House of Bread was founded in 1996 in San Luis Obispo, California, by Sheila McCann, who left a legal career to create a bakery that focused on traditional, scratch-baked bread.
The brand set out to bring back the taste and quality of homemade loaves using simple, natural ingredients. The company is still headquartered in San Luis Obispo. It began offering franchise opportunities in 1998.
House of Bread is a bakery-café concept that sells freshly baked bread, pastries, rolls, and other baked goods made on-site each day. The menu also includes sandwiches, soups, and salads, giving customers a full café experience built around fresh bread. The franchise blends retail, wholesale, and catering to serve a wide range of customer needs.
A key differentiator for House of Bread is its commitment to baking everything from scratch inside each store rather than relying on frozen dough or par-baked products. This creates a fresher product and a more authentic bakery environment that appeals to quality-focused consumers.
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.
House of Bread provides a structured, multi-phase training program designed to prepare franchisees for all aspects of bakery operations. The training is mandatory for both the franchisee and their designated head baker, and failure to complete it is considered a breach of contract. Here is an overview of the training phases:
House of Bread grants its franchisees a designated territory, referred to as an “exclusive Territory,” as part of the franchise agreement. Within this area, the franchisor agrees not to establish another House of Bread outlet. The exclusivity is intended to protect the franchisee’s investment and support local market development.
However, this protection is limited to full-service outlets and may not apply to other types of sales channels.
House of Bread reserves the right to market branded products through alternative means, such as retail or online sales, even within the franchisee’s territory. Franchisees are responsible for ensuring their performance meets the franchisor’s standards to maintain these territorial rights.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
?
?
?
?
Below are some of
House of Bread
key competitors in the
Baked Goods
sector.
5
$35,000
$198,000
$584,000
n.a.
$786,000
$xxx,xxx
73.5%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Al Manakeesh is a Middle Eastern bakery-restaurant brand offering manakeesh flatbreads, shawarma, and Lebanese specialties, serving neighborhood diners and families, and known for freshly baked dough, traditional flavors, and casual, counter-service settings that highlight Levantine comfort food.
?
?
Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant is a quick‐service franchise offering Caribbean-style patties, rotis, rice dishes and meals, serving diaspora communities and casual diners, and known for signature flavors, cultural brand heritage and growing franchise network.
?
?
MidnighTreats is a late-night food-truck or small-format franchise offering waffles, desserts and sweet-snacks on-demand, serving late-night crowds, event patrons, and dessert lovers, and known for mobile flexibility, viral menu appeal and lean startup model.
?
?
Schmackary’s is a gourmet cookie-and‐dessert franchise offering handmade cookies, ice cream sandwiches, and specialty treats, serving dessert lovers and gift buyers, and known for bold flavors, urban brand presence and experiential retail-tainment.
?
?
BAGEL BOSS is a bagel-and-deli franchise offering New York–style bagels, breakfast sandwiches, deli items and coffee, serving morning commuters and families, and known for authentic bagel craft, strong local presence and franchise scalability.
?
?
House of Bread is a bakery-café franchise offering freshly baked artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and café meals, serving families and casual diners, and known for hand-crafted baking, community-driven brand and multi-stream revenue.
?
?
Choosing a franchise goes beyond reviewing fees and financials — it requires an honest assessment of your goals, skills, and risk tolerance. This article outlines the key questions prospective owners should ask before committing. It helps clarify whether the opportunity aligns with your lifestyle, long-term plans, and operational preferences.
Speaking with current and former franchisees is one of the most reliable ways to understand how a franchise really operates. This guide explains how to conduct validation calls, what questions to ask, and how to identify patterns in feedback. It provides a practical framework for uncovering real performance expectations and support quality.
Not all franchise opportunities offer the same potential. This article breaks down how to evaluate a brand’s industry, financial health, support systems, and competitive positioning. It helps prospective buyers compare options and identify franchises with strong long-term viability.
A clear, well-structured business plan is essential for securing financing and preparing for the realities of franchise ownership. This article explains how to build a plan that covers market analysis, operations, staffing, and local marketing. It also outlines how to create realistic pro forma financials, including revenue projections, startup costs, and break-even analysis. Readers gain a practical framework they can use when applying for loans or planning their first years of operations.
.png)
