About Great Harvest (MultiState) Franchise
Great Harvest is a whole-wheat neighborhood bakery cafe franchise that produces and sells whole-wheat baked goods, made-from-scratch sandwiches, salads, soups, granola, breakfast items, and other products.
Franchisees operate retail bakery cafes that mill whole-wheat flour fresh daily on premises and bake bread and other products for retail sale.
The bakery cafes offer breakfast sandwiches, cold and hot sandwiches, baked goods, salads, and coffee, targeting a wide cross-section of customers in high-traffic urban and suburban areas.
Great Harvest (MultiState) Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$177K
Average Investment
$451K
Maximum Investment
$725K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2.5% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $176,678 – $725,431 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $177K–$725K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (2.5% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Expenses While Training | $2,049 | $10,300 |
| One Month's Rent | $2,500 | $32,892 |
| Real Estate and Improvements | $965 | $287,500 |
| Equipment | $84,785 | $234,353 |
| Signs | $4,059 | $15,321 |
| Prepaid Expenses and Deposits | $4,500 | $32,000 |
| Opening Inventory (Ingredients and Supplies) | $10,000 | $25,949 |
| Grand Opening Advertising Costs | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| Organizational Costs/Misc. | $820 | $19,116 |
| Additional Funds - 3 months | $20,000 | $20,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 75% of then-current initial franchise fee, not to exceed $25,000 |
| Renewal Fee | $3,000 (90-day extension fee if renewal process not completed before expiration) |
| Audit Fee | Costs incurred, not to exceed $2,500 |
| Opening Marketing | $12,000 |
| Additional Training or Assistance | $40 per hour plus expenses |
| Relocation | $5,000 |
| Annual Convention | $500 or less registration fee |
| Interest | 12% per year on overdue amounts |
| Mill Dressing (hub locations only) | $1,200 |
| Extension Fee | $1,500 (non-refundable, for 6-month extension to open) |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 3 weeks plus 40-50 hours online coursework |
| Classroom Training | 93 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 200 hours |
| Training Location | Dillon, Montana and on-site at franchisee's Bakery Cafe |
| Additional Training | Training includes online coursework (40-50 hours self-study), Baking Fundamentals School (5 days production training), Made-To-Order School (5 days hands-on training in test lab), and Bakery Cafe School (5 days in-bakery operations training), all in Dillon, Montana. Additionally, on-site training at the franchisee's Bakery Cafe opening. Training is provided for 2 people at no additional charge; $2,500 per additional person. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Approximately 50,000 living population |
| Description | Franchisees receive an Exclusive Franchise Territory surrounding their location, identified on a map attached to the Franchise Agreement. In most markets, the territory will encompass approximately 50,000 people. The territory is not expected to be more than 15 miles in diameter. The franchisor will not establish another Great Harvest Store within the Exclusive Franchise Territory. However, the franchisor retains the right to operate outside the territory and to engage in product distribution through any channels inside or outside the territory. The territory may change upon renewal or transfer. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 10 years (typically) |
| Renewal Fee | $3,000 (only if 90-day extension needed to complete renewal process) |
| Renewal Conditions | Must not be in default; must sign then-current Franchise Agreement on or before renewal date; comply with renewal process; sign general release (subject to state laws); and pay $3,000 fee if 90-day extension needed. Terms of new agreement may differ materially from expiring agreement, including continuing fee, marketing fee, and territory definition, unless no breaches occurred during last 3 years of original term. |
| Transfer Fee | 75% of then-current initial franchise fee, not to exceed $25,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisor must approve all transfers but will not unreasonably withhold approval. Conditions include: full compliance with obligations; Bakery Cafe is open; new franchisee qualifies; defaults cured; transfer fee paid; application process and training completed; all amounts due paid; required reports sent; confidential information returned; transferee signs then-current franchise agreement; guarantees signed; release signed (if state law allows). |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor may terminate for curable defaults (3 days for health/safety/sanitation; 30 days for monetary and operational defaults) and non-curable defaults (abandonment, surrender, unapproved transfers, felony conviction, conduct adversely affecting reputation, unauthorized use of confidential information, repeated defaults, insolvency, failure to open within 15 months, misrepresentation, failure to pay fees, intentionally understating Gross Sales). |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years after termination or expiration |
| Non-Compete Details | During franchise term: no direct or indirect ownership interest in, or performing services for, any business that competes with Great Harvest Stores within Exclusive Franchise Territory, 5-mile radius of territory boundary (if Bakery Cafe not open), 10 miles of Bakery Cafe (if open), or 10 miles of another Great Harvest Store open as of agreement effective date. After termination/expiration: same restrictions for 2 years, including after assignment. Liquidated damages equal to maximum Continuing Fee due under Franchise Agreement. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | The main Certified Manager must attend and complete all required training programs. This may be the franchisee, one of the owners (if a legal entity), or a Certified Manager. The franchisor recommends but does not require on-premises participation in operating the Bakery Cafe. |
| Required Suppliers | Wheat must be purchased 100% from approved wheat suppliers. Must use approved distributor for ingredients and supplies. Must use franchisor-approved signs and logo. |
| Supply Restrictions | Must purchase wheat from approved suppliers only. Must use approved distributor and suppliers meeting franchisor quality and business performance standards. New suppliers may apply for approval with approximately 30-day review process. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Franchisor receives rebates from a business partner program for on-line e-mail direct-mail marketing service (30% of monthly revenues, totaling $9,726 in 2021) and from an optional distributor program ($29,438 in 2021). Franchisor does not derive revenue from required wheat purchases. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease, or obligation. |
Great Harvest (MultiState) Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$797K
Median Revenue
$689K
Revenue Range
$151K – $2.5M
Sample Size
32 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Great Harvest (MultiState) Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordGreat Harvest (MultiState) has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Great Harvest (MultiState) System Growth
Total Units
169
Franchised
168
Company-Owned
1
Great Harvest (MultiState) currently operates 168 franchised locations and 1 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | 13 | 173 |
| 2020 | 6 | 8 | 171 |
| 2021 | 6 | 9 | 168 |
Transfers: 12 | Closures: 9
State Registrations
Registered in 16 states: CA, CT, FL, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Great Harvest (MultiState) Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Great Harvest (MultiState) franchise ranges from $176,678 to $725,431, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $35,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Great Harvest (MultiState) charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 2.5% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Great Harvest (MultiState) Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Great Harvest (MultiState) to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Great Harvest (MultiState) franchise owners report average revenue of $797K and median revenue of $689K. This is based on a sample of 32 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Great Harvest (MultiState) has been franchising since 1980. The FDD shows an investment range of $176,678-$725,431, a 5% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $35,000 and the total investment ranges from $176,678 to $725,431 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Great Harvest (MultiState) and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Great Harvest (MultiState) or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com