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Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café

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Food & Beverage
Baked Goods

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Deli-style restaurant franchise known for its sandwiches, salads, and artisan bread, offering a diverse menu with a focus on quality ingredients.

As part of the Focus Brands family, which includes well-known franchises such as Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, Carvel, and McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café is a significant player in the American fast-casual dining industry. Renowned for being the originator of the Original® oven-baked sandwich, Schlotzsky’s has built a strong reputation.

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café was established in 1971 by Don and Dolores Dissman, opening its first location in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas.

The restaurant chain boasts an array of made-to-order menu items, including artisanal pizzas, expertly prepared sandwiches, refreshing salads, indulgent calzones, robust soups, and a variety of delightful food and drink options to suit a wide range of tastes.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café started franchising in 1976 and has since grown to over 330 locations across the United States, continually expanding its reach and concept.

Initial investment

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.

Schlotzsky’s offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment
Small Format Restaurant $648,065 – $934,170
Large Format Restaurant $855,625 – $1,494,325
Freestanding Restaurant $1,348,545 – $1,951,300

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Schlotzsky’s franchised Freestanding Restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Schlotzsky’s franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$35,500
Construction and Build Out Costs$909,000 – $1,130,000
Permitting$4,250 – $13,700
Equipment Package$139,000 – $181,300
Millwork$12,800 – $29,900
Furniture$11,670 – $33,500
Menu Board, Graphics and Interior Signage$5,300 – $22,900
Exterior Signage$85,000 – $149,000
Computer System$20,600 – $53,700
Smallwares$11,700 – $15,400
TV/Music$3,200 – $4,200
Architect/Engineer$21,200 – $37,300
Rent$5,000 – $10,800
Grand Opening Marketing$15,000 – $25,000
Legal and Accounting Fees$2,500 – $10,000
Insurance$1,825 – $9,100
Misc. Opening Costs/Office Supplies$500 – $1,500
Security Deposits$500 – $8,000
Management Training Program Fee$0 – $10,000
Travel and Living Expenses during Training$10,000 – $40,000
On-Site Training Fee$0 – $9,600
Opening Inventory$15,000 – $21,800
Cinnabon Express Bakery Initial Franchise Fee$0 – $8,000
Cinnabon Express Bakery$0 – $40,100
Additional Funds – 3 Months$39,000 – $51,000
Total Initial Investment$1,348,545 – $1,951,300

Schlotzsky’s offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment
Small Format Restaurant $648,065 – $934,170
Large Format Restaurant $855,625 – $1,494,325
Freestanding Restaurant $1,348,545 – $1,951,300

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Schlotzsky’s franchised Freestanding Restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Schlotzsky’s franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$35,500
Construction and Build Out Costs$909,000 – $1,130,000
Permitting$4,250 – $13,700
Equipment Package$139,000 – $181,300
Millwork$12,800 – $29,900
Furniture$11,670 – $33,500
Menu Board, Graphics and Interior Signage$5,300 – $22,900
Exterior Signage$85,000 – $149,000
Computer System$20,600 – $53,700
Smallwares$11,700 – $15,400
TV/Music$3,200 – $4,200
Architect/Engineer$21,200 – $37,300
Rent$5,000 – $10,800
Grand Opening Marketing$15,000 – $25,000
Legal and Accounting Fees$2,500 – $10,000
Insurance$1,825 – $9,100
Misc. Opening Costs/Office Supplies$500 – $1,500
Security Deposits$500 – $8,000
Management Training Program Fee$0 – $10,000
Travel and Living Expenses during Training$10,000 – $40,000
On-Site Training Fee$0 – $9,600
Opening Inventory$15,000 – $21,800
Cinnabon Express Bakery Initial Franchise Fee$0 – $8,000
Cinnabon Express Bakery$0 – $40,100
Additional Funds – 3 Months$39,000 – $51,000
Total Initial Investment$1,348,545 – $1,951,300

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café

2025

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

Before launching a Schlotzsky’s restaurant, franchisees participate in a comprehensive training program. This program encompasses all critical elements of restaurant management, including operational procedures, customer service excellence, and marketing tactics.

The training aims to equip franchisees with the necessary skills and knowledge to run their businesses successfully.

Beyond the initial training, Schlotzsky’s emphasizes the value of ongoing education. They offer continuous support and training sessions to keep franchisees current with the latest operational methods and brand standards, ensuring long-term success and consistency across the franchise network.

Territory Protection

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café does not offer franchisees an exclusive territory. However, franchisees are granted a territory with specific protected rights, referred to as an "Area of Protection."

Franchisees are authorized to operate their restaurant solely at an approved location.

If the restaurant location is not approved when the Franchise Agreement is signed, the franchisee must choose a site that meets Schlotzsky’s site selection criteria within a designated site selection area. This area is determined individually for each franchisee. It is important to note that franchisees do not have exclusive or protected rights within this site selection area.

Competitors

Below are some of

Schlotzsky’s Bakery Café

key competitors in the

Baked Goods

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

280

New
+
-6%
-6%

$35,000

$648,000

$1,951,000

n.a.

$1,045,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Al Manakeesh

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.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$261,000 - $403,000

Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant

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.

Franchisees

?

101
+
-6%
-6%
Investment

?

$213,000 - $776,000

MidnighTreats

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.

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$133,000 - $296,000

Schmackary's

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.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$267,000 - $657,000

BAGEL BOSS

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.

Franchisees

?

18
+
64%
64%
Investment

?

$510,000 - $1,175,000

House of Bread

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.

Franchisees

?

5
+
25%
25%
Investment

?

$198,000 - $584,000

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