The Pretzel Twister

The Pretzel Twister Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

The Pretzel Twister serves freshly baked pretzels with a variety of flavors and dips, offering a delicious and satisfying snack option.

The Pretzel Twister is a gourmet soft pretzel franchise known for its hand-rolled, oven-baked pretzels made from an exclusive Pennsylvania Dutch recipe.

Founded in 1993, the company began franchising in 1998 and is currently headquartered in New Hill, North Carolina.

The franchise offers a wide selection of soft pretzels in unique flavors, along with fresh-squeezed lemonade, frozen fruit smoothies, and soft drinks.

Its products are made with all-natural ingredients and contain no preservatives, ensuring a wholesome snacking experience. This focus on quality ingredients appeals to health-conscious consumers looking for indulgent yet cleaner food options.

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.

The Pretzel Twister offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Traditional Shopping Mall Pretzel Twister Franchise $121,700 to $220,000
Food Truck Pretzel Twister Franchise $317,800 to $338,800

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Food Truck Pretzel Twister Franchise.

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

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $25,000
Equipment and Outfitting Truck $189,800
Vehicle $89,000
Leasehold Improvements and Construction Costs $0
Opening Inventory and Start-up Supplies $7,500 to $15,000
Opening Advertising $500 to $2,500
Initial Training $500 to $2,000
Signage $0
Insurance $1,000 to $1,500
Professional Fees $500 to $2,500
Additional Funds for Three-Month Initial Phase $4,000 to $11,500
Total $317,800 to $338,800

The Pretzel Twister offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Traditional Shopping Mall Pretzel Twister Franchise $121,700 to $220,000
Food Truck Pretzel Twister Franchise $317,800 to $338,800

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Food Truck Pretzel Twister Franchise.

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

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $25,000
Equipment and Outfitting Truck $189,800
Vehicle $89,000
Leasehold Improvements and Construction Costs $0
Opening Inventory and Start-up Supplies $7,500 to $15,000
Opening Advertising $500 to $2,500
Initial Training $500 to $2,000
Signage $0
Insurance $1,000 to $1,500
Professional Fees $500 to $2,500
Additional Funds for Three-Month Initial Phase $4,000 to $11,500
Total $317,800 to $338,800

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

The Pretzel Twister franchise offers a structured training program to ensure franchisees and their staff are prepared to operate effectively. Here are the key training components:

  1. Initial Training Program: Before opening, the franchisee or a designated manager must attend and complete a mandatory initial training program to the franchisor's satisfaction. This program currently runs for three days and is conducted both at the principal office and a franchised bakery near Cary, North Carolina.
  2. Training for New Managers: Any new employees hired as managers after the initial setup are also required to attend and complete the franchisor's training program.
  3. Ongoing and Additional Training: The franchisor may require attendance at additional training courses, seminars, or programs over time. These are provided at no instructional cost, though the franchisee is responsible for expenses like travel, meals, and lodging.

Territory Protection

The Pretzel Twister grants exclusive territory to mall-based franchises, limiting other franchises from operating within the same mall, center, or store. For food trucks, a non-exclusive protected territory is provided, which prevents overlap unless the franchisor deems another franchisee better suited to serve a specific customer or event.

However, the franchisor reserves the right to sell or license products through supermarkets, online platforms, and other retail channels, even within a franchisee’s territory. Franchisees do not receive compensation from these alternative sales.

Competitors

Below are some of

The Pretzel Twister

key competitors in the

Baked Goods

sector.

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

24

New
+
-14%
-14%

$25,000

$122,000

$339,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Aunt Millies Bakeries

Aunt Millies Bakeries produces a variety of fresh bread and bakery products, offering high-quality and delicious baked goods for customers to enjoy.

Franchisees

?

154
+
-7%
-7%
Investment

?

$37,000 - $186,000

The Pretzel Twister

The Pretzel Twister serves freshly baked pretzels with a variety of flavors and dips, offering a delicious and satisfying snack option.

Franchisees

?

24
+
-14%
-14%
Investment

?

$122,000 - $339,000

Philly Pretzel Factory

Philly Pretzel Factory specializes in freshly baked, hand-twisted pretzels and a variety of dips, delivering authentic Philly flavors in a fast-casual setting.

Franchisees

?

146
+
-3%
-3%
Investment

?

$135,000 - $407,000

Bang Cookies

Bang Cookies offers gourmet, organic cookies baked fresh, with a variety of decadent flavors and ingredients, available for delivery and catering.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$235,000 - $712,000

H&H Bagels

H&H Bagels provides authentic New York-style bagels, offering a variety of flavors and spreads, with a focus on traditional methods and fresh ingredients.

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$660,000 - $1,021,000

Corner Bakery Cafe

Corner Bakery Cafe offers fast-casual dining with a menu featuring sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods, all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Franchisees

?

32
+
-18%
-18%
Investment

?

$1,090,000 - $2,335,000