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Waffle Cabin
Waffle Cabin franchises quick-service restaurants or mobile trailers/trucks offering Belgian sugar waffles and beverages like coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, using proprietary recipes, designs, and operational standards. The business model centers on single-unit or multi-unit operations in high-traffic locations such as ski resorts, malls, stadiums, parks, and urban areas, with franchisees purchasing specified cabins/kiosks or trailers. It targets the general public seeking fast, indulgent treats in busy venues, competing in the quick-serve restaurant and mobile food market.
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Franchise Costs
5% royalty + no brand fund currently (up to 2% if established) + $30/mo website fee + $79-$179/mo POS fees
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 33 franchisee-owned cabins that were open and operating in the 2023 calendar year. Excluded the performance for one cabin located in X that opened and later ceased operations in 2023.
* Calculated weighted average gross revenue and median gross revenue using the 'Average' and 'Median' columns for franchised units from the provided tables. Data for 30 units from 24 locations with valid average/median per unit values were used. Four locations (total of 4 units) with 'N.A.' in their average value or 'Opened in December 2023' remarks were excluded from the average and median calculations as their data was incomplete for a full year. The FDD text states a primary sample size of 33 franchisee-owned cabins for the overall financial performance representation, which implies some discrepancy between the specific table data used for calculation and the stated sample size. No explicit expense or profit margin data was provided for franchised units to estimate profit ranges.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $22,581
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Unlock financial performance dataWaffle Cabin Franchise Analysis
Imagine deploying a charming waffle cabin or mobile trailer in high-traffic hotspots like ski resorts and stadiums, dishing out indulgent Belgian treats to crowds. Waffle Cabin's 2024 FDD discloses Item 19 revenue figures for its 38 locations, revealing performance that punches below weight in the fast-food arena. Does this compact, low-barrier concept deliver the returns to justify tying up capital in a niche treat vendor?
Item 7 details a lean initial investment of $93,450-$225,700, including the $23,500 franchise fee, making it accessible compared to typical fast-food franchises averaging $250K+. Ongoing fees include 5% royalties, no marketing fund yet (potentially up to 2%), plus $30/month website and $79-$179/month POS costs – lighter than category norms of 4-6% royalties plus 2% ad funds. However, Item 19 paints a stark picture: average gross revenue of just $22,581 and median $20,073 per unit, far below quick-serve peers exceeding $500K. Without disclosed expenses, profitability hinges on tight operations, but these figures signal high risk for breakeven in mobile/high-rent setups.
System health shows modest expansion from 33 to 38 locations (+15% in 2023), with only 2 projected new units and 14 corporate-owned, indicating cautious scaling since 2012. No major litigation or SBA default flags noted, but low unit count limits peer benchmarking. For risk-tolerant operators eyeing non-traditional sites, the model offers low entry but demands volume-driven success; low revenues suggest it's better suited as a side hustle than primary wealth-builder, especially versus established QSR giants.
Analysis based on the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How Waffle Cabin Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 92% of Fast Food franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Waffle Cabin Current | $93K – $226K | $24K | 5.0% | 38 |
| 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 (2023)
Outlets by state across the United States
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Unlock location growth dataFranchisee 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)
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 Waffle Cabin franchise ranges from $93,450 to $225,700. This includes a franchise fee of $23,500. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
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