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PRETZELMAKER

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.

Since 2008Food & BeverageBeverly Hills, CAFAT Brands, Inc.www.pretzelmaker.com
Item 19 AvailableSBA Loan Data

Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.

Overview

Investment
$391,500 - $573,000
Franchise Fee
$25,000
Locations
129

Financial Requirements

Franchise Fee$25,000
Initial Investment Range$391,500 - $573,000
Royalty Rate7.00%
Brand Fund2.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees$70 - $125

7% royalty + 2% ad fund + $70-$125/mo brand technology system support

Franchise Stats

Franchise Locations129
Corporate Locations0
States Operating38
Franchising Since2008
FDD Year2025

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$559,357
Median Gross Revenue
$484,275
Top Quartile Revenue
$1,101,611
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$176,022

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 to Other General Retail Franchises

Key Insights

  • Top 10 largest franchise system in General Retail
  • One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in General Retail
FranchiseInvestment RangeFranchise FeeRoyaltyLocations
PRETZELMAKER
Current
$392K - $573K$25K7.0%129
ACE HARDWARE$604K - $2.0M$5KN/A4,885
DO IT BEST CORP.$565K - $1.3M$9KN/A3,407
WINDOW WORLD, WORLD OF WINDOWS$123K - $331K$45KN/A209
FLEET FEET, FLEET FEET TRIATHLETE$229K - $545K$45K4.0%192
TECHY$119K - $400K$15K7.0%62
General Retail Average
14 franchises
$502K - $1.0M$108K5.7%-

* 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

Top States by Outlet Count
1TX
24
2CT
13
3UT
8
4IA
7
5CA
7
6GA
7
7NY
6
8FL
6
9MN
4
10MA
4
11ND
3
12OH
3
13SC
3
14HI
3
15ID
3

+22 more states

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for PRETZELMAKER franchisees (2010 - 2018)

Total Loans
15
Average Loan Amount
$177,720
Total Loan Volume
$2,665,800
Default Rate
0.0%

Loans by Year

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

Franchisee Contacts

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Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Litigation Cases1

Rescission and breach of international multi-unit franchise development agreement.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported in the FDD.

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
0
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired by Franchisor
0
Ceased Operations (Other)
12
System Transfers
9
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New Franchises
6

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a PRETZELMAKER franchise?

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.

How much revenue does a PRETZELMAKER franchise make?

According to the 2025 FDD, the average gross revenue for a PRETZELMAKER franchise is $559,357. The median revenue is $484,275.

How many PRETZELMAKER franchise locations are there?

As of the 2025 FDD, PRETZELMAKER has 129 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 2008.

Can you get an SBA loan for a PRETZELMAKER franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for PRETZELMAKER franchises. Historical data shows 15 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for PRETZELMAKER franchisees, with an average loan amount of $177,720. The historical default rate is 0.0%.

Is PRETZELMAKER a good franchise to buy?

PRETZELMAKER shows several positive indicators: established brand with 129+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

Interested in PRETZELMAKER?

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