Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise fee is $35,000 and the total initial investment ranges from $298,145 to $854,639, with about $85,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Great Harvest Bakery Cafe FDD.
What are the Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise fees and investment?
The Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise requires a franchise fee of $35,000 and a total initial investment of $298,145 to $854,639. 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) | $35,000 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $298,145 to $854,639 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $85,000 |
| US locations | 159 |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant |
| Headquarters | Dillon, Montana |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Franchising since | 1980 |
How does the Great Harvest Bakery Cafe investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Great Harvest Bakery Cafe's minimum investment of $298,145 is above the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 601 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $35,000 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, Great Harvest Bakery Cafe belongs with franchises from $250,000 to $500,000.
What should you verify in the Great Harvest Bakery Cafe FDD?
Verify six parts of the Great Harvest Bakery Cafe 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 Great Harvest Bakery Cafe 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 Great Harvest Bakery Cafe?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Great Harvest Bakery Cafe:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Wingstop | $25,000 | $298,200 to $1,013,500 |
| ROBEKS | $30,000 | $298,050 to $511,700 |
| Happy Lemon | $30,000 | $298,000 to $586,500 |
| Isi's Pizza | $35,000 | $298,000 to $520,000 |
| Sushi Obsession | $37,000 | $297,762 to $462,339 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise ranges from $298,145 to $854,639, including a franchise fee of $35,000, 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 Great Harvest Bakery Cafe franchise?
Great Harvest Bakery Cafe lists a minimum of about $85,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Great Harvest Bakery Cafe locations are there?
Great Harvest Bakery Cafe reported 159 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 Great Harvest Bakery Cafe been franchising?
Great Harvest Bakery Cafe started offering franchises in 1980 after the company was founded in 1976.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Great Harvest Bakery Cafe and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Great Harvest Bakery Cafe. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.