Paciugo Gelato Caffe Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Gelato and coffee shop franchise offering a variety of artisanal gelato flavors, espresso beverages, and other Italian-inspired treats, providing a delightful and indulgent experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

-4%

Franchise fee

$20,000

Investment

$110,000 - $612,000

Revenue (AUV)

n.a.

Paciugo Gelato Caffe, celebrated for its authentic Italian gelato, was established by the Ginatta family, who relocated from Italy to Dallas, Texas, in 1997. In September 2000, they launched their first Paciugo gelateria, driven by Cristiana Ginatta's deep-rooted passion for gelato, developed through her childhood experiences and professional culinary training in Italy.

The name "Paciugo" means "messy concoction" in Italian, symbolizing the wide variety and creativity of their gelato flavors. Their dedication to genuine Italian traditions and the use of premium ingredients quickly connected with customers.

Although prepared to begin franchising in July 2001, the Ginatta family chose to wait until 2004 to ensure they had perfected their gelato-making process, training materials, and other operational elements.

This careful strategy was successful, as the first franchisees were often loyal customers or former employees who were enthusiastic about sharing Paciugo's gelato. Today, Paciugo continues to draw in new franchisees, expanding its reach and delighting more communities with its exquisite gelato.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Paciugo Gelato Caffe franchise is $110,000 - $612,000. 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.

Paciugo Gelato Caffe offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Option	Initial Investment
Paciugo Gelato Store	$232,700 to $612,250
Paciugo Kiosk	$109,700 to $304,250

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Paciugo Gelato Caffè Store franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Paciugo Gelato Caffè Store

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$15,000 to $20,000
Initial Application and Document Preparation Fee	$250 to $750
Site Selection Assistance	$0 to $1,000
First Month’s Rent and Security Deposit	$2,000 to $10,000
Leasehold Improvements	$73,000 to $306,000
Store Design Consulting Services	$0 to $1,500
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, and Signage	$115,000 to $198,000
Initial Training Costs	$500 to $4,000
Pre-Opening Consultation	$0 to $1,000
Opening Assistance Costs	$0 to $5,000
Computer Hardware and Software	$4,000 to $8,000
Initial Inventory/Supplies	$8,000 to $10,000
Professional Services	$1,200 to $4,000
Opening Advertising Expenses	$3,500 to $10,000
Insurance	$250 to $3,000
Additional Funds (three months)	$10,000 to $30,000
Total	$232,700 to $612,250

‍

Paciugo Gelato Caffe offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Option	Initial Investment
Paciugo Gelato Store	$232,700 to $612,250
Paciugo Kiosk	$109,700 to $304,250

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Paciugo Gelato Caffè Store franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Paciugo Gelato Caffè Store

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$15,000 to $20,000
Initial Application and Document Preparation Fee	$250 to $750
Site Selection Assistance	$0 to $1,000
First Month’s Rent and Security Deposit	$2,000 to $10,000
Leasehold Improvements	$73,000 to $306,000
Store Design Consulting Services	$0 to $1,500
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, and Signage	$115,000 to $198,000
Initial Training Costs	$500 to $4,000
Pre-Opening Consultation	$0 to $1,000
Opening Assistance Costs	$0 to $5,000
Computer Hardware and Software	$4,000 to $8,000
Initial Inventory/Supplies	$8,000 to $10,000
Professional Services	$1,200 to $4,000
Opening Advertising Expenses	$3,500 to $10,000
Insurance	$250 to $3,000
Additional Funds (three months)	$10,000 to $30,000
Total	$232,700 to $612,250

‍

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Paciugo Gelato Caffe's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Paciugo Gelato Caffe had 25 total units in 2023, of which 25 were franchised-owned and 0 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Paciugo Gelato Caffe

key competitors in the

Ice Cream

sector.

Franchise

Upgrade

New

-4%

6.00%

$110,000

$612,000

n.a.

Bahama Buck's

Over $500K

112

New

6.00%

$528,000

$1,223,000

$576,000

20.0%

Pelican's SnoBalls

$50K - $100K

199

New

10%

8.00%

$71,000

$210,000

$135,000

n.a.

Bruster's Real Ice Cream

$200K - $500K

205

New

10%

5.00%

$409,000

$2,644,000

$673,000

n.a.

Ben & Jerry's

$100K - $200K

152

New

-2%

3.00%

$157,000

$551,000

$612,000

n.a.

Dairy Queen

Over $500K

1969

New

4.00%

$1,516,000

$2,543,000

$1,355,000

n.a.

The Meadows Original Frozen Custard

$100K - $200K

New

21%

0.00%

$134,000

$512,000

n.a.

Training

The franchisor offers its franchisees an extensive training program designed to ensure successful operation.

Program Overview

Paciugo Franchise International (PFI) mandates that the franchisee's Operating Principal or District Manager attends and completes PFI's initial training program. This comprehensive training, provided at no cost, occurs at a time and location specified by PFI, with virtual training options available.

Training Content

The initial training encompasses a broad range of crucial topics for running a Paciugo Store, focusing on:

Batch Freezing: Specifically for Caffès, includes 20 hours of hands-on gelato making training.
Customer Service and In-Store Experience: Combines 2 hours of classroom instruction with 8 hours of practical application.
Customer Care and Health Inspections: Includes 2 hours of classroom learning and 2 hours of on-the-job training.

Additional and Remedial Training

PFI requires the Operating Principal, District Manager, and other designated employees to participate in additional training courses, seminars, and programs as necessary. These sessions, which may be conducted online, at regional meetings, or in traditional classroom settings, might include tuition fees.

Territory Protection

Paciugo Franchise International (PFI) does not offer exclusive territorial rights with its Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are authorized to operate at a specified approved location outlined in the Franchise Agreement, but no territorial exclusivity is provided.

Franchisees may be required to join delivery and takeout programs, with delivery areas designated on a non-exclusive basis.

Under the Development Agreement, franchisees are permitted to develop and operate a certain number of Paciugo Stores without receiving exclusive territory. Should franchisees fail to fulfill their obligations, including adhering to the development timeline, PFI may reduce the number of Stores they are authorized to develop.