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We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.

KILWINS

KILWINS

Kilwins Chocolates Franchise, Inc. franchises the right to operate 'Kilwins' Full Line Chocolates, Confectionery & Ice Cream Stores or smaller 'Kilwins' Ice Cream & Chocolate Shops specializing in hand-crafted chocolates, original recipe ice cream, fudge, and other confections made using approved recipes and ingredients. The business model involves franchisees adhering to the Kilwins System, including branding, trade dress, operating procedures, and sourcing from affiliates like Kilwins Quality Confections, LLC, with options for franchisor-built stores. Target market is persons over the age of two, including tourists in seasonal locations.

168locations
$513K–$880K
Since 1981
Food & BeveragePetoskey, MILevine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLCwww.kilwins.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$40,000
Initial Investment
$513,484 – $880,343
Royalty Rate
5.00%
Brand Fund
3.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$805 – $805

5% royalty + 3% marketing contribution + $805/mo technology, software, training, and network fees

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$933,138
Median Gross Revenue
$802,132

Data Based On: The gross sales data is based on 128 franchised Kilwins Stores that were in operation during the entire period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, and reported Gross Sales. This excludes 11 stores that are seasonally operated and were not open for the entire 12-month period, 3 stores without full cooking capacity, 15 franchised stores not open even seasonally for the entire 12-month period, and 12 stores excluded due to closures from significant hurricane impact. No company-owned stores are included in this specific gross sales data.

* Average gross revenue and median gross revenue were extracted directly from the 'All States (128 stores)' row in the 'FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS' table on Page 1. The document provides percentages for Cost of Sales (average 30%) and Non-Owner Payroll (average 23%) for a subset of stores (106 stores in 2023) as a percentage of Gross Sales. However, Note 6 explicitly states these figures 'provide only a part of the information that you will need to evaluate the franchise opportunity' and lists many other significant expenses that franchisees will incur (e.g., rent, occupancy, employee benefits, debt service, insurance, legal and accounting fees). Due to the incomplete nature of the expense data and the explicit warning about other significant expenses, a reliable 'best guess profit' range cannot be calculated without making unsupported assumptions about total expenses. Furthermore, the expense percentages are from 2023 for 106 stores, while the gross revenue is from 2024 for 128 stores, making direct calculation inappropriate.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $933,138

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KILWINS Franchise Analysis

Hand-crafted chocolates and fudge draw crowds to Kilwins shops, a brand franchising since 1981 now backed by private equity. Item 19 revenue disclosures paint a picture of strong performance in the dessert niche, while 96 SBA loans reveal franchisees' financing confidence. Does this sweet opportunity deliver the returns to justify the investment, or is there a catch in the confectionery market?

Item 7 details the initial investment range of $513,484 to $880,343 for a full-line store, including the $40,000 franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and inventory sourced from affiliates. Ongoing fees from Item 6 include a 5% royalty on gross sales, 3% brand fund contribution, plus $805 monthly for technology, software, training, and network support. Item 19 shines with average gross revenues of $933,138 and medians of $802,132 across comparable units, suggesting solid top-line potential in tourist-heavy or high-traffic spots, though operators must factor in high COGS for premium ingredients and seasonality.

System health metrics indicate steady expansion from 159 to 168 locations (+6%) between 2023-2024, with 17 projected new units, 4 corporate stores, and 4 transfers signaling low friction. The 96 SBA loans averaging $437,202 underscore accessibility for qualified buyers, but modest growth under private equity ownership raises questions about aggressive scaling. For investors eyeing food & beverage, Kilwins offers impressive disclosed revenues that outpace many peers, but success hinges on location and execution amid competitive ice cream wars.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How KILWINS Compares

Key Insights

  • Higher investment than 93% of Desserts & Ice Cream franchises
  • Top 10 largest franchise system in Desserts & Ice Cream
  • One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Desserts & Ice Cream
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
KILWINS
Current
$513K – $880K$40K5.0%168
RITA'S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC; RITA'S ICE-CUSTARD-HAPPINESS$315K – $713K$35K6.5%569
MENCHIE'S$180K – $515K$54K6.0%295
DIPPIN' DOTS$139K – $399K$35K6.0%260
MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY$355K – $477K$25K6.0%249
BRUSTER'S$415K – $1.1M$40K5.0%219
Desserts & Ice Cream Average
28 franchises
$326K – $656K$37K7.0%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 28 Desserts & Ice Cream 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

Top States
1FL
36
2MI
20
3NC
17
4GA
12
5IL
12
6TX
8
7SC
7
8NY
5
9VA
5
10PA
5
11TN
4
12CO
4
13AL
4
14WI
3
15IN
3

+14 more states

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SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for KILWINS franchisees (20102025)

Total Loans
96
Average Loan
$437,202
Total Volume
$42.0M
Default Rate
0.0%

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.

96 SBA loans on record

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0
No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
0
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired
1
Ceased Ops
5
Transfers
4
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
17

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a KILWINS franchise ranges from $513,484 to $880,343. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.