Sweetfrog

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Sweetfrog

Food & Beverage
Ice Cream

Sweetfrog Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Sweetfrog is a self-serve frozen yogurt chain that offers a variety of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings, allowing customers to create their own custom yogurt creations in a fun and interactive environment.

SweetFrog is a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise that lets customers take control of their dessert creations. Established in 2009 by Derek Cha in Richmond, Virginia, the brand quickly gained momentum and began franchising in 2012. Its rapid growth has led to a strong presence both across the United States and in select international markets.

Headquartered in Richmond, SweetFrog offers a wide range of high-quality frozen yogurt flavors. Customers can mix and match from a diverse lineup of toppings, including fresh fruits, crunchy nuts, and colorful candies, ensuring every visit feels fresh and unique.

The self-serve format is central to SweetFrog’s identity, giving guests the freedom to build their dessert just the way they like it. This interactive model, paired with the brand’s colorful, family-friendly store atmosphere and cheerful mascots, creates a fun and welcoming environment for visitors of all ages.

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.

SweetFrog offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
SweetFrog Traditional Restaurant $256,500 to $658,500
Non-Traditional Restaurant (Kiosk & Standard Counter Floorplan) $111,350 to $394,500
Non-Traditional Restaurant (Vehicle) $122,900 to $285,300

‍

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

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $15,000 – $30,000
Leasehold Improvements/Construction $115,000 – $262,000
Lease Review Fee (Optional) $0 – $2,500
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, including soft-serve machines $62,000 – $242,000
Lease, Security Deposits $3,000 – $12,000
Utility Deposits $500 – $2,000
Design and Architectural/Engineering Fees $7,500 – $20,000
Interior and Exterior Signage; Décor Package $7,500 – $17,000
Other Equipment $1,500 – $3,500
Grand Opening Marketing $10,000
Expenses during Initial Training $1,000 – $2,000
Insurance $2,000 – $5,000
Business Licenses & Permits $1,500 – $3,500
Point of Sale Systems $3,000 – $5,000
Office Equipment & Supplies (3 months) $500 – $1,000
Opening Inventory (1 week) $3,500 – $8,000
Professional Fees $0 – $10,000
Depository Account $3,000
Additional Funds – For Initial 3 Month Period $20,000
TOTAL $256,500 – $658,500

SweetFrog offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
SweetFrog Traditional Restaurant $256,500 to $658,500
Non-Traditional Restaurant (Kiosk & Standard Counter Floorplan) $111,350 to $394,500
Non-Traditional Restaurant (Vehicle) $122,900 to $285,300

‍

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

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $15,000 – $30,000
Leasehold Improvements/Construction $115,000 – $262,000
Lease Review Fee (Optional) $0 – $2,500
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, including soft-serve machines $62,000 – $242,000
Lease, Security Deposits $3,000 – $12,000
Utility Deposits $500 – $2,000
Design and Architectural/Engineering Fees $7,500 – $20,000
Interior and Exterior Signage; Décor Package $7,500 – $17,000
Other Equipment $1,500 – $3,500
Grand Opening Marketing $10,000
Expenses during Initial Training $1,000 – $2,000
Insurance $2,000 – $5,000
Business Licenses & Permits $1,500 – $3,500
Point of Sale Systems $3,000 – $5,000
Office Equipment & Supplies (3 months) $500 – $1,000
Opening Inventory (1 week) $3,500 – $8,000
Professional Fees $0 – $10,000
Depository Account $3,000
Additional Funds – For Initial 3 Month Period $20,000
TOTAL $256,500 – $658,500

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

sweetFrog provides a comprehensive training framework to prepare franchisees and their staff for effective business operations. The training programs include the following:

  1. New Owner Training
    This is a foundational 40-hour program that may be conducted online or in person at the franchisor’s education center in Scottsdale, Arizona, or another designated location. It is designed to teach new franchisees the fundamentals of operating a sweetFrog business.
  2. In-Store Training
    Approximately 24 hours in duration, this hands-on training takes place at a designated training store and focuses on daily operational skills. Both the New Owner Training and In-Store Training must be completed by at least one owner and one other management-level trainee.
  3. Opening Week Assistance
    sweetFrog provides a representative for up to five days during the grand opening week to help the franchisee and manager with operations and marketing, ensuring a smooth launch.
  4. Ongoing and Refresher Training
    Franchisees and their managers may be required to attend additional training or refresher programs, particularly if operations are not meeting system standards. These sessions are mandatory and may include annual conferences covering marketing, new products, and operations.

Territory Protection

sweetFrog does not grant exclusive territory to franchisees operating traditional store locations. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned stores, or affiliated brands in the same area.

For mobile units ("Vehicles"), sweetFrog offers partial exclusivity within an "Authorized Territory." However, this protection does not prevent the franchisor from operating or authorizing other business formats in the same area.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2012
Franchisees

?

206
+
-7%
-7%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$111,000 - $659,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$491,000

+
37.5%
37.5%
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

Yes
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Yes
Passive investment

?

Yes
Upgrade
Yes
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Competitors

Below are some of

Sweetfrog

key competitors in the

Ice Cream

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

206

New
+
-7%
-7%

$30,000

$111,000

$659,000

n.a.

