Bahama Buck's franchise
Bahama Buck's sells gourmet shaved ice with dozens of flavors and island-style drinks from shops with walk-up and drive-up windows. It began in Lubbock, Texas, and sales peak in warm months. At the end of 2025 there were 116 Bahama Buck's locations in the US, 113 franchised and 3 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $540K–$1.19M
- Franchise fee
- $34,500
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 116+4 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1993
- Franchisor based in
- Lubbock, Texas
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation’s 2026 filing.
How much a Bahama Buck's franchise costs
Opening one Bahama Buck's shop costs an estimated $540,000 to $1,190,550. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation, 2026 filing, page 17
Bahama Buck's franchise fee
The franchise fee is $34,500, per shop. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation, 2026 filing, page 8
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid monthly. |
|---|
Source: Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation, 2026 filing, page 10
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Bahama Buck's publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports historical results for Bahama Buck's shops. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation, 2026 filing, page 43
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 112 (+3) | 3 | 3 |
| 2024 | 112 (0) | 3 | 4 |
| 2025 | 113 (+1) | 3 | 4 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation, 2026 filing, page 51
How Bahama Buck's compares
Of the 12 ice cream franchises on this site, Bahama Buck's is the 10th cheapest to open and the 11th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Bahama Buck's | Typical ice cream |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $540K | $359K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 3.3% | 2.8% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +3.7% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 11 of 12 |
Typical is the median across the 12 brands in ice cream franchises.
Other ice cream franchises
Bahama Buck's franchise questions
Does Bahama Buck's help with financing?
No. Bahama Buck's does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Bahama Buck's franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Bahama Buck's growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 16 franchised locations opened and 11 closed or left, a net change of +3.7%. About 3.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 2.8% typical for ice cream franchises.
How does Bahama Buck's compare with other ice cream franchises?
Of the 12 ice cream franchises here, Bahama Buck's is the 10th cheapest to open (low end $540K against a $359K median) and the 11th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Bahama Buck's say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports historical results for Bahama Buck's shops. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Bahama Buck's based?
Bahama Buck's Franchise Corporation is based in Lubbock, Texas and the brand has sold franchises since 1993.