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U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt
U-Swirl Franchising LLC franchises self-service frozen yogurt and beverage shops operating under brands like U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, CherryBerry, Yogurtini, Yogli-Mogli, Aspen Leaf Yogurt, Let’s Yo!, and Fuzzy Peach, with optional co-branding using Fosters Freeze trademarks for additional frozen confections. Franchisees follow a standardized system including design, recipes, operations, and quality controls to offer frozen desserts and related products. The target market includes consumers of all ages and economic levels, though sales may be seasonal in regions with distinct winters.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 1% ad fund + $100/mo technology + $15-35/mo gift card services
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
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Unlock financial performance dataU-Swirl Frozen Yogurt Franchise Analysis
Self-serve frozen yogurt shops like U-Swirl tantalize with grab-and-go appeal across multiple brands, but a shrinking footprint and quiet expansion plans hint at cooling momentum. SBA records show minimal lending activity, while a lurking arbitration claim stirs questions about disclosure practices and support. What do these signals mean for your shot at steady, seasonal scoops—unlock the data to find out.
Item 7 details a hefty startup range of $418,500-$630,320, including the $25,000 franchise fee, buildout, equipment, and inventory for these co-brandable dessert outlets. Ongoing fees bite at 6% royalty plus 1% brand/ad fund, layered with $100 monthly technology surcharge and $15-35 for gift card processing—elevated versus some ice cream peers under 7% total. No Item 19 earnings disclosure leaves would-be owners blind to AUVs or profitability, a critical gap in a category where medians hover $500K-$800K; this opacity demands skepticism on returns amid Chino Hills HQ's multi-concept push.
System maturity since 2008 falters with locations contracting 7% (61 to 57), projecting only 3 new units—stark versus explosive dessert franchisors adding dozens yearly. Four SBA loans averaging $125,000 reflect sparse bank interest, potentially signaling higher risk or weaker unit economics. The arbitration alleging FDD violations, fraud, and contract breach underscores execution risks in operations and development; for buyers eyeing $500K+ commitments, this contraction plus absent financials screams 'proceed with extreme validation' in a winter-sensitive market.
Analysis based on the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt Compares
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt Current | $419K – $630K | $25K | 6.0% | 57 |
| RITA'S FRANCHISE COMPANY, LLC; RITA'S ICE-CUSTARD-HAPPINESS | $315K – $713K | $35K | 6.5% | 569 |
| MENCHIE'S | $180K – $515K | $54K | 6.0% | 295 |
| DIPPIN' DOTS | $139K – $399K | $35K | 6.0% | 260 |
| MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY | $355K – $477K | $25K | 6.0% | 249 |
| BRUSTER'S | $415K – $1.1M | $40K | 5.0% | 219 |
Desserts & Ice Cream Average 28 franchises | $326K – $656K | $37K | 7.0% | – |
* 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 (2023)
Outlets by state across the United States
+12 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt franchisees (2013 – 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.
4 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
29 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
29 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
One arbitration claim alleging franchise disclosure violations, fraudulent misrepresentation, and breach of contract arising from franchise and development agreements.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
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 U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt franchise ranges from $418,500 to $630,320. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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