Auntie Anne's franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Auntie Anne's franchise fee is $35,500 and the total initial investment ranges from $156,175 to $638,300, with about $55,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Auntie Anne's FDD.
What are the Auntie Anne's franchise fees and investment?
The Auntie Anne's franchise requires a franchise fee of $35,500 and a total initial investment of $156,175 to $638,300. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $35,500 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $156,175 to $638,300 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $55,000 |
| US locations | 1,193 |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant (Desserts) |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Franchising since | 2017 |
How does the Auntie Anne's investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Auntie Anne's's minimum investment of $156,175 is at or below the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 954 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $35,500 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, Auntie Anne's belongs with franchises from $100,000 to $250,000.
What should you verify in the Auntie Anne's FDD?
Verify six parts of the Auntie Anne's Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether Auntie Anne's discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to Auntie Anne's?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Auntie Anne's:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Dominos | $0 to $10,000 | $156,450 to $743,500 |
| Peet's Coffee | $35,000 | $155,800 to $372,000 |
| Wild BIll's | $40,000 | $155,800 to $214,700 |
| Paradis | $25,000 | $156,800 to $287,500 |
| Peach Cobbler Factory | $34,950 | $157,444 to $458,274 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Auntie Anne's franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Auntie Anne's franchise ranges from $156,175 to $638,300, including a franchise fee of $35,500, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a Auntie Anne's franchise?
Auntie Anne's lists a minimum of about $55,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Auntie Anne's locations are there?
Auntie Anne's reported 1,193 US locations in the data compiled in October 2026. Item 20 of the FDD shows openings, closures and transfers for the last three years.
How long has Auntie Anne's been franchising?
Auntie Anne's started offering franchises in 2017 after the company was founded in 1991.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Auntie Anne's and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Auntie Anne's. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.