Best Restaurant Franchises: Top Dessert Restaurant Franchises of 2024

For investors seeking to enter a distinctive and joyful segment of the foodservice industry, a dessert franchise can be a lucrative opportunity. These brands cater to post-date-night customers and families looking for indulgent treats alike. If you’re looking for your next investment in the dessert industry, check out these 15 brands. 

Baskin-Robbins

• Initial Investment: $90,000 - $625,000
• Unit Count: 7,800+

Baskin-Robbins has great brand name recognition but provides a surprisingly low barrier to entry, with a minimum net worth requirement ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. Baskin-Robbins franchisees receive plenty of support, with in-store training and classroom training, access to an online learning management system and ongoing mentoring. 

Dairy Queen

• Initial Investment: $1,516,200 - $2,542,250
• Unit Count: 7,500+

Dairy Queen is well established, as it has been around for over 80 years, providing franchisees with a consumer base of excellent brand loyalty. This investment opportunity particularly appeals to entrepreneurs interested in multi-unit franchise ownership, as the brand offers great market availability across the U.S. and Canada.

Cold Stone Creamery

• Initial Investment: $57,200 - $627,775
• Unit Count: 1,000+

Cold Stone Creamery sets itself apart from its competitors by making its own ice cream in-house and providing a large selection of mix-ins for customization. Franchisees are encouraged to tap into their creative side and offer new flavors and mix-ins that suit the local taste of their community.

Ben & Jerry’s

• Initial Investment: $155,900 - $549,300
• Unit Count: 558

Ben & Jerry’s is known perhaps as well for its commitment to social and environmental causes as it is for its creatively named ice cream flavors. As part of the brand’s Racial Equity Incentive Program, the franchise fee is reduced to $5,000 and the first three years of royalty fees are waived for eligible franchisees opening their first store. Ben & Jerry’s has a strong commitment to social responsibility beyond this program, with a focus on responsibly sourced packaging, regenerative agricultural practices and supplier diversity.

Edible

Franchise Development Page

• Initial Investment: $240,000 - $531,000
• Unit Count: 1,000

Edible is an innovative omni-channel, e-commerce hub uniquely supported by locally owned brick-and-mortar locations across the globe that offers gifts and treats, including its famous fruit bouquets. The brand has showcased strong financial performance over the years and continues to innovate making new offerings available within the growing gifting industry.

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop

Franchise Development Page

• Initial Investment: $100,000 - $249,999
• Unit Count: 95

This candy store concept sells almost entirely packaged products, making this an easy business for franchisees to operate as the products require minimal preparation. The consumer experience is designed to be entertaining in itself. The brand was founded in 2007 and has experienced rapid growth ever since.

Marble Slab Creamery*

Franchise Development Page

• Initial Investment: $316,285 - $409,935
• Unit Count: 250+

Marble Slab Creamery sources its dairy products from local dairies and is situated under the FAT Brands umbrella. The unique use of a marble slab for mixing ice cream with toppings sets Marble Slab Creamery apart in the competitive ice cream sector. Veterans benefit from a 25% discount on the initial franchise fee with the purchase of their first location.

Kona Ice

• Initial Investment: $160,725+
• Unit Count: 1,200+

Kona Ice is a shaved ice franchise with a mobile business model that uses colorful vans, making this an affordable investment. The concept was born when the founder witnessed a rickety, run-down ice cream truck serving treats to children in his neighborhood; he revamped the nostalgic concept and the brand immediately experienced explosive growth. Franchisees can also opt for kiosks and trailers rather than the traditional van. 

Chill-N Nitrogen

• Initial Investment: $318,278 - $478,278
• Unit Count: 15

Chill-N is an emerging franchise; the ice cream is flash frozen right in front of the consumer. The brand continues to innovate, making the nitrogen tank smaller and the build-out more affordable for franchisees. Additionally, the brand recently came out with new product offerings — including cookies — and offers delivery, which is a unique service in the ice cream arena. 

Krispy Kreme

• Initial Investment: $275,000 - $1,911,250
• Unit Count: 377

The original founder of the brand began selling locations in 1937, and the brand has grown to be well-known around the world for its hot, fresh donuts. Franchisees can appoint a general manager in-store, allowing them more flexibility. This popular brand is also known for its celebrity owners, including Shaquille O’Neal and Jimmy Buffet.

Cinnabon

• Initial Investment: $60,000 - $621,000
• Unit Count: 1,882

Cinnabon is part of the GoTo Foods family and is world famous for its cinnamon rolls. Franchisees receive plenty of help with all aspects of business ownership, ranging from real estate selection to marketing to social media. The brand provides digital resources and training courses as well. 

Dunkin’

• Initial Investment: $526,900 - $1,809,500
• Unit Count: 13,200

In 1950, a donut and coffee restaurant known as Open Kettle changed its name to Dunkin’ Donuts and history was made. The concept rebranded again in 2019 and became known as Dunkin’. Franchisees can choose from single or multi-unit ownership with either a traditional or non-traditional model. The Dunkin’ model is scalable and once franchisees have multiple locations, their costs are shared across aspects such as staffing and marketing. Franchisees are also invited to attend a three day training course in Boston.

Häagen-Dazs

• Initial Investment: $15,000 - $543,000
• Unit Count: 800+

Häagen-Dazs is well-known for its high quality ice cream products and provides extensive training and support to franchise owners. The brand offers franchisees a supportive network and opportunities to collaborate with regular meetings and conventions, where they’re encouraged to exchange ideas and discuss best practices.

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

• Initial Investment: $142,683 - $471,087
• Unit Count: 540

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt does not require prospective franchisees to have previous restaurant experience, given that the product requires no cooking and very little preparation. Menchie’s provides guidance to franchisees on how to get the most out of their marketing fees. 

Yogurtland

• Initial Investment: $182,500 - $486,000
• Unit Count: 250+

Yogurtland is a frozen yogurt franchise that offers franchisees diverse revenue streams with delivery options and catering. Franchise owners reap the benefits of global, national and local advertising efforts that build brand recognition and customer loyalty.

Investing in a franchise in the dessert industry provides franchisees with a lucrative opportunity that is bound to bring some joy to the community. With such a diverse array of brands catering to various tastes and investment levels, there is a franchise to fit every investor’s portfolio.

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.