item 19 discloses average gross sales, positioning Frios as viable for owner-operators in high-footfall areas, though seasonality demands smart event scheduling against rivals like ice cream shops.
System health shines in Item 20: 108 franchised units (plus 1 corporate) as of 2024, up 21% from 89 in 2023, with 20 projected new units signaling momentum since franchising began in 2018. Yet 7 terminations, 3 non-renewals, and 6 transfers over three years flag execution risks in a competitive, weather-dependent space. SBA data shows 3 loans averaging $86,467, suggesting accessible funding for qualified buyers. For risk-tolerant entrepreneurs eyeing $70K+ startups with growth tailwinds, Frios offers a tasty bite—but only if you master the mobile hustle.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How Frios Compares
Key Insights
- One of the lowest investment costs in Food Truck (ranked #1 of 7)
- #3 largest franchise system in Food Truck
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Food Truck
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Frios Current | $72K – $91K | $38K | N/A | 108 |
| TRAVELIN' TOM'S COFFEE | $202K – $255K | $15K | N/A | 258 |
| DONUTNV | $190K – $273K | $60K | N/A | 142 |
| Cousins Maine Lobster | $194K – $651K | $40K | 8.0% | 65 |
| Wild Bill's | $156K – $215K | $40K | 0.0% | 14 |
| On the Hook Fish and Chips | $619K – $1.1M | $50K | 7.0% | 3 |
Food Truck Average 7 franchises | $227K – $393K | $39K | 7.5% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 7 Food Truck 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
+11 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Frios franchisees (2018 – 2020)
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.
3 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
81 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
81 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 Frios franchise ranges from $71,615 to $90,654. This includes a franchise fee of $37,500.
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