Crumbl Cookies Franchise Guide: Cost, Requirements, Pros & Cons.

By Ricardo Fontana
Published December 5, 2025

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If you’re searching for “Crumbl Cookies franchise cost” or “how much is a Crumbl cookie franchise?”, you’re not just craving cookies—you’re exploring a serious business commitment.

This guide focuses almost entirely on the Crumbl Cookies franchise in the United States, with a brief comparison to other dessert brands at the end. You’ll learn:

How the Crumbl Cookies franchise model works
The latest franchise cost, fees, and basic requirements
What day-to-day ownership actually looks like
An expanded, balanced list of pros and cons
How Crumbl compares (at a high level) to other dessert franchises
How the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) can help you decide if Crumbl—or dessert franchising at all—is right for you

Crumbl Cookies is not affiliated with the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA). This article is for educational purposes only. Always rely on the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and your own legal, financial, and tax advisors before investing in any franchise. Nothing here is a promise of performance or earnings.

Is Crumbl Cookies a franchise & how big is it?

Is Crumbl Cookies a franchise? Yes. Crumbl Cookies operates as a franchise system. Local owners (franchisees) run individual bakeries under the Crumbl brand, following the company’s recipes, operational systems, and standards in exchange for fees.

How many Crumbl locations are there? Crumbl has grown extraordinarily fast since its launch in 2017:

The brand has more than 1,000 locations across the United States (plus expansion into Canada).
It has become one of the most recognizable dessert franchises in North America in under a decade.

For anyone considering a Crumbl Cookies franchise for sale or a new unit, that scale matters: it signifies strong brand awareness, but it also means territory availability may be limited in many prime markets.

Who founded and owns Crumbl? Crumbl was founded in 2017 in Logan, Utah, by cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley. They built the brand around:

A perfected chocolate chip cookie,
A constantly changing weekly menu,
And an aggressive social media–driven growth strategy.

The franchise is offered through Crumbl’s corporate franchising entity, which licenses the brand and system to independent franchisees.

What is the Crumbl Cookies franchise concept?

Crumbl is designed to be simple to explain and highly visible to customers:

Oversized, gourmet cookies baked and decorated in-store
A rotating weekly menu of limited-time flavors (plus core staples)
An open kitchen format so guests can watch the process
Heavy reliance on short-form video and social media marketing
Multiple revenue channels: in-store, pickup, delivery, catering, and gifting

The result is a dessert concept that feels more like a weekly “event” than a static bakery. From a franchisee standpoint, though, you’re running a busy retail food operation that must deliver consistently, regardless of how viral the brand is that week.

Crumbl Cookies Franchise Cost: What you’ll Invest.

If you’re researching “crumbl cookies franchise cost,” “crumbl cookie franchise start up cost,” or “how much does a Crumbl cookie franchise cost?”, the most important numbers come from the FDD (Item 7).

According to the FDD, the estimated total initial investment to open a single Crumbl Cookies franchise typically ranges from $816,066 to $1,442,533, including approximately $78,000 to $86,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

This Crumbl cookie franchise start up cost range generally includes:

Initial franchise fee.
Leasehold improvements and construction.
Equipment, fixtures, POS systems, and signage.
Initial inventory and supplies.
Training travel and related costs.
Pre-opening marketing and professional fees.
A modest amount of working capital.

Your actual Crumbl Cookies franchise cost may be higher or lower depending on your market, site condition, and financing.

FDD Estimated Initial Investment table

If you want to see how those costs break down line by line, here is the estimated initial investment from the 2025 Crumbl Cookies FDD (rounded to the nearest dollar):

Category	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Initial Franchise Fee	$50,000	$50,000
Opening Tech Equipment Package	$12,000	$15,000
Opening Box and Ingredient Package	$8,000	$13,000
Initial Training Fees, and Travel, Lodging, Food, and Other Expenses While Training	$25,000	$35,000
Real Estate and Improvements	$350,000	$700,000
Rent – 3 months	$16,666	$83,333
Professional Fees	$10,000	$50,000
Equipment, Furniture, Fixtures, Décor, and Supplies	$253,000	$291,000
POS System, Computer Hardware, and Software	$5,500	$18,000
Signs	$12,000	$32,000
Misc. Opening Costs	$2,500	$35,000
Opening Inventory	$10,000	$20,000
Additional Funds – 3 months	$61,400	$100,200
ESTIMATED TOTAL (does not include royalties or marketing fees)	$816,066	$1,442,533

This table is meant as a planning guide, not a guarantee. Real-world projects can come in above or below these figures based on your local construction environment, lease terms, and execution.

