About Doc Popcorn Franchise
Doc Popcorn is a gourmet popcorn franchise known for its fresh popped, all natural flavors made right in front of customers.
The brand has been franchising since 2014 and is backed by Dippin' Dots Holdings, L.L.C.
and J & J Snack Foods Corp., giving it strong corporate resources and distribution partnerships.
Doc Popcorn Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$175K
Average Investment
$294K
Maximum Investment
$414K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $15,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Revenue of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Gross Revenue | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $175,000 – $413,550 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $175K–$414K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Revenue) and marketing fee (1% of Gross Revenue) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Training Expenses | $1,000 | $3,550 |
| Real Estate Lease | $1,000 | $32,000 |
| Equipment/Décor | $22,500 | $100,000 |
| Construction | $63,500 | $130,000 |
| Architect’s Fees | $0 | $14,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $4,500 | $10,500 |
| Signage | $0 | $12,000 |
| Computer System | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $3,000 | $12,500 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $5,000 | $40,000 |
| Payroll Expenses | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | The lesser of $7,500 or 10% of the sales consideration, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. For a transfer to an existing franchisee, the lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the sales consideration per franchise sold, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. If you add a minority owner, $1,000, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. |
| Renewal Fee | $2,500 |
| Technology Fee | $65 per month |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit and inspection, any understated amounts, and any related accounting and legal expenses (estimated to be between $1,000 and $12,000) |
| Point of Sale Fee | Up to $79 per month |
| Loyalty Rewards Program Fee | Currently not charged, estimated $50 per month and $.02 per mobile text message when implemented |
| Additional Training/Assistance | Then-current charge (up to $500 per day, not including travel and living expenses) |
| Interest | The greater of (i) the Prime Rate plus 8%, (ii) 18% per annum |
| Late Fee | $100 per occurrence |
| Unauthorized Advertising Fee | $500 per occurrence |
| Legal Costs, including attorney’s fees, and Professional Fees | Our actual fees and costs incurred |
| Indemnification | Our actual expenses and losses incurred |
| Non-Sufficient Funds Fee | The lesser of (1) $50 per occurrence and 2.5% of the amount requested or (2) the highest amount allowed by state law |
| Payment Service Fees | Up to 4% of total charge |
| Promotional Materials Fee | No less than $250 per promotion |
| Custom Advertising Fee | Actual costs plus 20% administration fee |
| Customer Satisfaction Reimbursement | Our actual fees and costs incurred in resolving issues |
| Supplier and Product Evaluation Fee | Costs of inspection (estimated to be approximately $100 to $500) |
| Insurance Fee | Costs of insurance plus costs of procurement |
| Web Interface Design Fee | Will vary under the circumstances (initial and monthly fees) |
| Annual Meeting Non-Attendance Fee | $1,000 |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 4 to 10 days |
| Classroom Training | 17 |
| On-the-Job Training | 36 |
| Training Location | Paducah, Kentucky or at another site designated by the franchisor |
| Additional Training | Franchisees, designated managers, independent contractors, and employees must attend various periodic training courses at their cost and at designated times/locations. Attendance at an annual meeting of all System franchisees is required (estimated no longer than five days per year). Refresher training programs may be required, with a fee of up to $500 per day (excluding travel/living expenses) for attendance. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Non-exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Description | Franchisees do not receive an exclusive territory and may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or other distribution channels. Fixed Poperating Units operate at approved locations, which cannot be relocated without prior written approval. Mobile/catering services can operate at any event except for a 'Protected Event' of another franchisee, which requires a written contract, prior operation, intranet posting, and franchisor approval. Proximity to existing franchisees is considered when evaluating new sites. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Term | 2 additional consecutive terms of five (5) years each |
| Renewal Fee | $2,500 |
| Renewal Conditions | To renew, franchisees must provide written notice 3-6 months before the term ends, be in full compliance with the Franchise Agreement, execute the then-current franchise agreement and ancillary documents, upgrade/remodel equipment and the Fixed Poperating Unit to current standards, pay a $2,500 renewal fee, and sign a general release. The new agreement may have materially different terms. |
