I Scream Gelato
I Scream Gelato is a franchise offering a fast-casual dessert concept specializing in handcrafted gourmet Italian desserts and gelato, operated under the 'I Scream Gelato' brand. Franchisees develop and operate outlets, with total initial investments ranging from $228,917 to $486,800 for a single unit or more for multi-unit agreements, paying fees to the franchisor or affiliates. The business targets consumers seeking premium, artisanal frozen treats in a casual setting.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 1% marketing fund
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Financial performance information for four I Scream Gelato businesses owned by our affiliates that were open for the full time period (January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024).
* Averages for gross revenue, gross profit, net ordinary income (used for net profit), and net income were calculated by summing the respective values from the four company-owned P&L statements and dividing by 4. Best guess profit range (low and high) for a franchised unit was estimated by subtracting the combined estimated royalty fees (5% of gross revenue) and estimated brand fund fees (1% of gross revenue, totaling 6% of gross revenue) from the Net Income of each company-owned unit. The minimum and maximum of these adjusted net incomes were used for best_guess_profit_low and best_guess_profit_high respectively. For example, for PICK A SCOOP INC, Net Income after fees = 204676.04 - (57031.02 + 9505.17) = 138139.85.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How I Scream Gelato Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 82% of Fast Casual franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I Scream Gelato Current | $229K – $487K | $30K | 6.0% | 4 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $379K – $1.4M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,248 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M – $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K – $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 107 franchises | $532K – $1.2M | $39K | 5.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual 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
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for I Scream Gelato franchisees (2023 – 2023)
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.
Franchisee Contacts
7 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
7 Contacts Available
Unlock all I Scream Gelato franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a I Scream Gelato franchise ranges from $228,917 to $486,800. This includes a franchise fee of $30,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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