PRETZELMAKER
Pretzelmaker franchises operate retail restaurants specializing in hand-rolled soft pretzels of various flavors, pretzel dogs, bites, toppings, frozen pretzels, and related beverages and food items under the Pretzelmaker brand. The franchisor offers single-unit franchises for traditional standalone locations, non-traditional venues like food courts, satellites, and multi-unit development agreements, as well as co-branding opportunities with affiliate brands such as Marble Slab Creamery, Great American Cookies, and Hot Dog on a Stick. Their business model focuses on franchising to operators in high-traffic areas like malls and shopping centers, targeting customers seeking quick, indulgent snack options.
Franchise Costs
7% royalty + 2% ad fund + $70-$125/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 103 Pretzelmaker only and co-branded Great American Cookies U.S. franchised Restaurants open for the full year from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.
* Average gross revenue and median gross revenue were directly extracted from 'Table 1 - Net Sales' for 'Total' All Pretzelmaker Restaurants on Page 2. Revenue top quartile was estimated by taking the average of the minimum and maximum values for the 'Over $850,000' range (highest reported segment) in 'Table 2 - Range of Net Sales' on Page 2. Revenue bottom quartile was estimated by taking the average of the minimum and maximum values for the 'Under $249,999' range (lowest reported segment) in 'Table 2 - Range of Net Sales' on Page 2. A discrepancy was noted: 'Table 1 - Net Sales' reports 103 total units, while the sum of units in 'Table 2 - Range of Net Sales' is 102. Profit-related fields (average_net_income, average_net_profit, average_ebitda, ebitda_margin_pct, best_guess_profit_low, best_guess_profit_high) are set to null because the document explicitly states on Page 5 that it 'omits all operating costs and expenses related to operation of a restaurant except food, paper and store level labor,' making it impossible to accurately determine full profit or EBITDA.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How PRETZELMAKER Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in General Retail
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in General Retail
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PRETZELMAKER Current | $392K – $573K | $25K | 7.0% | 129 |
| ACE HARDWARE | $604K – $2.0M | $5K | N/A | 4,885 |
| DO IT BEST CORP. | $853K – $1.6M | $9K | N/A | 3,555 |
| WINDOW WORLD, WORLD OF WINDOWS | $123K – $331K | $45K | N/A | 209 |
| FLEET FEET, FLEET FEET TRIATHLETE | $229K – $545K | $45K | 4.0% | 192 |
| TECHY | $119K – $400K | $15K | 7.0% | 62 |
General Retail Average 14 franchises | $521K – $1.0M | $108K | 5.7% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 14 General Retail 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
+22 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for PRETZELMAKER franchisees (2010 – 2018)
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
128 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 |
128 Contacts Available
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Rescission of multi-unit development agreement (Ieman Shahi v. Fatburger NA, 2019) and breach of contract/fraudulent misrepresentation in franchise restaurant sale (P&K Food Market v. Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, 2018).
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
PM Franchising, LLC, parent company FAT Brands Inc., Twin Hospitality Group Inc., and affiliates filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on January 25, 2026, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Case No. 26-90198 for PM Franchising, LLC).
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a PRETZELMAKER franchise ranges from $391,500 to $573,000. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 7.0% of gross sales.
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