Häagen-Dazs Franchise Costs: Estimated Initial Investment (Item 7, 2026 FDD)
For a New Shop
1. Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000
- The Franchise Agreement must be signed 90 days prior to the expiration of your current Franchise Agreement unless a shorter time period is allowed by Häagen-Dazs.
- The Initial Franchise Fee is $15,000 for existing franchisees, $20,000 for experienced operators who satisfy the requirements of the Experienced Operator Discount Program, $22,250 for U.S. armed services veterans who satisfy the requirements of the VetFran discount program, or $30,000 for new franchisees, in the case of a franchise for a new Shop.
- The fee for a successive term is $10,000 for a term of 10 years, and is not refundable. The fee for a renewal term is from $0 to $10,000, based on a formula in your expiring Franchise Agreement, and is not refundable.
2. Travel and Living Expenses During Training: $3,079
- Assumes 1 person, 11 nights of lodging at $149/night, 11 days of food costs at $40/day, and round-trip air fare at $1,000. Actual costs will vary considerably depending upon location of travel origin, and number of persons.
- This expense will be incurred even if you do not pass training.
- In the case of a Hospitality Shop, training may take place at the Hospitality Shop itself.
3. Leasehold Improvements: $105,000 to $350,000
"If I were considering buying a franchise today, checking territory availability would be one of my first steps. Yet most buyers leave it until last." — Ambrosio, Franchise Chatter
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- New Shops typically range from 200 to 1,800 square feet but are usually approximately 500 to 1,000 square feet in size and are usually located in active shopping areas such as selected locations in regional malls. Shops ordinarily are developed in existing shopping center buildings or in-line locations and rarely are established in free-standing buildings.
- In the case of a Hospitality Shop, the investment range takes into account that you probably already operate within the facility in which the Hospitality Shop will be located.
4. Deposits and Licenses: $7,500 to $17,500
- Security deposits or prepaid expenses are often required in connection with real property leases, personal property leases, utility requirements, insurance requirements, and telephone arrangements.
- Down payments may be required by vendors of equipment, fixtures, and other assets.
- Various permits and licenses are required by governmental regulations on either an isolated or recurring basis. Typical permits include those from health departments, fire departments, food establishment regulatory agencies, labor departments, sales tax bureaus, and other similar governmental agencies.
- Investment range takes into account that, in the case of a Hospitality Shop, you may already have the licenses and permits needed to operate the Hospitality Shop.
5. Equipment, Fixtures, and Furnishings: $50,000 to $115,000
6. Opening Inventory: $6,000 to $10,000
7. Insurance: $1,500 to $2,500
- You are required by the Franchise Agreement to purchase and maintain general liability insurance and product/completed operations insurance in minimum amounts of $1,000,000 aggregate single limit coverage and to maintain other insurance in accordance with state law requirements.
- The cost of other coverage, including your discretionary purchases, varies widely but is estimated to be $1,500 to $2,500 for a three to four month period.
- In the case of a Hospitality Shop, the investment table reflects the possibility that your existing insurance premium would not change in connection with your establishment of a Hospitality Shop.
8. Additional Funds – 3 Months: $10,250 to $63,500
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Most franchise buyers spend months researching brands and building excitement — unaware that their preferred territory could be snapped up at any moment. By the time they contact the franchisor, their preferred territory may already be taken. Enter your ZIP code to see which franchises are still available near you — before someone else claims that territory.- This estimates expenses, including payment of marketing contributions, royalties, rent and payroll costs, and replenishing of inventory over an initial start-up period of 3 months.
- Häagen-Dazs has relied on its experience offering franchises for Häagen-Dazs ice cream Shops since 1976 to arrive at these estimates.
"Multi-unit ownership is where the real wealth in franchising is built. It starts with one key decision: choosing a brand with enough territory runway to grow into." — Ambrosio, Franchise Chatter
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For a Satellite
- The total estimated initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Häagen-Dazs Satellite ranges from $181,250 to $562,579.
For an Existing Shop Successive Term or Renewal
- The total estimated initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Häagen-Dazs Existing Shop ranges from $61,750 to $371,579.
For a Hospitality Shop
- The total estimated initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Häagen-Dazs Hospitality Shop ranges from $14,500 to $272,500.
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