Franchise Deep Dive: Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

Since Jeremiah’s Italian Ice started offering franchise opportunities in 2019, the brand has seen explosive growth and now has more than 125 open locations.

By Jeff DwyerStaff Writer

1:13PM • 10/05/23

LAST UPDATED: September 27, 2023
FRANCHISE WEBSITE: https://jeremiahsfranchise.com/
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 125+
REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $102,800 to $696,000
REPORTED ROI (Item 19): $576,482 average unit volume

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is a frozen dessert franchise brand that specializes in serving Italian ice, soft-serve ice cream and gelati. Its first location was in Winter Park, Florida, and founded by Jeremy Litwack in 1996. The soon-to-be founder had already been selling Italian ice since 1988 in front of the U.S. Mint building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before moving to the Sunshine State.

When Jeremiah’s Italian Ice started offering franchise opportunities in 2019, the brand received several awards — “Best Franchise to Buy” by Franchise Times; and numerous awards from Entrepreneur magazine, including “Fastest Growing Franchise” and “Top New and Emerging Franchise.”

How Many Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Locations Are There?

As of September 2023, there are more than 125 open Jeremiah’s Italian Ice locations across the U.S., and more than 300 additional franchises awarded or in development. The brand is actively offering new franchise opportunities nationwide.

What Is Jeremiah’s Italian Ice’s Business Model?

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice claims to have a low-cost build-out with a high return on investment. The concept, which is designed to fit into shops of all sizes and starts as small as 175 square feet, also has in-store production for its Italian ice and frozen treats, which keeps costs low for its franchise owners. As such, the brand says its franchisees can see a gross profit of up to 48% after the costs of goods and labor.

Additionally, franchisees can benefit from multiple revenue streams, as the brand also offers catering and pre-packaged products.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has two franchise opportunities available:

Traditional Opportunity

The traditional opportunity usually sits at about 800 to 1,400 square feet, and can come in site build-outs such as a drive-thru, inline mode and a free-standing location.

Non-Traditional Opportunity

The non-traditional opportunity has a smaller store size at about 175 to 250 square feet. They can be found in airports, travel centers, convenience stores, colleges, sports and entertainment venues, big box retail stores, and government offices.

How Much Can Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Franchise Owners Make?

According to the brand’s consumer-facing website, the average net sales of a traditional Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchise in 2022 were $576,482. The average unit volume for a non-traditional location was $290,657.

How Much Does It Cost To Open a Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Franchise?

The investment required to open a Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchise varies based on whether it’s a traditional location or a non-traditional location.

Traditional Opportunity

The initial investment required to open a traditional franchise ranges from $324,567 to $696K. Franchisees will also be required to pay an ongoing 6% royalty fee, as well as a 4.5% marketing contribution. Interested candidates must also have at least $120K in liquid capital and a minimum net worth of $250K.

Non-Traditional Opportunity

The cost to open a non-traditional location ranges from $102,800 to $253,783. Franchisees must also meet the same financial requirements of those looking to open a traditional location, and will still be required to pay the 6% royalty fee and the 4.5% marketing contribution.

What Is the Franchise Fee for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice?

The franchise fee to open a traditional location is $35K, while the fee to open a non-traditional Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchise is $15K. The brand also offers a 20% discount on its franchise fee for active-duty service members, first responders and qualified U.S. military veterans.

Who’s On Jeremiah’s Italian Ice’s Leadership Team?

What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More About Jeremiah’s Italian Ice?

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