Do you want to start a yogurt business franchise but lack ideas? If YES, here are 20 best frozen yogurt franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert made with yogurt and sometimes other dairy and non-dairy products. It is usually more tart than ice cream and it also has a lower fat content.
The prime ingredient of frozen yogurt are milk fat, milk solid, sweetener (artificial sweetener such as aspartame can be used) and culture of yogurt. Frozen yogurt got originated in America but now its popularity has spread all over the world.
One major factor that has been driving the frozen yogurt market to profitability in the past few years is that consumers are now more health conscious, and they tend to consume desserts that are low in fat and has a minimal amount of sugar, thus making frozen yogurt the best alternative to other unhealthy desserts like plain ice cream.
To further buttress this point, statistics has it that nearly 80% of American consumers prefer frozen yogurt to ice cream, gelato and other popular frozen treats. If you want to be part of this profitable industry and you would not mind buying a franchise, here are 20 very popular and profitable frozen yogurt franchises you can choose from.
20 Best Frozen Yogurt Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost
-
Baskin-Robbins
As a teenager in the 1930s, Irv Robbins managed an ice cream shop in Tacoma, Washington. Bored with serving traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, Robbins began experimenting by mixing fruit and candy into the ice cream.
After serving in World War II, Robbins bought an ice cream parlor in Glendale, California. Three years later, he convinced his brother-in-law, Burt Baskin, to join the business. The two men flipped a coin to see whose name would go first on the sign. Baskin won, and in 1945, Baskin-Robbins was born.
Baskin-Robbins currently has locations in more than 50 countries, each serving the company’s famous 31 flavors of ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt, sherbet, cakes and drinks. Baskin-Robbins is part of Dunkin’ Brands Inc., which also franchises Dunkin’ Donuts.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $93,550 to $401,800
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $125,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 5.9%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 5%
-
Yogurtland
Yogurtland is an American international franchise chain of frozen yogurt restaurants headquartered in Irvine, California, United States.
It was founded by a Korean immigrant Phillip Chang who opened the first Yogurtland in Fullerton, California, in 2006 and began franchising just a year later. Yogurtland stores offer self-serve frozen yogurt, with 16 flavors available daily, along with 33 toppings.
Customers are charged for its products by the ounce. The company, now based in Irvine, California, has locations in the U.S., Venezuela, Australia, Thailand and Dubai. They are currently seeking franchisers worldwide. Yogurtland Franchising Inc. has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll etc.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $309,316 to $702,046
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000 to $400,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $200,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery is an American ice cream parlor chain. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company is owned and operated by Kahala Brands. Donald and Susan Sutherland opened the first Cold Stone Creamery in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona. Franchising began in 1994, and the company is now owned by Kahala, which also franchises Blimpie, Surf City Squeeze, TacoTime and other concepts.
Each Cold Stone store makes its ice cream fresh daily, and the ice cream is blended by hand with fruits, nuts, candy, cookies and more according to customers’ requests. The company’s main product is premium ice cream but it includes other offerings including frozen yogurt.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $50,200 to $467,525
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $10,000 to $27,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 3%
-
Red Mango Cafe and Juice Bar
Daniel Kim opened the first Red Mango store in 2007, near the University of California in Los Angeles in order to take advantage of the student population. The company became an instant hit and they quickly began franchising the frozen yogurt shop.
Red Mango’s menu has since expanded to include fruit smoothies, cold-squeezed juices, salads, wraps and other light fare in addition to its all-natural frozen yogurts, which are available in original tart or a rotating variety of other flavors, and with a variety of fruits, nuts and other toppings.
Red Mango Frozen Yogurt and Smoothies is committed to providing the healthiest and best tasting all-natural frozen yogurt and fresh fruit smoothies and other fares.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $193,500 to $466,000
- Net-worth Requirement – $350,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $200,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 3%
-
Menchie’s
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is an American frozen yogurt chain company founded in 2007 by Danna and Adam Caldwell and is based in the San Fernando Valley, California area. Menchie’s shops offer self-serve frozen yogurt in 100 different rotating flavors, including low carb, no sugar added, dairy free, nonfat, gluten free, and kosher options.
Founders Danna and Adam Caldwell came up with the company’s name from the nickname Adam gave when they were dating. They opened their first store in Los Angeles in 2007, and began franchising a year later.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $218,325 to $385,158
- Net-worth Requirement – $300,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $120,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $40,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Let’s Yo!
Let’s Yo, is a lovely ice cream shop in the Montclair region of Montclair that was founded in 2011 by Eric Casaburi, who also founded fitness franchise Retro Fitness. Let’s Yo! offers customers self-serve frozen yogurt and toppings, as well as coffee drinks and a selection of cereals. Stores feature flat-screen TVs on the walls and iPads embedded into the furnishings.
Customers get to choose and fill up on endless array of toppings available at the store. Wireless Internet access is available for no charge at Let’s Yo and snacks and treats are all reasonably priced as per company policy.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $355,800 to $548,500
- Net-worth Requirement – $500,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $150,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $45,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Rita’s Italian Ice
Rita’s Italian Ice is a frozen treat chain that is based in Trevose, Pennsylvania. The company began in 1984 when former firefighter Bob Tumolo opened his first Italian ice store in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, naming it after his wife Rita.
