About MarieBelle Franchise
MarieBelle is a luxury chocolate shop and cafe franchise offering gourmet, artisanal chocolate products and premium beverages in an elegant retail setting.
Each location features boxed chocolates, signature hot chocolate, chocolate bars, baked goods, coffee, and other specialty drinks, creating a refined experience for customers who appreciate the art of fine chocolate making.
The franchise fee is $35,000, and MarieBelle has been franchising since 2022.
MarieBelle Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$305K
Average Investment
$387K
Maximum Investment
$470K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Non-Affiliate Product Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of Total Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $305,000 – $469,500 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $305K–$470K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Non-Affiliate Product Gross Sales) and marketing fee (2% of Total 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 |
| Real Estate / Rent | $28,000 | $40,000 |
| Utility Deposits | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $25,000 | $75,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Equipment, Furniture, Fixtures, Furnishings, Signs and Décor | $100,000 | $130,000 |
| Computer System and POS System | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Insurance | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Initial Inventory, Smallwares, Packaging and Office Supplies | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Licenses, Permits and Fees | $500 | $2,000 |
| Professional Fees | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Training Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 |
| Technology Fee | $150 per month |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit plus interest on any underpayments at the lower of 1.5% per month or the highest rate available by law |
| Continuing Training | Your expenses (travel, lodging, meals, wages) for mandatory training; $500 per day, per attendee for additional training |
| Additional Personnel Training | $1,000 per trainee plus expenses |
| Mandatory Additional Training Fee | $500 per day, per attendee plus expenses |
| On-Site Assistance or Training | $500 per trainer, per day plus expenses |
| Mystery Shopper or Secret Customer Program Fee | Our costs and expenses |
| Reimbursement Fee | Reimbursement amount paid plus an additional ten percent (10%) of the amount as an administrative charge |
| Reporting Non-Compliance Fee | $150 per violation |
| Operations Non-Compliance Fee | $450 to $1,000 per occurrence |
| Annual Meeting and Conference | Your expenses and a registration fee of no more than the pro rata cost per attendee of the conference |
| Relocation Fee | Our costs and expenses associated with the relocation |
| Interest on Overdue Amounts | The lower of 1.5% interest per month or the highest rate available by law on the past due amount |
| Management Fee | 20% of Total Gross Sales |
| Alternative Supplier/Product Approval Fee | $3,000, plus our expenses |
| Indemnification | Amount will vary under the circumstances |
| Costs of Enforcement and Defense | Amount will vary under the circumstances |
| Liquidated Damages | Average monthly Royalty Fees and Brand Fund Fees owed to us during the 12 months of operation preceding the effective date of termination (or such shorter period of time if applicable) multiplied by (a) 24 (being the number of months in two full years), or (b) the number of months remaining in the term of the Franchise Agreement had it not been terminated, whichever is less |
| Advertising Cooperative | Up to 1% of Total Gross Sales (contribution to cooperative) |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $100 per violation |
| Reimbursement of Taxes | Will vary |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 3 weeks (2 weeks classroom/on-the-job at franchisor location, 1 week on-site at franchisee location) |
| Classroom Training | 28 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 153 hours |
| Training Location | New York, New York or another location designated by us for initial training; at your Shop for on-site training |
| Additional Training | Franchisor may offer continuing, refresher, or additional training courses. Mandatory additional training incurs a fee of $500 per day, per attendee, plus franchisee's expenses. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected Area |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Approximately 0.25 mile straight-line radius in urban environments or 2-mile straight-line radius in suburban/rural environments, determined by radius or demographics. |
| Description | The Franchise Agreement grants the right to open a Shop at a specified Location within a designated Protected Area, where the franchisor agrees not to locate another franchised or company/affiliate-owned Shop. However, it is not an exclusive territory as the franchisor reserves the right to operate in 'Reserved Venues' within the Protected Area. The Protected Area does not apply to catering or delivery services. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | Ten (10) years |
| Renewal Term | One (1) additional ten (10) year term |
| Renewal Conditions | Franchisee must provide 180 days prior notice, complete all required refurbishment/upgrades, be in good standing, satisfy all monetary obligations, execute the then-current franchise agreement, satisfy current training requirements, and sign a general release. Franchisee must also obtain a lease extension/renewal and agree to reasonable modifications of the Protected Area boundaries. |
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee and owners must meet approval criteria (background check, business experience, financial resources), all amounts owed to franchisor/third parties must be paid, new Operating Principal must complete training, transferee must enter into current franchise agreement and related agreements, transferee must upgrade the Shop to current System Standards, transfer fee must be paid, transferring owners/spouses must sign a general release, franchisor must approve material terms/conditions of transfer, and franchisee must provide guidance/support for 30 days if requested. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor may terminate for non-curable defaults (e.g., unauthorized transfer, failure to open shop within 180 days, abandonment for 3 consecutive days, violation of IP/restrictive covenants, bankruptcy, knowingly selling non-conforming products, fraud, repeated defaults, misconduct, felony conviction, failure to pay taxes). Curable breaches (e.g., understating sales, failure to maintain shop standards, denying inspection, failure to remit payments) allow a cure period before termination. |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the Franchise Agreement and for 24 months following expiration or termination. |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, owners/spouses/principals/managers are prohibited from operating or having an interest in any business that sells chocolate products. Post-term, owners are prohibited for 24 months from operating/having interest in a similar business within a 10-mile radius of any MarieBelle or company-owned outlet, soliciting employees/customers/partners, or disparaging the System. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The Operating Principal, who must own at least 51% of the franchisee entity, must devote full time to the operation of the Shop and be onsite daily. If multiple franchises are operated, each must have an approved manager who has completed Initial Training. All owners and their spouses, managers, and staff with access to confidential information must sign confidentiality and non-compete agreements. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisee must purchase all chocolate products (ganache, truffles, hot chocolate, chocolate bars, coverture chocolate, paned products, tea, coffee, seasonal products) from Maribel’s Sweets or its affiliates. Other products and services, including Square POS System components, must be purchased from Approved Suppliers designated by the franchisor. |
| Supply Restrictions | All food products, ingredients, inventory, supplies, equipment, uniforms, POS System, furnishings, decor, signs, and materials must conform to franchisor's specifications and System Standards. Franchisor may modify the list of Approved Suppliers and specifications. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Franchisor and its affiliate reserve the right to earn revenue from Approved Suppliers, such as rebates or commissions, on account of their sales of goods or services to franchisees. Franchisor estimates total initial required purchases and leases will be approximately 90% of the cost of initial purchases and leases, and 90% or more of annual purchases and leases on an ongoing basis. |
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. |
MarieBelle Franchise Earnings — Item 19
MarieBelle 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.
MarieBelle 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.
MarieBelle Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordMarieBelle 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.
MarieBelle System Growth
Total Units
2
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
2
MarieBelle currently operates 0 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
0
Net Income
$-2,532
Total Assets
$20K
Audited by AKIVA MANNE, CPA for year ending December 31.
MarieBelle Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a MarieBelle franchise ranges from $305,000 to $469,500, 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.
MarieBelle charges a royalty fee of 5% of Non-Affiliate Product Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 2% of Total Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the MarieBelle 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 MarieBelle to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
MarieBelle 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.
MarieBelle has been franchising since 2022. The FDD shows an investment range of $305,000-$469,500, a 5% of Non-Affiliate Product 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 $305,000 to $469,500 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $75,000 in liquid capital is required. 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 MarieBelle and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with MarieBelle or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com