Ben's Soft Pretzels
Food & Beverage · Quick-Service Restaurants
- Active units
- 75
- Royalty
- 6.0%
Franchised, year-end 2023
of weekly Net Sales
About Ben's Soft Pretzels
Ben's Soft Pretzels is a beloved brand known for its delicious and carefully crafted pretzels. With a mission to change the world, they believe that their pretzels have the power to do just that. Their dedicated team is committed to delivering premium pretzels and exceptional customer service, creating a truly satisfying experience for every customer. As one of the fastest-growing quick-serve food companies in the US, Ben's Soft Pretzels offers exciting franchising opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. By joining their franchise, you can share their mouth-watering pretzels with the world and be a part of their success story. For those looking to join the Ben's Soft Pretzels family, they also offer rewarding career opportunities. As a team, they believe in the strength of working together and consider their employees as part of their own family. Whether you are interested in baking their world-famous pretzels or working in another role, they invite you to fill out their job application form and start your journey to deliciousness. Additionally, Ben's Soft Pretzels runs the Ben's Club, where pretzel fanatics can join and get rewarded. By collecting points from every purchase, members can earn free pretzels and enjoy exclusive benefits. Visit Ben's Soft Pretzels' website today to order their mouth-watering pretzels online, explore their menu, find their convenient locations, or learn more about their catering services. With 150+ locations across various venues, they are constantly growing and spreading the joy of their delectable pretzels. So, join their mission, indulge in a delightful treat, and let their pretzels speak to your soul.
Key terms
- Franchise fee
$30k
- Existing franchisee additional units
Initial franchise fee reduced to 5000–25000 for second and subsequent Stores depending on format (e.g., Mobile or Captive Venue).
- Three-Store deferred fee program
Total IF fees 65000 for 3 Stores; 47500 due at signing; remainder due upon site control for Stores 2 and 3; specific opening timelines apply.
- Brand fund
1.5% of Net Sales
- Local advertising
2.0% of Net Sales
- Footprint
600 – 2,100 sq ft
- Three-Store deferred initial franchise fee program
$65k
- Veteran discount
15000.0% off franchise fee — Initial franchise fee reduced to 15000 for first Store; 10000 for one additional Store; veteran must own 50%+; applies to first two stores only.
Brand Percentile Rankings
Rankings compare brands in the same operating year. Fee and investment figures come from the FDD (2026 filing); filings on file: 2024, 2025, 2026.
Growth
- Total locations78
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings13
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate4.0%
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR3.9%
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio1.3×
Cumulative opens / closures through year-end
Unit economics
- Annual unit volume (Median)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (25th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (75th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- 1-year Median AUV growth rate—
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$233k
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open7 months
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
↓ Lower is better - Royalty rate6.0%
Percent of net sales paid to the franchisor
↓ Lower is better - Sales-to-investment ratio—
Median AUV / estimated initial investment midpoint
- Cash-on-cash returns—
Median unit-level EBITDA / estimated initial investment midpoint. Steady-state estimate; year 1 returns will be lower as the unit ramps to median volumes.
Franchisee healthLocked
- Unit closure ratio
- Transfer vs. closure ratio
- Percent multi-unit franchisees
- Litigation rate
- EBITDA multiple on sales & transfers
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Sources
Financial and operating figures are sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Documents. Brand percentile rankings are based on comparisons to other brands that include the same metrics in their Franchise Disclosure Documents.