Area development: multi-unit investment

If you’re thinking beyond a single store, Crumbl also offers Area Development Agreements for candidates who want to open multiple locations in a territory.

The estimated total investment to open three Crumbl locations under a development agreement is typically in the multi-million-dollar range, reflecting:

A development fee, and
Three full buildouts with associated costs.

This path is usually suited for experienced, well-capitalized multi-unit operators.

Want a deeper, FDD-based breakdown of Crumbl’s numbers?

If you’d like to see how analysts walk through the FDD line by line:

Get a detailed cost and performance breakdown from an independent source.
For a granular look at Crumbl’s estimated costs, fees, and historical financial performance (based on the 2024 FDD), you can review Franchise Chatter’s independent analysis: Crumbl Cookies FDD Talk: franchise costs, fees, average revenues, and/or profits (2024 review).

It walks through Items 5, 6, 7, and 19 of the FDD, including how the analysts interpret average revenue and profit figures. Use it as one more data point in your research—and always cross-check key numbers in the most recent FDD and with your own financial and legal advisors.

Crumbl Cookies Ongoing Costs.

Beyond the initial Crumbl cookie franchise start up cost, you’ll have ongoing fees that directly affect your margins.

Royalty and marketing fees.

Typical ongoing fees for a Crumbl Cookies franchise include:

Royalty fee: usually around 8% of gross sales.
National marketing fund contribution: generally 2% of gross sales.
Local/regional co-op marketing: often 1–2% of gross sales, where applicable.

You’ll also be expected to invest in local store marketing (events, partnerships, promotions) beyond required contributions.

Because these fees are based on gross sales, not profit, you’ll need a disciplined approach to:

Labor management.
Food and packaging costs.
Rent and occupancy costs.
Local advertising and discounting.

If you want to pressure-test how different investment levels and revenue scenarios might affect your personal budget, you can plug rough numbers into FBA’s Franchise Financial Calculator as a starting point (then refine with a real pro forma and your advisors).

Crumbl Cookies Franchise Requirements & Availability.

When people ask about “crumbl cookies franchise requirements” or “crumbl cookie franchise availability,” they’re really asking two questions:

Do I qualify as a franchisee?
Can I still get a good territory?

Financial profile.

While exact thresholds are subject to change, public franchise resources commonly suggest that Crumbl looks for candidates with:

Significant liquid capital (commonly cited in the low-to-mid six figures).
A strong overall net worth, capable of supporting a high-cost retail buildout.
The ability to qualify for commercial or SBA financing for the remainder.

Given the official investment range, Crumbl is generally not suited to buyers with very limited liquidity or those who would be dangerously stretched at this level of investment.

Experience and role expectations.

Crumbl often prefers candidates who:

Have experience in business, retail, restaurant, or multi-unit management, or who partner with someone who does.
Are prepared to treat the store as a hands-on operating business, not a passive investment.
Are comfortable with people leadership, food safety, and local marketing.

Training typically includes online coursework, in-person sessions at a training facility, and in-store opening support.

Territory availability.

Because Crumbl has spread across the U.S. so quickly, territory availability is a real constraint:

Many high-traffic suburban and urban areas are already developed or reserved.
Some regions may be open only for multi-unit development.
In some markets, your best path may be to explore an existing Crumbl Cookies franchise for sale (a resale) rather than a brand-new store.

Territory availability is always changing, so you’ll need to confirm current status directly with the franchisor’s development team.

What is it like to run a Crumbl Cookies franchise?

From the outside, Crumbl looks like a bright, trendy cookie shop. From the inside, it’s a complex, fast-paced food operation.

Daily operations.

As a Crumbl franchisee (or as the operator you hire), you’ll be responsible for:

Hiring, training, scheduling, and managing a team of hourly employees (often students and young adults).
Overseeing production: dough prep, baking, decorating, boxing, and quality control.
Implementing a new menu every week, with different SKUs, ingredients, and procedures.
Managing POS systems, online ordering, and third-party delivery platforms.
Monitoring labor costs, food costs, and waste to maintain margins.
Maintaining high standards for cleanliness, food safety, and brand presentation.

Most stores see peak traffic on evenings and weekends, and during specific flavor drops and holidays. Owners often describe the work as energetic, fun, and demanding.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Crumbl Cookies Franchise.

