About Bruster's Franchise
Bruster's Real Ice Cream is a retail ice cream franchise that offers premium ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt, Italian ices, and related frozen dessert products.
Franchisees operate retail stores where products are made fresh on-site every day, serving customers through on-premises consumption, carry-out, and approved third-party delivery.
The target customers include families, dessert lovers, and community members seeking high-quality, freshly made frozen treats in a modern, inviting environment.
Bruster's Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$199K
Average Investment
$619K
Maximum Investment
$1.0M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 3% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $198,700 – $1,039,700 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $199K–$1.0M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (3% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| Lease (3 months rent + security deposit) or Land Purchase | $4,200 | $350,000 |
| Utility Deposit | $200 | $1,200 |
| Architect Fees | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Civil Engineering (freestanding only) | $0 | $25,000 |
| Site Development Costs (freestanding only) | $0 | $75,000 |
| Construction Costs | $75,000 | $375,000 |
| Expenses for Initial Training | $2,800 | $5,400 |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $500 | $3,000 |
| Business Insurance | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Computer Hardware & Software | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| Signage | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing Program | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Professional Fees | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Post-Opening Support | $0 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $20,000 |
| Renewal Fee | No separate renewal fee; must sign then-current franchise agreement and complete refurbishment |
| Technology Fee | Currently no Technology Fee, but franchisor has the right to charge one in the future |
| Audit Fee | Cost of inspection or audit plus reasonable related costs and expenses if franchisee understated sales by 2% or more |
| Interest on Late Payments | 1.5% per month on missed, overdue, or insufficient payments |
| Securities Offering Fee | $5,000 or reasonable costs and expenses if more |
| Relocation Fee | $10,000 |
| Convention Fee | $2,000 if franchisee does not attend convention |
| Operations Meeting Fee | $300 if franchisee does not attend scheduled operations meeting |
| Management Fee | 10% of Gross Sales plus direct out-of-pocket costs (only if franchisor temporarily takes over operations due to incapacity) |
| Indemnification | All costs and expenses including attorneys' fees |
| Insurance | Actual costs plus expenses (only if franchisee fails to purchase required insurance and franchisor buys it) |
| Supplier/Vendor Approval | Cost of inspection plus reasonable related costs |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Minimum 9 days |
| Classroom Training | 16 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 56 hours |
| Training Location | Corporate offices in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania and in-store at designated training locations |
| Additional Training | On-site guidance and support one day prior to opening and minimum of three days following opening. Franchisor will train opening team of 8-25 workers as Ice Cream Scoopers. New Ice Cream Scoopers must complete online training program prior to first shift. Periodic refresher courses, seminars, and other training programs may be required. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Typically includes 40,000 people with a radius of up to six miles, though may be smaller or larger depending on population density |
| Description | During the term of the Agreement, franchisor will not operate nor grant to any other party the right to operate a Store within the Protected Territory, subject to reserved rights. Franchisor reserves rights to: establish Stores anywhere outside Protected Territory; establish Stores at Non-Traditional Facilities or Captive Market Locations inside or outside the territory; establish businesses not using the System or Proprietary Marks; acquire or be acquired and operate any business not as a Bruster's Store inside the territory; sell products through alternative distribution channels including e-commerce. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years from first opening or 11 years from Effective Date, whichever comes first |
| Renewal Term | Three additional consecutive 10-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | No separate renewal fee; must sign then-current franchise agreement |
| Renewal Conditions | Timely written notice of intent to renew (3-6 months before expiration); refurbishment to comply with then-current standards for new Stores; material compliance with agreement terms during the term and at time of renewal; timely compliance with all financial obligations; execution of then-current franchise agreement (which may have materially different terms including higher royalty and marketing fees); execution of renewal agreement with mutual general releases; compliance with then-current personnel and training requirements; demonstrated right to remain at Accepted Location for entire renewal term |
| Transfer Fee | $20,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | General release required; transferee must meet franchisor's educational, managerial, and business standards; must sign then-current franchise agreement; all monetary obligations must be paid in full; new Operating Owner and Manager must complete training; transferor remains liable for pre-transfer obligations and post-term covenants |
| Termination for Cause | Abandonment; conviction of felony or crime involving moral turpitude; threat to public health or safety; unauthorized transfer; disclosure of confidential information; false books or reports; three or more defaults in 52-week period; continued purchase from unapproved suppliers; failure to pay taxes; fraudulent conduct; unauthorized use of Proprietary Marks |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During franchise term: no geographic limitation on prohibition against engaging in Competitive Business (any food service business similar to Bruster's where ice cream/frozen desserts/beverages comprise 10% or more of gross revenues). Post-term: 2 years within 10 miles of Accepted Location and within 10 miles of any other Bruster's Store then existing, closed in last 12 months, or then planned. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Operating Owner or designated Manager must devote full-time energy and best efforts to the management and operation of the Franchised Business. Operating Owner must own at least 51% of voting and ownership interests in the franchisee entity unless prior written approval is obtained. Store must be managed at all times by the Operating Owner, Manager, or a manager who has completed the initial training program. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisor and its affiliates are the only designated supplier for ice cream mix, some retail items including bagged ice cream, merchandise, and apparel. Current supplier of ice cream and yogurt mixes is Titusville Dairy Products Co. in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in which founder Bruce Reed owns a 45% interest. Franchisees must purchase from approved suppliers only. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must operate in conformity with methods, standards, and specifications required by franchisor. Must sell only approved Retail Products and Services. May not use any item bearing trademarks without prior written approval. Must follow procedures for proposing new suppliers including inspection and testing at franchisee's cost. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Titusville Dairy refunds to Bruster's 5% of revenue derived from sales of ice cream and yogurt mixes to franchisees. Franchisor has right to collect and retain all Allowances (manufacturing allowances, marketing allowances, rebates, credits) offered by suppliers based on franchisee purchases. Current policy is to deposit Allowances into Marketing Fund except for Titusville Dairy rebates. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | Franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. Franchisor does not guarantee franchisee's note, lease, or obligation. |
Bruster's Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Bruster's does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Bruster's does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Bruster's Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordBruster's 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.
Bruster's System Growth
Total Units
183
Franchised
182
Company-Owned
1
Bruster's currently operates 182 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 4 | 174 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 177 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 183 |
Transfers: 3 | Closures: N/A
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Bruster's Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Bruster's franchise ranges from $198,700 to $1,039,700, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $30,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Bruster's charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 3% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Bruster's 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 Bruster's to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Bruster's does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Bruster's has been franchising since 1989. The FDD shows an investment range of $198,700-$1,039,700, 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 $30,000 and the total investment ranges from $198,700 to $1,039,700 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 Bruster's and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Bruster's or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com