Waffle Cabin is a food franchise offering fresh Belgian sugar waffles served from cabins, carts, or kiosks, often located in ski resorts, festivals, and event venues.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
38
+
36%
36%
Franchise fee
?
$23,500
Investment
?
$90,000 - $188,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$122,000
+
2.3%
2.3%
Upgrade
Waffle Cabinis a unique quick-service franchise specializing in authentic Liège-style Belgian sugar waffles. Founded in 1998 by Peter Creyf and Ingrid Heyrman, it began as a humble pushcart named "Leo’s Gaufres de Liège" at Boston’s Quincy Market.
After initial challenges, the concept found success at ski resorts, leading to the establishment of the first permanent Waffle Cabin in December 1999. The franchise officially launched in 2012 and is headquartered in Rutland, Vermont.
The menu centers around handcrafted Liège waffles made from yeast-based dough and imported Belgian pearl sugar, resulting in a caramelized, crispy exterior and soft interior.
Customers can enjoy these waffles plain or topped with semi-sweet dark Belgian chocolate. Complementary beverages like hot cocoa, coffee, and tea are also available. Waffle Cabin's commitment to quality includes sourcing ingredients from trusted Vermont suppliers and maintaining a nut-free production facility.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Waffle Cabin franchise is
$90,000 - $188,000.
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.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$23,500
Delayed Opening Fee
$0 to $15,000
Vehicle
$35,000 to $90,000
Equipment
$15,000 to $25,000
Initial Inventory - Proprietary Items
$2,468 to $2,678
Initial Inventory - Other
$1,532 to $2,922
Point-of-Sale System
$1,000 to $1,500
Travel, Lodging and Meals for Initial Training
$0 to $3,500
Insurance – 3 Months
$500
Grand Opening Advertising
$0
Licenses and Permits
$250 to $1,000
Professional Fees
$1,000 to $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months
$10,000 to $17,500
Total
$90,250 to $188,100
Create a free account to access this table and more. For more information see our plans here.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$23,500
Delayed Opening Fee
$0 to $15,000
Vehicle
$35,000 to $90,000
Equipment
$15,000 to $25,000
Initial Inventory - Proprietary Items
$2,468 to $2,678
Initial Inventory - Other
$1,532 to $2,922
Point-of-Sale System
$1,000 to $1,500
Travel, Lodging and Meals for Initial Training
$0 to $3,500
Insurance – 3 Months
$500
Grand Opening Advertising
$0
Licenses and Permits
$250 to $1,000
Professional Fees
$1,000 to $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months
$10,000 to $17,500
Total
$90,250 to $188,100
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Waffle Cabin's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Waffle Cabin had 52 total units in 2024, of which 38 were franchised-owned and 14 company-owned.
Waffle Cabin offers a structured training program to ensure franchisees and their staff are adequately prepared to operate under the brand standards. The training includes the following key programs:
Initial Training Program Waffle Cabin provides a three-day initial training for up to four individuals (three Principals and one General Manager) at no extra cost. This training is conducted at their headquarters, an affiliate location in Vermont, or another designated site. Additional participants or new managers require a training fee.
On-Site Opening Assistance Around the time of business opening, a company representative offers on-site support and training for up to three days. If more days are needed, the franchisee covers all additional travel and lodging expenses.
Additional Training Requests Franchisees can request further on-site training at any time during the franchise term. These sessions are charged per day plus trainer expenses.
Territory Protection
Waffle Cabin offers franchisees a defined territory, which is typically a geographic area such as a city or a set of zip codes. For suburban locations, this may be a three-mile radius around the restaurant, while urban areas may cover three to five city blocks.
If the location is within a venue like a ski resort, the venue itself is considered the exclusive territory.
However, outside of venue-based locations, Waffle Cabin does not provide exclusive territory rights. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or distribution channels even within their designated area.
.png)