$491,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

207

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$15,000

$568,000

n.a.

$612,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

37

New
+
-12%
-12%

$35,000

$110,000

$284,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$60,000

$510,000

$773,000

n.a.

$655,000

$xxx,xxx

69.1%

xx%

n.a.

14.3%

xx%

n.a.

252

New
+
9%
9%

$25,000

$333,000

$514,000

n.a.

$251,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
20%
20%

$37,000

$494,000

$1,796,000

n.a.

$334,000

$xxx,xxx

74.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

112

New
+
8%
8%

$34,500

$528,000

$1,223,000

n.a.

$576,000

$xxx,xxx

72.1%

xx%

n.a.

20.0%

xx%

n.a.

78

New
+
609%
609%

$30,000

$103,000

$696,000

n.a.

$532,000

$xxx,xxx

78.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
-21%
-21%

$35,000

$217,000

$461,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

260

New
+
9%
9%

$35,000

$79,000

$399,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

152

New
+
-2%
-2%

$39,500

$157,000

$551,000

n.a.

$612,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

168

New
+
16%
16%

$40,000

$295,000

$880,000

n.a.

$802,000

$xxx,xxx

72.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

6

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$138,000

$3,214,000

n.a.

$219,000

$xxx,xxx

79.7%

xx%

n.a.

28.3%

xx%

n.a.

992

New
+
9%
9%

$27,000

$121,000

$655,000

n.a.

$587,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

296

New
+
-8%
-8%

$40,000

$165,000

$425,000

n.a.

$461,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

976

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$307,000

$623,000

n.a.

$521,000

$xxx,xxx

71.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

108

New
+
83%
83%

$37,500

$60,000

$101,000

n.a.

$119,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

564

New
+
7%
7%

$35,000

$22,000

$906,000

n.a.

$349,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1969

New
+
0%
0%

$45,000

$1,516,000

$2,543,000

n.a.

$1,355,000

$xxx,xxx

69.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$243,000

$645,000

n.a.

$631,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

336

New
+
2%
2%

$30,500

$39,000

$1,100,000

n.a.

$481,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

514

New
+
20%
20%

$35,000

$786,000

$2,754,000

n.a.

$1,834,000

$xxx,xxx

68.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1816

New
+
22%
22%

$15,000

$179,000

$227,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$171,000

$716,000

n.a.

$744,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
67%
67%

$25,000

$234,000

$434,000

n.a.

$341,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

25

New
+
-4%
-4%

$20,000

$110,000

$612,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

117

New
+
77%
77%

$50,000

$311,000

$936,000

n.a.

$959,000

$xxx,xxx

64.4%

xx%

n.a.

16.4%

xx%

n.a.

28

New
+
-3%
-3%

$25,000

$90,000

$223,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

61

New
+
-13%
-13%

$30,000

$107,000

$606,000

n.a.

$516,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

205

New
+
10%
10%

$40,000

$409,000

$2,644,000

n.a.

$673,000

$xxx,xxx

76.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

57

New
+
-20%
-20%

$25,000

$419,000

$630,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

59

New
+
-8%
-8%

$35,000

$285,000

$663,000

n.a.

$664,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

125

New
+
-26%
-26%

$35,000

$135,000

$699,000

n.a.

$397,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

601

New
+
2%
2%

$7,500

$264,000

$314,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

38

New
+
27%
27%

$20,000

$173,000

$185,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

199

New
+
10%
10%

$20,000

$71,000

$210,000

n.a.

$135,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

18

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$271,000

$931,000

n.a.

$289,000

$xxx,xxx

74.7%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$160,000

$274,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

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Sweet Rolled Tacos is a dessert franchise offering rolled ice cream in colorful, taco-shaped waffle cones with creative toppings.

Franchisees

?

2
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$160,000 - $274,000
Food & Beverage
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Gofer Ice Cream

Gofer Ice Cream is an ice cream franchise known for its premium soft-serve and hard ice cream, shakes, and frozen treats.

Franchisees

?

5
+
67%
67%
Investment

?

$234,000 - $434,000
Food & Beverage
Ice Cream

Tikiz Shaved Ice and Ice Cream

Tikiz Shaved Ice and Ice Cream is a mobile dessert franchise providing a unique blend of tropical shaved ice and creamy ice cream, perfect for events and community gatherings.

Franchisees

?

38
+
27%
27%
Investment

?

$173,000 - $185,000
Food & Beverage
Ice Cream

Popbar

Popbar serves handcrafted gelato, sorbet, and frozen yogurt on a stick with customizable dips and toppings for a delightful treat.

Franchisees

?

15
+
-21%
-21%
Investment

?

$217,000 - $461,000
Food & Beverage
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Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream creates made-to-order ice cream using liquid nitrogen, offering a customizable and entertaining experience.

Franchisees

?

37
+
-12%
-12%
Investment

?

$110,000 - $284,000
Food & Beverage
Ice Cream

Milkshake Factory

Milkshake Factory is a dessert franchise offering gourmet milkshakes and chocolate products. Franchisees benefit from a well-established brand, marketing support, and a business model that focuses on delivering high-quality treats.

Franchisees

?

4
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$510,000 - $773,000
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