His mother helped him make the Italian ice, and his brother John helped him open three more stores over the next three years, all in the Philadelphia area. Customers began asking about how to open their own Rita’s Italian Ice, so Tumolo began franchising in 1989.
Today, the chain offers frozen custard, yogurt, gelato, milkshakes, frozen drinks, sundaes and other frozen treats in addition to its ices. Argosy Private Equity and MTN Capital acquired Rita’s Franchise Company in 2017.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $150,500 to $440,900
- Net-worth Requirement – $300,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6.5%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 3%
-
Yogen Fruz
Yogen Fruz is a Canadian chain of frozen yogurt and smoothie stores that also serves healthy alternative food products. Brothers Michael and Aaron Serruya started their own frozen yogurt shop, Yogen Fruz, in 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, and began franchising a year later. In 1989, they expanded into the United States and now have locations operating around the world in both traditional and nontraditional locations.
The chain is run through company-owned, franchised, and non-traditional partnerships. The chain operates worldwide and has been rated one of the top 500 franchises for over 20 years.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $123,179 to $459,679
- Net-worth Requirement – $150,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $40,000 to $75,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 3%
-
Sub Zero Franchise Inc.
Jerry and Naomi Hancock began their career by opening New York Burrito in Orem, Utah; with the idea of giving customers complete control to create their own meal. Wanting to do more in the dessert industry, Jerry Hancock used his background in chemistry to develop a method of flash-freezing ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
He and wife Naomi opened the first Sub Zero Ice Cream in Orem, Utah, in 2004, using this technology to offer customers the chance to customize their ice cream by choosing their milk base, flavors, mix-ins and texture. Sub Zero also offers a liquid nitrogen science education program that can be brought to schools.
Sub Zero Ice Cream and Yogurt can be found throughout the US and internationally in China and the United Arab Emirates, with plenty of franchise opportunities available. Sub Zero Franchise Inc. offers in-house financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll etc.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $239,450 to $484,500
- Net-worth Requirement – $300,000 to $1,000,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $75,000 to $1,000,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
- Veteran Incentives – 25% off franchise fee
-
sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt
sweetFrog – Premium Frozen Yogurt is a chain of frozen yogurt retail stores owned and operated by Sweet Frog Enterprises, LLC. Sweet Frog customers create their own soft-serve frozen yogurt with the numerous flavors and toppings arrayed by the store.
Shortly after moving to Richmond, Virginia, in 2009, Derek Cha brought the West-Coast frozen yogurt trend to his new home by opening the first Sweet Frog store. In addition to a variety of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings, Sweet Frog locations offer waffle cones and bowls, Belgian waffles, banana splits and parfaits.
Their outlets are children friendly as they have a clean, family-friendly environment with bright colors, a variety of apparel and toys to purchase, and regular visits from their mascots Scoop and Cookie.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $221,000 to $439,500
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $150,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 5%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 1.5%
- Veteran Incentives – 25% off franchise fee (50% off in May and November)
-
TCBY and Mrs. Fields
TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt) is an American chain of frozen yogurt stores. It is one of the largest U.S. retailers of soft-serve frozen yogurt. TCBY opened the country’s first frozen yogurt shop in Arkansas in 1981.
Prior to 1984, the company’s name was “This Can’t Be Yogurt,” but a lawsuit from a competitor, I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!, forced TCBY to create a new name from its initials, eventually using “The Country’s Best Yogurt”. TCBY began co-branding with Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King in 1995
Realizing quickly that they had a unique product the country was clamoring for, they started offering franchise opportunities the following year. Since that time, they have grown to over 360 stores nationwide. Mrs. Fields acquired TCBY in early 2000 and became Mrs. Fields Famous Brands.
TCBY offers frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors. The chain typically serves hard scooped and soft serve yogurt; and their soft serve yogurt comes in Golden Vanilla, Chocolate, and White Chocolate Mousse flavors.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $200,000 to $492,152
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000 – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Pinkberry Ventures Inc.
Pinkberry is a franchise of frozen dessert restaurants headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The first Pinkberry opened in West Hollywood in 2005, and the company began franchising the next year, expanding primarily in Southern California and New York at first. Pinkberry now has locations throughout the country and around the world, serving both frozen and fresh Greek yogurts with a variety of toppings, along with yogurt smoothies and shakes.
Pinkberry, Inc., owns, operates, and franchises yogurt stores in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It offers frozen yogurt, toppings, smoothies, fruit parfaits, fruit bowls, cones, and waffle cookies. The company also provides catering services, and they are currently over 260 Pinkberry stores in 20 countries of the world.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $310,842 to $615,145
- Net-worth Requirement – $400,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $200,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Dippin’ Dots Franchising LLC
Research biotechnologist Curt Jones used his expertise in cryogenic freezing processes to find new ways to produce ice cream. After nearly a year of experimenting with the idea of flash-freezing his family’s homemade ice cream, Jones created and sold his first cups of Dippin’ Dots ice cream in 1988.