Owning a Crumbl store isn’t the same as loving Crumbl cookies. You’re buying into a brand, a cost structure, and a lifestyle. Here’s an expanded look at the advantages and drawbacks to help you weigh whether it fits.

Potential Advantages of a Crumbl Cookies Franchise.

1. Powerful brand momentum and social visibility.

Crumbl has gone from an unknown local concept to a household name in the dessert space, fueled by:

Millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Constant user-generated content.
Frequent mentions by influencers and media.

That level of awareness can make it relatively easier to:

Build initial traffic compared with a brand-new, local-only bakery.
Attract younger guests who already know and trust the brand.
Benefit from national campaigns and social buzz you didn’t have to create yourself.

2. Focused menu with strong visual appeal.

Compared with a full-service restaurant or multi-protein QSR, the Crumbl menu is:

Narrowly focused on cookies and a few complementary items.
Designed to be visually striking, with large cookies and bold flavors.
Built around a weekly rotation rather than dozens of constant SKUs.

For operators, that can help:

Streamline training and production.
Reduce menu complexity relative to broader restaurant concepts.
Make marketing easier—photos and videos of the product do a lot of the work.

3. Engineered hype through weekly flavor “drops”.

The constantly changing menu is a strategic feature, not a random choice:

Weekly flavor reveals drive repeat visits and “I have to try this week’s lineup” behavior.
Customers create content and discussion around the flavors (reviews, rankings, first impressions).
It creates built-in “events” that keep the brand feeling fresh.

When executed well, this structure can create a powerful sales engine that individual bakeries might struggle to match.

4. Structured training, systems, and technology.

Franchisees benefit from:

A defined training path (online + in-person).
Standard operating procedures for production, safety, and service.
Integrated technology for ordering, reporting, and marketing.

If you prefer clear guidance over building everything from scratch, this can be a significant advantage—especially if you’re new to food service.

5. Potential for strong top-line sales (with the right execution).

Independent FDD analyses highlight that many Crumbl locations report seven-figure annual revenues. Past results are not predictive, but they do suggest that:

The concept can produce strong top-line sales in many markets.
High volume gives you more room to cover fixed costs—including rent, royalties, and marketing—if you manage well.

You still need to control expenses carefully, but strong sales potential can be an attractive starting point.

Potential drawbacks of a Crumbl Cookies Franchise.

1. High upfront capital requirement and financial risk.

The estimated $816,066 to $1,442,533 total investment range makes Crumbl a capital-intensive dessert franchise. For many buyers, this involves:

A significant personal equity contribution.
A large loan or SBA financing, often backed by personal guarantees.
Exposure to lease obligations and debt service even if performance is weaker than hoped.

If a single store at this price point would severely strain your finances, Crumbl may not be the right fit.

2. Heavy ongoing royalties and marketing contributions.

An ongoing 8% royalty plus 2% to the national marketing fund—plus potential co-op contributions and your own local marketing—means:

A substantial share of every sales dollar is committed before you pay rent, payroll, and other expenses
Even strong sales can feel tight if labor or food costs get out of control

In other words, Crumbl can be a high-volume, low-margin business if not managed carefully.

3. Operational intensity and people management.

Crumbl is not a passive “mailbox money” investment:

You’ll likely manage a large team of hourly employees with varying schedules, availability, and experience
You must handle evening and weekend peaks, holiday rushes, and flavor-drop surges
Training and retention are ongoing challenges in a youth-heavy workforce

If you don’t enjoy coaching, conflict resolution, and frontline leadership, the day-to-day reality may be draining.

4. Dependence on hype and social media trends.

Crumbl’s success is tightly tied to:

Social media engagement and virality.
Weekly menu announcements and trends.
Public sentiment about the brand.

That can cut both ways:

When engagement is high, traffic can be excellent.
If trends shift or social algorithms change, traffic might soften, even if your local operations are solid.

You have limited control over national marketing strategy, so you’ll need to be proactive with local relationships, catering, and community involvement to build a base beyond pure hype.

5. Brand-wide reputation and compliance risk.

As a franchisee, you benefit from the brand—but also share brand-level risks:

Any widely reported issues related to labor, food safety, or marketing can affect the reputation of the system as a whole.
You must adhere strictly to labor laws, youth employment rules, and safety standards, even if some past franchisees have made mistakes.

Ensuring you run a by-the-book, compliant operation is essential—not just ethically, but to protect your own investment.

