Auntie Anne’s Franchise FDD, Profits & Costs (2025)
Auntie Anne’s, founded in 1988 by Anne Beiler, is a leading brand in the hand-rolled soft pretzel industry.
It started with a single stand in a Pennsylvania farmer’s market and began franchising in 1991. Known for its freshly baked, hand-rolled pretzels, the brand is loved worldwide for its quality and warm, oven-fresh treats.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Auntie Anne’s is the largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise globally. It stands out with its commitment to fresh ingredients and a simple, crowd-pleasing menu.
Auntie Anne’s franchise model offers operational simplicity and flexible location options, ideal for high-traffic venues like campuses, airports, and malls.
Franchisees benefit from strong support, including real estate assistance, comprehensive training, and expert business consulting.
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Initial Investment
How much does it cost to start a Auntie Anne’s franchise? It costs on average between $108,000 – $1,144,000 to start a Auntie Anne’s franchised restaurant.
This includes costs for construction, equipment, inventory, and initial operating expenses. The exact amount depends on various factors, including the type of restaurant you choose, the location, and whether the franchisee chooses to lease or purchase the property. Indeed, Auntie Anne’s offers 5 types of franchises:
| Shop Type | Initial Investment Range |
|---|---|
| Traditional Shop (Full Shop) | $149,625 to $624,800 |
| Concession Shop – Food Truck | $154,285 to $330,460 |
| Concession Shop – Trailer | $107,540 to $249,400 |
| Cinnabon Co-Branded Shop | $441,475 to $990,400 |
| Jamba Co-Branded Shop | $593,575 to $1,143,500 |
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Auntie Anne’s Traditional Shop (Full Shop). For more information on the costs required to start a Auntie Anne’s franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
| Type of Expenditure | Amount (Full Shop) |
|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,500 |
| Construction and Build Out Costs | $27,000 – $265,000 |
| Permitting | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Equipment Package | $21,000 – $64,500 |
| Millwork | $5,000 – $28,000 |
| Furniture | $0 – $2,500 |
| Menu Board, Graphics, and Interior Signage | $250 – $23,000 |
| Exterior Signage | $3,000 – $8,300 |
| Computer System | $7,400 – $27,400 |
| Smallwares | $1,000 – $7,000 |
| Architect/Engineer | $2,000 – $13,000 |
| Rent | $2,000 – $10,000 Monthly |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $2,500 – $7,500 |
| Legal and Accounting Fees | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Insurance | $1,575 – $8,200 |
| Misc. Opening Costs/Office Supplies | $13,000 – $25,000 |
| Security Deposits | $0 – $15,000 As incurred |
| Management Training Program Fee | $0 – $2,500 As incurred |
| Travel and Living Expenses during Training | $3,100 – $5,100 As incurred |
| On-Site Training Fee | $0 – $5,300 As incurred |
| Opening Inventory | $3,300 – $4,000 As incurred |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $15,000 – $54,000 As incurred |
| Total Initial Investment | $149,625 – $624,800 |
Average Revenue (AUV)
How much revenue can you make with a Auntie Anne’s franchise? Auntie Anne’s franchised restaurants make on average $821,000 in revenue (AUV) per year.
Here is the extract from the latest Franchise Disclosure Document:
This compares to $788,000 yearly revenue for similar baked goods franchises. Below are 10 Auntie Anne’s competitors as a comparison:
The most profitable franchises to own in 2025
We have compiled the list of the top 400 franchises across 9 industries. Download the report below.
Auntie Anne’s Franchise Disclosure Document
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Auntie Anne’s locations are there?
As of the latest data, Auntie Anne’s operates over 1,900 locations worldwide, with more than 1,300 in the United States. This includes approximately 1,300 franchise-owned outlets and 12 company-owned locations.
Auntie Anne’s has a strong presence in high-traffic areas like malls and airports, contributing to its global expansion and continued popularity.
What is the total investment required to open a Auntie Anne’s franchise?
The total investment required to open a Auntie Anne’s franchise ranges from $108,000 to $1,144,000.
What are the ongoing fees for a Auntie Anne’s franchise?
Auntie Anne’s franchisees are required to pay a royalty fee of 6% of net sales, which can potentially increase to 8% at the franchisor’s discretion. Additionally, the marketing fee varies based on the location. For street-side locations, it is 3% of net sales.
For captive audience locations, such as malls or airports, the marketing fee is 1% of net sales, increasing to 1.5% starting in 2024. These fees are essential to maintaining the brand and supporting franchise operations.
What are the financial requirements to become a Auntie Anne’s franchisee?
To become an Auntie Anne’s franchisee, you must meet certain financial requirements. Prospective franchisees are required to have a minimum net worth of $300,000 and minimum liquid assets of $120,000.
These financial benchmarks ensure that franchisees have the necessary capital to manage start-up costs and ongoing operational expenses while providing a buffer for any unforeseen challenges during the business’s early stages.
How much can a Auntie Anne’s franchise owner expect to earn?
The average gross sales for a Auntie Anne’s franchise are approximately $0.82 million per location. Assuming a 15% operating profit margin, $0.82 million yearly revenue can result in $123,000 EBITDA annually.
Who owns Auntie Anne’s?
Auntie Anne’s is owned by Focus Brands, a large franchise operator that also owns other well-known brands like Cinnabon, Carvel, Jamba, and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Focus Brands acquired Auntie Anne’s in 2010. Focus Brands itself is a portfolio company of Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm that specializes in managing a wide range of franchise businesses.
Auntie Anne’s was originally founded by Anne Beiler in 1988, and it has since grown into a globally recognized pretzel brand.
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