Because of Jones’ flash-freezing process, Dippin’ Dots ice cream forms into little balls (hence the term “dots”), but unlike freeze-dried products, the ice cream can still melt.
Dippin’ Dots Franchising, Inc. offers single-unit franchises for retail ice cream stores. It also offers franchises for selected fairs and festivals.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $112,204 to $366,950
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $80,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $15,000
-
The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Co. Inc.
First sold exclusively in New York City gourmet shops, Häagen-Dazs ice cream started distribution in 1961. As word grew, the first franchises opened in the mid-1970s. Häagen-Dazs ice cream is distributed in more than 50 countries with shops in more than 600 locations.
The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company, Inc. offers ice creams, classic flavors, sorbets, frozen yogurts, single serve cups, sundae cones, bars, shakes, smoothies, cakes and shop specialties. The company produce its products through a network of stores and restaurants in the United States and internationally.
The renowned brand provides training, and ongoing franchisee support,
franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable etc. to its franchisees to make their business easy.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $154,158 – $542,408
- Net-worth Requirement – $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $80,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 4%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
-
Tasti D-Lite
The first Tasti D-Lite opened in New York in 1987 by Jim Amos. The company sells a dairy-based soft serve frozen dessert with fewer calories and carbs than most frozen yogurts and ice creams. In addition, it offers cakes and pies, blended drinks, cups and cones, and other products, and its secret formula was said to have begun in the kitchen and was perfected in the lab.
Their stores offer a rotating selection of over 100 self-serve flavors. In 2007, the company was acquired by a private equity firm, Snow Phippps Group. The headquarters was moved to Franklin, Tennessee, and the new CEO James Amos, Jr., (former CEO of Mail Boxes Etc.) began franchising nationwide in 2008.
Tasti D Lite now serves its creamy delicious, frozen dessert in more than 100 flavors to thousands of customers each week.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $234,000 to $423,260
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $70,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 5%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is an Oklahoma City-based chain of self-serve frozen yogurt franchise that was founded in 2008 and began franchising a year later.
Previously known as Orange Tree Frozen Yogurt, Mike Liddell and Reese Travis noticed the franchise was doing good business in Edmond, Oklahoma. They purchased a franchise in 2009, and Liddell purchased the company in 2010. Liddell then moved the company from California to Oklahoma, hired Travis as CEO, and changed the name to Orange Leaf.
Each Orange Leaf location offers self-serve frozen yogurt with a rotating selection of flavors and a toppings bar. It has spread to over 300 locations in the United States and has also expanded internationally.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $223,000 to $427,500
- Net-worth Requirement – $500,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $15,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 4%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
-
Marble Slab Creamery
Founded in 1983 by Chris Dull, Marble Slab Creamery offers homemade, superpremium ice cream that is prepared to order on a marble slab, using a variety of mix-ins. In addition to ice cream served in waffle cones, stores also sell smoothies, frozen yogurt, shakes, sundaes, banana splits and ice cream cakes and pies. Some franchisees also offer homemade baked goods such as cookies, brownies and apple pie, as well as gourmet coffees.
Marble Slab Creamery is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S. and in the following regions/states: Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Central America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Philippines, South America, Western Europe.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $293,085 to $376,135
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $15,000 to $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
-
Mr. Smoothie and Frozen Yogurt Bar
Since 1996, Mr. Smoothie has been serving the freshest and most delicious smoothies, juices and favorite frozen treats including yogurts. Mr. Smoothie’s typically locate their stores where people work, live and play, thus helping them maximize their potentials in the industry and to as well enable them be in the faces of their customers.
Mr. Smoothie has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover
startup costs and equipment, and they are seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S. and in the Middle East
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $87,650 to $377,400
- Net-worth Requirement – $200,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $50,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $20,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – to 2%
-
Fro.Zen.Yo
FroZenYo was founded in Washington DC, and with a taste for innovation and high standards for quality and service Fro.Zen.Yo has exploded in the region, opening nine stores in two years.
Their frozen yogurts are said to be carefully crafted to contain high levels of beneficial live and active yogurt cultures, and they also offer food truck and catering services. They are seeking new franchise units worldwide. Fro.Zen.Yo has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory etc.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $354,700 to $588,200
- Net-worth Requirement – $1,000,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $150,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 7.5%
-
Forever Yogurt
Forever Yogurt is a Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Franchise Based in Chicago, and it was the chain that ignited the self-serve yogurt craze in Chicago. Founded by Mandy Calara in 2010, the chain plans to add 50 new corporate locations, as well as 250 franchise locations to Forever Yogurt’s portfolio over the next 3 years.
Every frozen yogurt shop has over 85 rotating flavors and over 50 fun toppings to choose from, and they also serve hot chocolate and coffee.
As part of Forever Yogurt’s growth and development strategy, Mandy is looking at low-unit mom and pop self-serve yogurt concepts that desire the support, marketing, and growth potential that a larger brand can provide. Also being targeted are would-be entrepreneurs looking to open their own locations.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $240,000 to $478,450
- Net-worth Requirement – $350,000 to $400,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $40,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 2%