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Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe franchises operate quick-service restaurants specializing in toasted sandwiches, signature soups, salads, thin-crust pizzas, and specialty beverages using a proprietary system of recipes, procedures, and trademarks. The franchisor, Pickleman’s Franchising, LLC, grants licenses to franchisees to establish and run these cafes, providing training, marketing, and operational support as part of its business model. The target market includes customers seeking fast-casual, gourmet-style dining options for lunch, dinner, and beverages in convenient locations.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 3% ad fund + $95/mo training software + $53/mo CRM software + $25/wk technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 28 franchised outlets open and operating for the entire 2024 calendar year
* Calculated weighted average gross revenue from Table 3 quartile data: (7 units × $2,044,814.78 + 7 units × $1,343,565.74 + 7 units × $1,163,795.54 + 7 units × $920,800.56) / 28 total units = $1,368,244.16. Median gross revenue taken directly from Table 1 'Total Median'.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $1,368,244
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Unlock financial performance dataPickleman's Gourmet Cafe Franchise Analysis
Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe has carved a niche in fast-casual with its toasted sandwiches and thin-crust pizzas, but its small footprint hides layers of data worth scrutinizing. Item 19 discloses revenue figures that outperform many peers, yet a bankruptcy history and extra tech fees linger in the background. Can steady growth offset these hurdles for investors?
The system's track record shows modest expansion: 28 locations in 2023 to 31 in 2024, a +11% bump, with 4 projected new units and 5 transfers signaling some churn. Only 1 corporate-owned spot underscores heavy franchise reliance, while 9 SBA loans averaging $335,722 indicate accessible financing but potential leverage risks. Item 20 details this trajectory, but bankruptcy history flags system health concerns—likely past franchisee struggles—that could explain transfers.
Economics shine in Item 19: average gross revenue hits $1,368,244, median $1,272,595 across units, promising for a $416,300-$1,043,500 investment and $35,000 franchise fee. However, 6% royalty plus 3% ad fund piles on with $95/mo training software, $53/mo CRM, and $25/wk tech fees, eroding margins. For food & beverage hopefuls, high sales tempt, but small scale and red flags demand caution—strong AUVs don't guarantee profits amid extra costs and historical issues.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Compares
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe Current | $416K – $1.0M | $35K | 6.0% | 31 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| LITTLE CAESARS | $377K – $1.8M | $20K | 6.0% | 3,788 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| KFC (NON-TRADITIONAL) | $1.2M – $4.2M | $45K | N/A | 3,404 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.5M – $2.5M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,120 |
Fast Food Average 132 franchises | $602K – $1.6M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 132 Fast Food 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
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe franchisees (2012 – 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.
9 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
33 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
33 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Rice and spouse filed Chapter 7 on November 8, 2018, discharged May 2, 2019.
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 Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe franchise ranges from $416,300 to $1,043,500. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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