What was the net change in the total number of Buff City Soap outlets in 2024?
Buff_City_Soap Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Outlet Type | Year | Start of the Year | End of the Year | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 169 | 252 | +83 | |
| Franchised | 2023 | 252 | 262 | +10 |
| 2024 | 262 | 251 | -11 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 8 | +2 | |
| Company-Owned1 | 2023 | 8 | 9 | +1 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 175 | 260 | +85 | |
| Total Outlets | 2023 | 260 | 271 | +11 |
| 2024 | 271 | 260 | -11 |
Source: Item 20 — Outlets and Franchisee Information (FDD pages 64–69)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buff City Soap's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the total number of outlets experienced a net decrease of 11 locations during 2024. At the start of 2024, there were 271 total Buff City Soap outlets. By the end of the year, the total number of outlets had decreased to 260. This net change of -11 includes both franchised and company-owned locations.
Specifically, the number of franchised Buff City Soap locations decreased by 11 in 2024, going from 262 at the beginning of the year to 251 by year's end. Meanwhile, the number of company-owned Buff City Soap locations remained the same, with 9 locations at both the start and end of 2024.
A prospective franchisee should take note of this decrease in total outlets. While fluctuations in outlet numbers are not uncommon in franchising, a decrease could signal market saturation, underperforming locations, or other challenges within the Buff City Soap system. It would be prudent for a potential franchisee to inquire about the reasons behind this net decrease and the franchisor's plans to address it.