Ben & Jerry’s

Thinking of investing in a Ben & Jerry’s franchise? We think it’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to open a business with an experienced franchisor behind them. Founded in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s specializes in Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, smoothies. As a Ice Cream franchise, Ben & Jerry’s has grown to include over 562 (as of 2020) units since they began franchising in 1981 (40 years). It costs an estimated $152,200 – $546,800 to open a Ben & Jerry’s franchise.

About Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry’s believes business has a responsibility to give back to the community. We make the best possible ice cream in the nicest way possible

What makes Ben & Jerry’s, Ben & Jerry’s? Fresh & Extraordinary dairy: wholly cow-created milk & cream from our farmer friends who have promised not to treat their herds with bioengineered growth hormones. All natural flavorings, exceptional extracts & amazing purees. Collossal chunks & exquisite nibbles, specially selected for their “oh, my!” excellence.

Sensational swirls & wicked rich whorls thick enough to lose your spoon in. The passion we have for creating innovative flavors and concoctions of uncompromisingly high quality. What makes Ben & Jerry’s Ben & Jerry’s is the people dedicated to making sure every scoop of Ben & Jerry’s delivers a tastebud-boggling odyssey great enough to take you all the way to the state of euphoria. Every time.

From a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, to far-off places with names we sometimes mispronounce, the journey that began in 1978 with 2 guys and the ice cream business they built is as legendary as the ice cream is euphoric.

In 1978 with a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making from Penn State and a $12,000 investment ($4,000 of it borrowed), Ben and Jerry open their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

In 1979 Ben and Jerry celebrate the shop’s one-year anniversary – and the customers who made it possible – by holding the first-ever Free Cone Day: free scoops for all, all day long. The annual ice cream give-away continues today in scoop shops around the world.

Company Founded

1978

Current Leadership

Matthew McCarthy, CEO

Started Franchising

1981 (40 years)

Total Number of Units

562 (as of 2020)

Part-Time / Full-Time

Full Time

Stock Ticker Symbol

How Much Does It Cost To Open A Ben & Jerry’s Franchise?

There are several costs associated with opening a Ben & Jerry’s franchise. There is typically a franchise fee set by the franchisor, which covers the costs of opening a franchise location. Some other commons fees include equipment fees, marketing fees, licensing fees, insurance, and taxes, to name a few.

Some franchises may have a weekly fee that the franchisee pays for operating a Ben & Jerry’s franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Ben & Jerry’s franchise is Royalty Fee Due On The 15Th Day Of Each Month On The Gross Sales For The Prior Month.

The full breakdown of these fees can be found in the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) provided to franchisees by the franchisor. The FDD report will contain additional information such as whether the franchise is renewable (Ben & Jerry’s Is Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Ben & Jerry’s Ben & Jerry’s has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll).

Ben & Jerry's Company Details

Here are some additional details about Ben & Jerry's.

Parent Company	Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc.
Initial Investment	$16,000 - $37,000
Net Worth Requirement	$350,000
Royalty Fee	3%
Ad Royalty	4%
Cash Requirement	$100,000
Term of Agreement	10 years
Absentee Ownership	No
Run from Home	No
Part Time	No

Training and Support Offered By Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s offers several support options to its franchisees. With 562 (as of 2020) units, Ben & Jerry’s aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Ben & Jerry’s offers 8 hours on the job training, 33.5 hours classroom training, and No additional training.

Training and Support Offered

Here are the support options offered by Ben & Jerry's.

On-The-Job Training	8 hours
Classroom Training	33.5 hours
Additional Training	No
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Is Ben & Jerry’s Right For You?

Ben & Jerry’s has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Ben & Jerry’s online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Ben & Jerry’s online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Ben & Jerry’s franchise and offer tips to running a successful Ben & Jerry’s franchise location.

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Why Should You Start a Ben & Jerry’s Franchise?

Investing in a Food franchise such as Ben & Jerry's can kickstart your franchise portfolio. Our goal at Why Franchise is to provide you with the resources needed to be a successful franchise owner. Fill out the form below to get more information about Ben & Jerry's franchise and we'll be in touch soon!

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