6. Market saturation and limited territory options

With more than 1,000 U.S. locations, many of the most attractive trade areas are already taken. That can mean:

Few or no open territories in the exact area you want.
Increased intra-brand competition if multiple units cluster in a region.
Greater pressure to perform at a high level to justify your investment.

For some buyers, these factors make alternative dessert franchises or non-food concepts more appealing.

Want an honest outside perspective before you invest?

If you want to see how outside analysts critique Crumbl—not just describe it:

Read an independent “reality check” on Crumbl. In addition to the FDD, it can be helpful to review commentary from third-party analysts. Franchise Chatter’s article “Crumbl: Issues to Consider Before Investing in This Franchise (My Honest Take)” discusses Crumbl’s rapid growth, operational demands, and some of the risks and questions potential buyers should think through before signing.

Treat it as one of several inputs in your due diligence—alongside the FDD, your professional advisors, and direct conversations with current franchisees.

Brief Comparison: Crumbl vs. Other Dessert Franchises.

While this article is focused on Crumbl, most serious buyers also take a quick look at other dessert franchises (cookies, donuts, cinnamon rolls, chocolate/gifting, etc.).

At a broad level:

Crumbl Cookies typically sits at the upper end of the investment spectrum for dessert concepts, with a large national footprint and heavy social media presence.
Other dessert brands may offer:
- Lower initial investment ranges.
- Different dayparts (e.g., breakfast-heavy or gifting-heavy).
- Different operational models (fryers, cafes, chocolatiers, kiosks, etc.).
- Less brand recognition—but also less market saturation.

If you’re still exploring dessert and beyond, tools like FBA’s searchable directory at Find Franchises can help you filter opportunities by investment level, industry, and lifestyle fit so you’re not limited to just the biggest names.

The key point: Crumbl is one option, not the category. If the numbers or lifestyle don’t match your situation, there may still be dessert or bakery franchises that do.

Who might a Crumbl Cookies franchise be right for?

A Crumbl Cookies franchise may be a good fit if you:

Have strong capital resources and are comfortable with a high six-figure to low seven-figure total project cost.
Want to operate a high-visibility, high-traffic retail brand.
Enjoy managing people, solving operational problems, and being present in the business.
Are energized by social media, local buzz, and weekly “drops”.

Crumbl might not be the right fit if you:

Prefer low-overhead, home-based, or B2B franchises.
Don’t want to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Would be financially overextended at Crumbl’s estimated investment range.
Prefer a quieter, steadier brand over a trend-sensitive, social-driven one.

If you’re still figuring out what type of owner you are, you can take a psychographic fit tool like the Zorakle Assessment through FBA to better understand your strengths, work style, and what types of franchise models tend to align with your profile.

How the Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) can help you think beyond Cookies.

Even if you’re enthusiastic about Crumbl, it’s wise to step back and ask:

“Is this the best fit for my capital, skills, and lifestyle—or just the most visible brand I know?”

The Franchise Brokers Association (FBA) works with a network of trained franchise brokers who:

Represent a diverse portfolio of franchise brands (food and non-food)
Stay current on investment ranges, territory availability, and support structures
Help buyers clarify what they want in terms of income potential, risk, time commitment, and lifestyle

Because Crumbl is not in FBA’s portfolio, an FBA-affiliated broker won’t try to “sell” you a Crumbl franchise. Instead, they can:

Help you benchmark Crumbl against a wide range of dessert and non-dessert franchises
Introduce brands that better fit your budget and risk profile
Guide you through a structured due diligence process (FDD review, validation calls, financial modeling) so you can make a more informed decision

If you want one-on-one guidance, you can connect with a broker through FBA’s franchise consulting page and talk through where Crumbl fits into your bigger picture.

For more education before you talk to anyone, you can also:

Attend a free franchise webinar to learn the basics of franchise evaluation and funding, or
Tune into FranPath Live for conversations with franchise experts and brand leaders that can give you a feel for different concepts and ownership journeys.

We can’t guarantee results—but we can help you avoid choosing a franchise solely because you like the product or the Instagram feed.

Is Crumbl the right franchise for you?

The Crumbl Cookies franchise combines a viral brand, a focused product, and a polished operating system—but also demands significant capital, consistent execution, and comfort with hype-driven, trend-sensitive marketing.

For the right, well-capitalized, hands-on owner in the right market, Crumbl may be a compelling way to build a dessert-focused business. For others, a lower-cost franchise or a non-food concept might provide a better match.

The key is to choose the franchise that fits your life and goals, not just the one with the most photogenic cookies.