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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.

LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE

LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe franchises operate Bakery Cafés and Express Cafés specializing in fresh bakery goods, French-themed entrées, sandwiches, soups, salads, pastries, gourmet coffees, wine, and privately-labeled retail items like soups and salad dressings. These cafés provide on-premises dining, carry-out, catering, delivery, and off-premises programs, located in suburban malls, strip centers, mixed-use developments, or non-traditional venues. The business model targets successful multi-unit foodservice operators for development of single or multiple units under franchise or development agreements.

62locations
$1230K–$2254K
Since 2011
Food & BeverageDallas, TXLe Duff America, Inc.www.lamadeleine.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$40,000
Initial Investment
$1,230,360 – $2,254,160
Royalty Rate
5.00%
Brand Fund
3.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$2,918 – $2,918

5% royalty + 3% brand marketing fund (BMF) + $2,500/mo technology suite + $418/mo administrative fee

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$2,376,731
EBITDA Margin
12%
Top Quartile Revenue
$2,929,753
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$1,888,193
Average EBITDA
$273,324

Data Based On: 50 franchised outlets at Traditional Locations and 6 franchised outlets at Non-Traditional Facilities, open for full year 2024, as described in Table 2 and Table 3 notes.

* Calculated weighted average gross revenue from Table 2 (Traditional Locations) and Table 3 (Non-Traditional Facilities). Table 2 Top 50%: 25 units * $2,929,753; Table 2 Bottom 50%: 25 units * $1,888,193; Table 3 (overall): 6 units * $2,108,047. Formula: (25*2929753 + 25*1888193 + 6*2108047) / 56 = $2,376,731. Revenue top quartile uses the average for the Top 50% segment from Table 2. Revenue bottom quartile uses the average for the Bottom 50% segment from Table 2. Median gross revenue is not provided for the overall franchised sample. Estimated average_ebitda for franchised units by applying the company-owned EBITDA margin (11.5% from Table 1) to the calculated weighted average franchised gross revenue. Calculated average_ebitda = $2,376,731 * 11.5% = $273,324. Using company-owned data as a proxy for EBITDA due to a statement in Note 1 to Table 1, which indicates no material financial or operational differences except for royalties and Brand Marketing Fund contributions. Estimated best_guess_profit by subtracting franchised fees (5% royalties + 2% Brand Marketing Fund = 7%) from the company-owned EBITDA margin (11.5%). Estimated profit margin = 11.5% - 7% = 4.5%. best_guess_profit_low = $2,376,731 * 4.5% = $106,953. best_guess_profit_high = $2,376,731 * 4.5% = $106,953. This profit estimate is before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $2,376,731

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LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE Franchise Analysis

Picture strolling into a charming French bakery cafe, croissants fresh from the oven, but can that allure translate to franchise profits? La Madeleine's 2025 FDD offers Item 19 data on revenues from its modest network of franchised locations, alongside details on a business model aimed at multi-unit operators in suburban spots. Yet with one termination noted and a dip in total units, does this system's trajectory signal opportunity or caution?

Item 7 lays out the initial investment at $1,230,360 to $2,254,160, covering build-out for full Bakery Cafés or smaller Express units, equipment, inventory, and the $40,000 franchise fee. Ongoing fees hit 5% royalty plus 3% brand marketing fund, plus $2,500 monthly tech suite and $418 admin fee—stacking up to notable outflows. Item 19 shines with average gross revenue of $2,376,731 per unit, but EBITDA margin sits at 0%, pinning estimated owner profit at exactly $106,953 annually; that's after expenses, yet raises questions on scalability given the flat margins.

System health shows 62 franchised and 29 corporate locations as of 2024, down 3% from 62 franchised in 2023, with just 1 termination but only 6 projected new units. Targeting experienced foodservice pros for multi-unit deals makes sense for this $2M+ investment, but contraction and slim profits suggest it's no quick flip—more for operators who can squeeze efficiencies in catering and delivery amid coffee shop competition. If you're eyeing upscale bakery plays, crunch these numbers against peers; the revenue pop is real, but so is the grind to profitability.

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

How LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE Compares

Key Insights

  • Higher investment than 100% of Coffee & Bakery franchises
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE
Current
$1.2M – $2.3M$40K5.0%62
PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFÉ$633K – $4.9M$35K5.0%1,112
SCOOTER'S COFFEE$1.2M – $1.3M$40K6.0%882
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES$667K – $1.0M$45K6.0%643
GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES$341K – $463K$25K6.0%395
7 BREW$894K – $2.2M$35K4.5%297
Coffee & Bakery Average
39 franchises
$489K – $1.1M$39K5.5%

* 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.

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
1TX
41
2LA
7
3GA
6
4OK
2
5NC
1
6FL
1
7AZ
1
8SC
1
9NM
0

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Franchisee Contacts

67 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

67 Contacts Available

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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
1
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired
3
Ceased Ops
0
Transfers
0
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
6

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a LA MADELEINE FRENCH BAKERY & CAFE franchise ranges from $1,230,360 to $2,254,160. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.