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Great Harvest Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Great Harvest is a bakery franchise that specializes in freshly baked bread, using whole grains and high-quality ingredients, offering a wide selection of artisanal bread and baked goods, providing wholesome and flavorful options for bread lovers.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

159
+
-6%
-6%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$298,000 - $980,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$823,000

+
4.7%
4.7%
Sign up to unlock

Since its inception in 1978, Great Harvest Bread Company has distinguished itself in the bakery café franchise world. The journey began with the opening of the second Great Harvest bakery in Kalispell, Montana, and the franchise quickly expanded beyond its Montana roots.

Today, it stands as the nation's first family of independently owned and operated whole grain bread bakeries and cafes.

Headquartered in Dillon, Montana, Great Harvest remains true to its core values of authenticity, camaraderie, and individuality. These principles resonate with people across the country.

The company’s franchising model is unique, promoting local ownership and community integration rather than a standardized approach. Franchisees are encouraged to adopt the company’s successful systems while adding their local touch to the business.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Great Harvest franchise is $298,000 - $980,000. 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.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $35,000
Your Training Expenses $2,049 - $10,300
Premises Deposits $4,500 - $7,000
Leasehold Improvements $102,377 - $474,762
Signage $4,059 - $15,321
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $84,785 - $315,000
Computer Systems $9,000 - $15,000
Initial Inventory $10,000 - $26,586
Grand Opening Marketing $15,000
Professional Fees $2,250 - $10,000
Licenses and Permits $500 - $2,500
Insurance $3,000 - $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $25,625 - $48,170
TOTAL (excluding tenant improvement allowance) $298,145 - $979,639
TOTAL PROJECT COST* $298,145 - $854,639

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Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $35,000
Your Training Expenses $2,049 - $10,300
Premises Deposits $4,500 - $7,000
Leasehold Improvements $102,377 - $474,762
Signage $4,059 - $15,321
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $84,785 - $315,000
Computer Systems $9,000 - $15,000
Initial Inventory $10,000 - $26,586
Grand Opening Marketing $15,000
Professional Fees $2,250 - $10,000
Licenses and Permits $500 - $2,500
Insurance $3,000 - $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $25,625 - $48,170
TOTAL (excluding tenant improvement allowance) $298,145 - $979,639
TOTAL PROJECT COST* $298,145 - $854,639

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Great Harvest's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Great Harvest had 159 total units in 2025, of which 159 were franchised-owned and 0 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Great Harvest

key competitors in the

Baked Goods

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Unlock
EBITDA
Unlock

159

New
+
-6%
-6%

5.00%

$298,000

-

$980,000

$823,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

16.1%

xx%

n.a.

Training 

Great Harvest offers a comprehensive training program to franchisees, ensuring they are well-equipped to manage their bakery cafes in line with the company's high standards and procedures.

Initial Training Program Franchisees receive two training slots as part of the initial program. This includes completing the self-directed, self-paced Great Harvest University (GHU) online coursework, which provides foundational knowledge for running a successful bakery cafe.

Baking Fundamentals School A key component of the training is the "Baking Fundamentals School," a five-day intensive production training held in Dillon, Montana. This program covers all aspects of bread making and cafe item production, ensuring franchisees master the techniques and principles essential to Great Harvest products.

On-Site Training Franchisees also benefit from hands-on training at their bakery cafe locations. This practical training is conducted by seasoned franchisees, experienced bakery cafe employees, and corporate staff. It encompasses daily operations, customer service, marketing strategies, and employee management, providing franchisees with real-world experience and personalized guidance.

Territory Protection

Great Harvest provides franchisees with exclusive territorial rights, ensuring that each Great Harvest store maintains a healthy distance from others. Once a franchisee secures a suitable location for their Bakery Cafe within their Exclusive Search Territory and completes a lease or building purchase, Great Harvest establishes an Exclusive Franchise Territory around that site.

The Exclusive Franchise Territory is intentionally smaller than the Exclusive Search Territory, which primarily serves as a broader area for franchisees to identify potential sites for their Bakery Cafe.

Great Harvest guarantees not to establish or franchise another Great Harvest store within the physical location of a franchisee's Exclusive Franchise Territory. However, it is important to note that this commitment does not extend to restricting all business activities of Great Harvest and its affiliates.

Competitors

Below are some of Great Harvest's key competitors in the Baked Goods sector.

Angelina Italian Bakery

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$461,000 - $1,796,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

85°C Bakery Cafe

Franchisees

?

3
+
200%
200%
Investment

?

$1,095,000 - $2,500,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

D Spot Dessert Cafe

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$785,000 - $1,843,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

The French Workshop

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$1,845,000 - $2,785,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

PopUp Bagels

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$313,000 - $884,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

Gordo's Bubble Waffles

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$179,000 - $469,000
Revenue

?

Sign up to unlock
Undisclosed

$0

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