| Transfer Fee | The lesser of $7,500 or 10% of the sales consideration, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. For a transfer to an existing franchisee, the lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the sales consideration per franchise sold, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. If you add a minority owner, $1,000, plus any attorneys’ fees incurred by us in connection with our review of and processing of the transfer. |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisor's prior written consent is required for any transfer. Conditions include: proposed controlling owner meets franchisor criteria (at least 51% ownership), all monetary and outstanding obligations to franchisor are satisfied, franchisee is not in default, transferor executes a general release, transferee executes an assignment assuming obligations, transferee meets educational/managerial/business/financial standards, transferee executes the then-current franchise agreement, transferee refurbishes operating units, transferor remains liable for pre-transfer obligations, transferee completes training and pays applicable fees, and franchisee pays the transfer fee. Franchisor has a right of first refusal. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate for various defaults, some with a 10-day cure period (e.g., failure to comply with manual, failure to pay fees, failure to maintain insurance), some with a 30-day cure period (e.g., failure to meet minimum product purchase, failure to comply with other terms), and some with no cure period (e.g., failure to complete training, felony conviction, material misrepresentation, repeated defaults, abandonment, unauthorized use of marks/system, threat to public health, physical/verbal abuse, default under related agreements/loans, selling unapproved products). A 12-month cure period applies if a PopKiosk/PopStore lease terminates and no other units are operated. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the franchise, franchisees cannot directly or indirectly own, operate, engage in, be employed by, or have any interest in a Competitive Business (defined as any business deriving at least 50% of its revenues from popcorn and related items) anywhere. Post-termination/expiration, for 2 years, franchisees cannot engage in a Competitive Business within a 5-mile radius of any Doc Popcorn outlet or at the same events served by the franchisee or any Doc Popcorn outlet. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | The franchisor recommends that the franchisee (or a designated managing member, partner, or officer if the franchisee is an entity) be the primary operator, devoting substantial full-time efforts to the business. A designated Manager must successfully complete the training program. All owners, managers, and employees with access to confidential information must sign non-disclosure and non-competition agreements. Franchise owners and their spouses must sign a personal guarantee. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase Doc Popcorn® supplies and equipment from DP or authorized third-party distributors, vendors, or suppliers. DP is the only approved supplier for PopCarts, PopKiosks, and Doc Popcorn Blends. ICEE is the only approved supplier for certain ICEE® and Slush Puppie® products. Point-of-sale software must be purchased from a designated supplier. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must purchase a minimum of $5,000 worth of Doc Popcorn Products every 360 days. Buying or selling Doc Popcorn Products or Supplies/Equipment from/to other current or former franchisees is prohibited without prior written authorization from the franchisor. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | The franchisor's affiliate, DP, receives revenue from the sale of products and services to franchisees. During the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024, DP's revenues from these sales totaled $972,144. Certain designated suppliers may pay DP a rebate of up to 15% of purchases, though the criteria threshold for this rebate was not met in fiscal year 2024. The franchisor itself did not derive revenue from franchisees’ required purchases or leases in the last fiscal year. |
Doc Popcorn Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Doc Popcorn does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Doc Popcorn does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Doc Popcorn Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordDoc Popcorn has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Doc Popcorn System Growth
Total Units
79
Franchised
79
Company-Owned
0
Doc Popcorn currently operates 79 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 6 | 73 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 76 |
| 2024 | 4 | 1 | 79 |
Transfers: 1 | Closures: 1
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, NY, HI, ND, IL, RI, IN, SD, MD, VA, MI, WA, MN, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$444K
Net Income
$375K
Total Assets
$2.5M
Audited by Blythe CPAs for year ending Last Saturday of September.
Doc Popcorn Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Doc Popcorn franchise ranges from $175,000 to $413,550, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $15,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Doc Popcorn charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Revenue of gross sales, plus a 1% of Gross Revenue contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Doc Popcorn Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Doc Popcorn to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Doc Popcorn does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Doc Popcorn has been franchising since 2014. The FDD shows an investment range of $175,000-$413,550, a 6% of Gross Revenue royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $15,000 and the total investment ranges from $175,000 to $413,550 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $5,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Doc Popcorn and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Doc Popcorn or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com