

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.
Here's what you would need to invest 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 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a single Bruster’s store in a free standing location. For more information on costs required to start a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream offers 2 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a single Bruster’s store in a free standing location. For more information on costs required to start a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Bruster's Real Ice Cream provides a structured training program to ensure franchisees operate in line with the brand’s standards. These include:
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.
Below are some of
Bruster's Real Ice Cream
key competitors in the
Ice Cream
sector.

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$673,000
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