What was the range of initial franchise fees for Bens Soft Pretzels during 2024?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Expenditure* | Amount | Method of Payment | When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee (1) | $30,000 | Lump sum. | Due upon signing the Franchise Agreement. | Us. |
| Type of Expenditure* | Amount | Method of Payment | When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made |
| TOTAL | $122,200 to |
$30,000 for your first Store, $20,000 for your second Stores and $15,000 for your third Store. The Initial Franchise Fee is payable in installments, as follows: You will pay $47,500 at the time of signing ($30,000 for the initial franchise fee for the first Store, $10,000 for the first installment of the second Store, and $7,500 for the first installment of the third Store). You will be
required to pay an additional $10,000 of the Initial Franchise Fee at the time you sign a lease or otherwise secure a site for the location of your second Store. You will be required to pay the remaining $7,500 of the Initial Franchise Fee at the time you sign a lease or otherwise secure a site for the location of your third Store. In all cases, the Initial Franchise Fee is earned upon your signing of the Franchise Agreement and is in consideration for our expenses incurred and services rendered in granting you the franchise rights.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 11–12)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, the initial franchise fee for a Bens Soft Pretzels store is $30,000. This fee is paid in a lump sum when signing the Franchise Agreement. For franchisees interested in opening multiple locations, Bens Soft Pretzels offers a tiered fee structure: $20,000 for the second store and $15,000 for the third.
For those opting for the '3-Pack' option, a payment plan is available. Upon signing, a franchisee pays $47,500, covering the initial fee for the first store ($30,000), the first installment for the second store ($10,000), and the first installment for the third store ($7,500). Additional payments of $10,000 and $7,500 are due when securing sites for the second and third locations, respectively.
The initial franchise fee grants the franchisee the right to operate a Bens Soft Pretzels store and covers the expenses and services provided by the franchisor in granting these rights. It's important to note that this fee is earned by Bens Soft Pretzels upon signing the agreement and is generally non-refundable, so prospective franchisees should carefully consider their decision before committing.
While the standard initial franchise fee is $30,000, the total initial investment for a Bens Soft Pretzels franchise ranges from $122,200 to $344,500. This broader range includes various costs such as travel, equipment, rent, and supplies, in addition to the franchise fee itself. This demonstrates that the initial franchise fee is only one component of the total investment required to start a Bens Soft Pretzels franchise.