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GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO.
Great Harvest Franchising, LLC offers franchises for high-quality bakery cafes featuring fresh-baked whole wheat bread, baked goods, soups, salads, sandwiches, and related menu items under the Great Harvest trademark. Franchisees operate using proprietary recipes, on-site bread baking, and unique systems for management, training, and promotion, with options for multi-unit development and spoke outlets sourcing from hub locations. The target market is the general public seeking fresh baked goods, soups, sandwiches, and salads in a competitive fast-casual setting.
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Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 2.5% brand fund
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Gross sales data is based on 49 franchised Great Harvest Bakery Cafe outlets that operated for the full calendar year 2024. Income and expense data (used for profit calculations) is based on 33 franchised Great Harvest Bakery Cafe outlets (19 single site, 7 hub and spoke sets/14 total outlets) that submitted income statements for calendar year 2023.
* 1. average_gross_revenue (2024): Calculated as a weighted average for 49 franchised outlets. This consists of 35 Single Site outlets with average gross sales of $948,105, and 7 Hub and Spoke "sets" (14 individual outlets) with average gross sales per set of $1,761,286. Calculation: (35 * $948,105 + 7 * $1,761,286) / (35 + 14) = $928,830.14. 2. average_net_profit (2023): This represents the average operating profit per outlet, calculated as Gross Sales minus Variable Costs and Fixed Costs, for 33 franchised outlets in 2023. This sample includes 19 Single Site outlets and 7 Hub and Spoke "sets" (14 individual outlets). - Total system revenue (2023): (19 * $1,184,488) + (7 * $1,764,680) = $34,858,032. - Total system variable costs (2023): (19 * $822,645) + (7 * $1,191,926) = $23,973,737. - Total system fixed costs (2023): (19 * $133,532) + (7 * $249,808) = $4,285,764. - Total outlets (2023): 19 + 14 = 33. - Average Net Profit (Operating Profit) per outlet: ($34,858,032 - $23,973,737 - $4,285,764) / 33 = $199,955.48. 3. best_guess_profit_low and best_guess_profit_high (2023): Estimated profit range based on the overall average gross sales of 2023 ($1,056,304) and the range of operating profit percentages observed in the 2023 data. - Lowest estimated operating profit percentage: 17.01% (derived from Single Site median figures: 100% - 70.02% variable - 12.97% fixed). - Highest estimated operating profit percentage: 19.51% (derived from Hub and Spoke median figures: 100% - 65.92% variable - 14.57% fixed). - best_guess_profit_low = $1,056,304 * 0.1701 = $179,677.31. - best_guess_profit_high = $1,056,304 * 0.1951 = $206,084.91. Note: Different sample sizes are used for gross revenue (2024 data with 49 outlets) and profit/expense figures (2023 data with 33 outlets) due to data availability for different calendar years as explicitly stated in the source document.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $928,830
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Unlock financial performance dataGREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. Franchise Analysis
With over four decades in franchising, Great Harvest Bread Co. has baked a niche in fresh whole-wheat bread and fast-casual eats, but its modest footprint hints at steady rather than explosive growth. Item 19 disclosures paint a picture of solid revenue potential amid a competitive bakery scene, while SBA loan records reveal a financing path that's seen its share of bumps. What does the trajectory from 1980 to today's system health really signal for your investment dollars?
Franchising since 1980, Great Harvest has maintained 159 locations, with just 1 non-renewal and 10 system transfers in the latest FDD year, pointing to operational stability rather than rapid expansion—projected new units sit at only 6. Item 7 outlines initial investments from $298,145 to $979,639, including a $35,000 franchise fee, followed by 5% royalties and 2.5% brand fund contributions. Average gross revenues hit $928,830 per Item 19, translating to estimated profits of $179,677 to $206,085, which suggests healthy margins for franchisees baking on-site with proprietary recipes.
SBA data underscores accessibility with 93 loans averaging $330,574, though the 11.8% default rate flags higher risk than many peers, potentially tied to the wide investment range suiting varied markets. Litigation notes in the FDD highlight disputes over breach of contract, unpaid fees, and post-termination issues with ex-franchisees, signaling enforcement vigilance that could pressure underperformers. For bread lovers eyeing ownership, the long track record and revenue heft make it intriguing, but the slow growth and legal friction mean scrutinizing local competition and multi-unit potential before committing.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Coffee & Bakery
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Coffee & Bakery
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. Current | $298K – $980K | $35K | 5.0% | 159 |
| PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFÉ | $633K – $4.9M | $35K | 5.0% | 1,112 |
| SCOOTER'S COFFEE | $1.2M – $1.3M | $40K | 6.0% | 882 |
| NOTHING BUNDT CAKES | $667K – $1.0M | $45K | 6.0% | 643 |
| GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES | $341K – $463K | $25K | 6.0% | 395 |
| 7 BREW | $894K – $2.2M | $35K | 4.5% | 297 |
Coffee & Bakery Average 39 franchises | $489K – $1.1M | $39K | 5.5% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 39 Coffee & Bakery franchises by location count.
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. 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.
93 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
197 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
197 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Breach of contract, unpaid fees, and post-termination trademark infringement and trade secret violations with former franchisees.
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 GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise ranges from $298,145 to $979,639. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
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