The

10

best

Baked Goods

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

Baked goods franchises operate in a high-frequency foodservice segment driven by repeat visits, brand familiarity, and impulse purchasing.

hese concepts range from specialty bakeries to national café brands, with performance shaped by unit economics, system scale, and long-term expansion momentum.

Below are the top 10 baked goods franchises in the market today, highlighting the brands that best combine scale, efficient payback, and sustainable growth.

Dunkin' Donuts

8.4
/
10

Dunkin' Donuts is a popular coffee and donut franchise, offering a wide range of coffee drinks, baked goods, and breakfast options, providing a convenient and satisfying choice for coffee and donut lovers.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

8465
+
5%
5%
Franchise fee

?

$90,000
Investment

?

$211,000 - $1,833,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,240,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
8.4
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Dunkin’ operates a global coffee and baked goods franchise offering donuts, beverages, and breakfast items.
Its ranking is driven by unmatched system scale, consistent demand, and stable unit economics.

  • Massive system with ~8,465 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$1.02M) reflects brand strength
  • Solid 0.82x payback
  • Modest franchisee growth (~5%) reflects a mature system

Nothing Bundt Cakes

8.2
/
10

Bakery franchise known for its handcrafted bundt cakes in a variety of flavors, sizes, and designs, providing delicious and visually appealing cakes for special occasions and everyday indulgence.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

643
+
40%
40%
Franchise fee

?

$45,000
Investment

?

$667,000 - $907,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,355,000

+
1.3%
1.3%
Operating Profit

?

21.4%

Our score
8.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Nothing Bundt Cakes is a specialty bakery franchise focused on premium bundt cakes for celebrations and gifting.
Its ranking reflects strong unit economics paired with rapid national expansion.

  • Large and growing system with ~643 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$787K)
  • Excellent 0.58x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~40%) drives momentum

Wetzel's Pretzels

7.7
/
10

Pretzel bakery franchise offering freshly baked pretzels, pretzel dogs, and other pretzel-based snacks, providing a tasty and satisfying treat.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

389
+
21%
21%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$62,000 - $712,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$727,000

+
-5.3%
-5.3%
Operating Profit

?

16.5%

Our score
7.7
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Wetzel’s Pretzels is a snack-focused bakery franchise specializing in soft pretzels and grab-and-go items.
Its ranking reflects strong unit economics and healthy expansion momentum.

  • Large system with ~389 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$387K)
  • Attractive 0.53x payback
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~21%) supports expansion

Great American Cookies

7.6
/
10

Great American Cookies is a cookie and dessert franchise that offers a wide assortment of freshly baked cookies, brownies, and cookie cakes, providing delicious and indulgent treats for all occasions.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

354
+
-4%
-4%
Franchise fee

?

$25,000
Investment

?

$110,000 - $512,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$525,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Great American Cookies operates mall-based and inline cookie bakeries offering freshly baked cookies and desserts.
Its ranking benefits from efficient economics and broad system scale.

  • Established system with ~354 franchisees
  • Low average investment (~$311K) relative to peers
  • Strong 0.59x payback
  • Slight franchisee decline (~-4%) weighs modestly on ranking

Auntie Anne's

7.2
/
10

Auntie Anne's is a pretzel franchise that offers a variety of freshly baked pretzels, pretzel bites, and dips, providing a delicious and savory snack option for pretzel lovers.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

1182
+
4%
4%
Franchise fee

?

$35,500
Investment

?

$115,000 - $1,133,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$832,000

+
12.9%
12.9%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Auntie Anne’s is a mall-based pretzel bakery franchise offering soft pretzels and snacks.
Its ranking is supported by scale and steady economics.

  • Large system with ~1,182 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$824K)
  • Solid 0.75x payback
  • Modest franchisee growth (~4%) supports stability

Cinnabon

7.1
/
10

Cinnabon is a bakery franchise known for its cinnamon rolls.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

1002
+
8%
8%
Franchise fee

?

$30,500
Investment

?

$29,000 - $1,100,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$491,000

+
6.6%
6.6%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.1
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Cinnabon is a dessert bakery franchise known for cinnamon rolls and indulgent baked goods.
Its ranking reflects massive brand scale balanced against higher capital requirements.

  • Very large system with ~1,002 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$564K)
  • Weaker 1.15x payback limits upside
  • Steady franchisee growth (~8%) supports long-term presence

Einstein Bros. Bagels

7.0
/
10

Einstein Bros. Bagels is a bagel and coffee franchise that offers a wide selection of freshly baked bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee drinks, providing a satisfying and convenient breakfast option.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

63
+
13%
13%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$555,000 - $1,031,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,086,000

+
6.5%
6.5%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Einstein Bros. Bagels is a bakery-café franchise offering bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee.
Its ranking reflects solid economics within a smaller, stabilized system.

  • Smaller system with ~63 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$793K)
  • Respectable 0.73x payback
  • Positive franchisee growth (~13%) supports stability

Tous les Jours

7.0
/
10

Tous les Jours is a bakery cafe chain offering a wide variety of freshly baked goods, including bread, pastries, cakes, and sandwiches, providing a delightful and satisfying experience for customers.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

146
+
74%
74%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$718,000 - $1,600,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,727,000

+
9.6%
9.6%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Tous Les Jours is a Korean-style bakery café franchise offering breads, pastries, and desserts.
Its ranking benefits from strong growth momentum despite higher investment levels.

  • Growing system with ~146 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$1.16M)
  • Solid 0.67x payback
  • Rapid franchisee growth (~74%) boosts ranking

Shipley Do-Nuts

6.9
/
10

Shipley Do-Nuts is a franchise offering a variety of freshly made donuts, kolaches, and coffee, known for its delicious baked goods and friendly service.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

355
+
9%
9%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$503,000 - $1,025,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$849,000

+
2.3%
2.3%
Operating Profit

?

11.5%

Our score
6.9
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Shipley Do-Nuts is a regional bakery franchise specializing in donuts and kolaches.
Its ranking reflects consistent demand and a growing regional footprint.

  • Mid-to-large system with ~355 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$784K)
  • Acceptable 0.90x payback
  • Positive franchisee growth (~9%) supports expansion

Panera Bread

6.8
/
10

Bakery-cafe franchise offering a menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and bakery items made with fresh and wholesome ingredients, emphasizing healthier and quality food choices.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

1105
+
1%
1%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$1,267,000 - $4,651,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$2,596,000

+
-7.4%
-7.4%
Operating Profit

?

12.1%

Our score
6.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Panera Bread operates bakery-cafés offering breads, pastries, and fresh meals.
Its ranking reflects brand dominance and scale offset by capital intensity.

  • Massive system with ~1,105 franchisees
  • Very high average investment (~$3.0M)
  • Weak 1.14x payback
  • Flat franchisee growth (~1%) reflects maturity

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