What is the low end of the estimated cost for the computer system for a Carvel ice cream truck?
Carvel Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
y 21 | $500 | $1,600 | As incurred | Before opening | Vendors | | Additional Funds – 3 Months 22 | $500 | $6,500 | As incurred | As incurred | Us, employees, vendors, etc. | | Total Initial Investment 23, 24 | $38,800 | $99,800 | | | |
YOUR ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT: ICE CREAM TRUCK
| Amount of | Expenditure | Method of | When | To Whom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Expenditure | Low | High | Payment | Payments Are Due | Payment Will Be Made |
| Initial Franchise Fee 1 | $5,500 | $5,500 | Lump sum | At signing of Franchise Agreement | Us |
| Truck Costs 25 | $69,000 | $185,700 | As incurred | Before opening | Contractors |
| Permitting 3 | $550 | $5,500 | As incurred | Before opening | Government agencies |
| Equipment Package 4 | $24,100 | $47,750 | Lump sum | Before opening | Vendors |
| Type of Expenditure | Amount of Expenditure | Method of Payment | When | To Whom Payment Will Be Made | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low | Payments Are Due | ||||
| Menu Board, Graphics and | $550 | $1,600 | As incurred | Before opening | Vendors |
| Interior Signage7 | |||||
| Computer System9 | $10,500 | $20,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Vendors |
| Smallwares10 | $550 | $1,100 | As incurred | Before opening | Vendors |
| Architect/Engineer12 | $550 | $5,300 | As incurred | Before opening | Architect |
| Grand Opening Marketing14 | $3,000 | $7,500 | As incurred | Before opening | Vendors or Us |
| Legal and Accounting | $2,500 | $5,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Lawyers and |
| Fees15 | accountants | ||||
| Insurance16 | $1,125 | $6,300 | As incurred | Before opening | Insurance companies |
| Management Training | $0 | $3,000 | As incurred | Before opening | Us |
| Program Fee19 | |||||
| Travel and Living Expenses during Training19 | $4,100 | $6,300 | As incurred | Before opening | Airlines, hotels and restaurants |
| On-Site Training Fee20 | $0 | $5,300 | As incurred | Before opening | Us |
| Opening Inventory21 | $500 | $5,000 | As incurred | Befor |
Source: Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment (FDD pages 42–52)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the estimated initial investment for a computer system for an Ice Cream Truck ranges from $10,500 to $20,000. This cost is expected to be paid to vendors before opening the Carvel franchise.
The Computer System that Carvel requires franchisees to have includes a backoffice PC, one monitor, one back-office multi-function printer, between one and two POS System terminals for Ice Cream Trucks, one firewall device, a dedicated iPad® or Windows® tablet/computer, and one POS System server in addition to other related software, phone and network connections, and equipment.
It is important to note that this estimate includes the cost of purchasing the POS System from Carvel's designated Approved Supplier under the CapEx Program. Franchisees may also be required to purchase training software from a vendor that Carvel designates. As with any franchise, it is important to confirm these costs with existing franchisees to see if the estimates provided in the FDD are accurate.