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.
Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.
Overview
Financial Requirements
5% royalty + 2.5% brand fund
Franchise Stats
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
How GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. Compares to Other Coffee & Bakery Franchises
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Coffee & Bakery
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Coffee & Bakery
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise 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 | $955K - $1.5M | $40K | 6.0% | 825 |
| 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 37 franchises | $498K - $1.1M | $40K | 5.5% | - |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 37 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
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Breach of contract, unpaid fees, and post-termination trademark infringement and trade secret violations with former franchisees.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
No bankruptcy history reported in the FDD.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise?
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.
How much revenue does a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise make?
According to the 2025 FDD, the average gross revenue for a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise is $928,830.14.
How much profit can you make with a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise?
Based on the financial performance data in the FDD, estimated profit for a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise ranges from $179,677.31 to $206,084.91 per year. Actual results vary based on location, management, and market conditions.
How many GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise locations are there?
As of the 2025 FDD, GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. has 159 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1980.
Can you get an SBA loan for a GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchise?
Yes, SBA loans are available for GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchises. Historical data shows 93 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. franchisees, with an average loan amount of $330,574. The historical default rate is 11.8%.
Is GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. a good franchise to buy?
GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. shows several positive indicators: established brand with 159+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19). However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.
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