Bruster's Real Ice Cream Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Bruster's Real Ice Cream offers a delightful selection of handcrafted ice creams and frozen treats, providing a delicious and indulgent experience for dessert enthusiasts of all ages.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

219

13%

Franchise fee

$40,000

Investment

$415,000 - $2,669,000

Revenue (AUV)

$686,000

3.6%

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a popular U.S.-based ice cream franchise known for its commitment to making premium ice cream fresh at every location, every single day. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, Bruster’s has built a strong following for its rich, flavorful offerings served in a fun, family-friendly environment.

The company was established in 1989, by Bruce Reed in the town of Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. Over the years, the brand has expanded steadily while staying true to its roots. Bridgewater continues to serve as the home base for Bruster’s, a testament to the brand’s emphasis on tradition and community-oriented values.

Franchising began in 1993, giving aspiring business owners the chance to share Bruster’s signature desserts with new markets across the country. Bruster’s menu features an array of delicious choices, including handcrafted ice cream, thick milkshakes, sundaes, custom cakes, frozen custard, and waffle cones.

What makes Bruster’s stand out is its on-site production using a proprietary recipe, resulting in exceptionally creamy and flavorful treats that distinguish the brand in the competitive dessert space.

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Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise is $415,000 - $2,669,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream offers 2 standalone franchise options: Free-Standing Location (Franchisee Buys Real Estate) and End-Cap Location (Franchisee Leases Real Estate).

Business Type	Initial Investment Range
Free-Standing Location (Franchisee Buys Real Estate)	$1,215,120 - $2,669,060
End-Cap Location (Franchisee Leases Real Estate)	$414,900 - $1,143,700

The following table presents the estimated initial investment for a Free-Standing Location where the franchisee buys the real estate.

For additional details and explanations regarding these estimated costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$20,000 - $40,000
Land Purchase	$275,000 - $750,000
Utility Deposit	$500 - $1,000
Architect Fees	$10,000 - $25,000
Civil Engineering	$20,000 - $60,000
Site Development Costs	$375,000 - $637,000
Construction Costs	$406,120 - $735,560
Expenses for Initial Training	$3,000 - $6,000
Business Licenses and Permits	$500 - $2,500
Business Insurance	$5,000 - $7,500
Initial Inventory	$12,500 - $18,000
Computer Hardware & Software	$26,000 - $68,000
Furniture, Fixtures, & Eqpt	$25,000 - $216,000
Signage	$7,000 - $40,000
Grand Opening Marketing Program	$7,000 - $10,000
Professional Fees	$2,500 - $10,000
Post-Opening Support	$0 - $2500
Additional Funds (3 months)	$20,000 - $40,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$1,215,120 - $2,669,060

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream offers 2 standalone franchise options: Free-Standing Location (Franchisee Buys Real Estate) and End-Cap Location (Franchisee Leases Real Estate).

Business Type	Initial Investment Range
Free-Standing Location (Franchisee Buys Real Estate)	$1,215,120 - $2,669,060
End-Cap Location (Franchisee Leases Real Estate)	$414,900 - $1,143,700

The following table presents the estimated initial investment for a Free-Standing Location where the franchisee buys the real estate.

For additional details and explanations regarding these estimated costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$20,000 - $40,000
Land Purchase	$275,000 - $750,000
Utility Deposit	$500 - $1,000
Architect Fees	$10,000 - $25,000
Civil Engineering	$20,000 - $60,000
Site Development Costs	$375,000 - $637,000
Construction Costs	$406,120 - $735,560
Expenses for Initial Training	$3,000 - $6,000
Business Licenses and Permits	$500 - $2,500
Business Insurance	$5,000 - $7,500
Initial Inventory	$12,500 - $18,000
Computer Hardware & Software	$26,000 - $68,000
Furniture, Fixtures, & Eqpt	$25,000 - $216,000
Signage	$7,000 - $40,000
Grand Opening Marketing Program	$7,000 - $10,000
Professional Fees	$2,500 - $10,000
Post-Opening Support	$0 - $2500
Additional Funds (3 months)	$20,000 - $40,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$1,215,120 - $2,669,060

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

Bruster's Real Ice Cream had 220 total units in 2026, of which 219 were franchised-owned and 1 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Bruster's Real Ice Cream

key competitors in the

Ice Cream

sector.

Franchise

219

New

13%

5.00%

$415,000

$2,669,000

$686,000

n.a.

Dairy Queen

Over $500K

1969

New

4.00%

$1,516,000

$2,543,000

$1,355,000

n.a.

Yogurt Mountain

$200K - $500K

New

3% - 6%

$271,000

$931,000

$289,000

n.a.

Fosters Freeze

$100K - $200K

New

-5%

4%–8%

$178,000

$1,009,000

$1,265,000

n.a.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt

$100K - $200K

New

5.00%

$114,000

$637,000

$601,000

n.a.

Menchie's

$100K - $200K

296

New

-8%

6.00%

$165,000

$425,000

$461,000

n.a.

Yogurtland

$200K - $500K

194

New

-3%

6.00%

$232,000

$637,000

$855,000

n.a.

Training

Bruster's Real Ice Cream provides a structured training program to ensure franchisees operate in line with the brand’s standards. These include:

Initial Management Training: This is mandatory for the Operating Owner and Manager, who must attend and successfully complete the initial training program conducted at Bruster’s headquarters or another designated location.
Brand Management Training: The Manager, the initial General Manager, and the initial Assistant Manager must also attend and complete this program. This training helps instill brand-specific operational knowledge and standards.
Ongoing Training: Bruster’s periodically provides ongoing training at times and locations it deems appropriate. This is designed to keep franchisees and their teams up-to-date on operational best practices and system updates.

Territory Protection

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream provides franchisees with a form of territory protection under its Franchise Agreement. During the term of the agreement, the franchisor commits that it will not operate, nor license another party to operate, a Bruster's Store within the area designated as the franchisee's "Protected Territory."

This territory is specifically defined in the Data Addendum to the agreement, ensuring franchisees have a geographical zone where they can operate without direct brand competition.

However, this protection comes with limitations as outlined in Sections 11.17 to 11.19 of the agreement. While the franchisor agrees to restrict direct franchise grants in the protected area, it reserves broad rights for itself and its affiliates.