Menchie's franchise
Menchie's is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop where customers fill their own cups from a wall of flavors and a toppings bar, paying by weight. Shops also sell ice cream and other desserts. At the end of 2025 there were 296 Menchie's locations in the US, 295 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $180K–$515K
- Franchise fee
- $53,900
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 296−7 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2008
- Franchisor based in
- Woodland Hills, California
- Time to open
- Must open within 32 months of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory, usually a 2-mile radius
- Financing
- None offered
From Menchie's Group, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Menchie's franchise costs
Opening one Menchie's store costs an estimated $179,564 to $515,420. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Menchie's Group, Inc, 2026 filing, page 16
Menchie's franchise fee
The franchise fee is $53,900, for a single store ($46,000 for a second store under a multi-store agreement). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Menchie's Group, Inc, 2026 filing, page 12
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales or $125 a week, whichever is greater, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | A 2% marketing fee, paid weekly. |
Source: Menchie's Group, Inc, 2026 filing, page 12
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Menchie's publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives 2025 average and median gross sales, cost of goods and labor for franchised stores. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Menchie's Group, Inc, 2026 filing, page 36
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 295 (−7) | 1 | 11 |
| 2024 | 294 (−1) | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 295 (+1) | 1 | 7 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Menchie's Group, Inc, 2026 filing, page 40
How Menchie's compares
Of the 12 ice cream franchises on this site, Menchie's is the 2nd cheapest to open and the 8th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Menchie's | Typical ice cream |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $180K | $359K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −2.3% | +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
Menchie's franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Menchie's?
Must open within 32 months of signing, according to Menchie's's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Menchie's help with financing?
No. Menchie's does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Menchie's franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Menchie's assigns a protected territory (usually a 2-mile radius) where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Menchie'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 Menchie's growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 21 franchised locations opened and 28 closed or left, a net change of −2.3%. About 3.1% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 2.8% typical for ice cream franchises.
How does Menchie's compare with other ice cream franchises?
Of the 12 ice cream franchises here, Menchie's is the 2nd cheapest to open (low end $180K against a $359K median) and the 8th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Menchie's say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives 2025 average and median gross sales, cost of goods and labor for franchised stores. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Menchie's based?
Menchie's Group, Inc is based in Woodland Hills, California and the brand has sold franchises since 2008.