What is the initial franchise fee for a Carvel Ice Cream Truck?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
er 2026, including precautions and response measures for credentialstuffing attacks.
Other than these actions, no litigation is required to be disclosed in this Item.
ITEM 4
BANKRUPTCY
No bankruptcy is required to be disclosed in this Item.
ITEM 5
INITIAL FEES
Initial Franchise Fees. When you sign a Franchise Agreement, you must pay us an initial franchise fee (the "Initial Franchise Fee") of $30,500 for a Full Shoppe, $10,500 for an Express Shoppe or Hosted Express Shoppe, $5,500 for an Ice Cream Truck, and $61,000 for a Co-Branded Shoppe (of which $30,500 will be paid to Cinnabon). We will not refund any part of the Initial Franchise Fee.
We participate in the International Franchise Association's VetFran program. For qualifying veterans or members of the Armed Forces, the Initial Franchise Fee for a Full Shoppe is $20,000.
We reserve the right to reduce the Initial Franchise Fee under certain circumstances, including: (i) as an economic incentive for a franchisee to open a certain location, with the determination made on a case-by-case review of all relevant economic factors; (ii) as an inducement for existing operators to open additional Shoppes; (iii) as an inducement for someone to reopen a closed
Shoppe; (iv) as an inducement for someone to take over an operating Shoppe; (v) as an inducement for a professional multi-unit operator to open several Shoppes; or (vi) to allow a franchisee to have additional money to spend on Shoppe improvements and marketing during the first 12 months of operation. The amount of any reduction will be made on an individual basis and may depend on the condition of the premises, the need for upgrades and remodeling, any special circumstances that we may consider appropriate, and/or other considerations. In addition, we may all
Source: Item 5 — Initial Fees (FDD pages 28–31)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee for an Ice Cream Truck is $5,500. This fee is payable when you sign the Franchise Agreement. Carvel will not refund any portion of this initial franchise fee.
It is important to note that while the initial franchise fee is $5,500, franchisees should be aware of other potential fees. During the 2024 calendar year, franchisees paid Initial Franchise Fees ranging from $0 to $30,500, suggesting that the initial fee can vary based on circumstances. Carvel also reserves the right to reduce the Initial Franchise Fee under certain circumstances, such as economic incentives for opening in a specific location or as an inducement for existing operators to open additional Shoppes.
Prospective franchisees should inquire about any potential discounts or incentives that may apply to their situation. They should also factor in additional costs such as grand opening advertising, plan review fees, on-site construction inspection fees, training fees, and POS system payments, as these are separate from the initial franchise fee. Understanding the full scope of potential expenses is crucial for budgeting and financial planning when considering a Carvel franchise.