About Duff's Cake Mix Franchise
Duff's Cake Mix is a unique entertainment and baking franchise where customers decorate their own cakes and cupcakes in a fun, creative studio environment.
Founded by celebrity baker Duff Goldman and backed by Camp Cake, LLC, the brand began franchising in 2022 and brings a hands on baking experience to families, birthday parties, and group events.
The franchise fee is $45,000.
Duff's Cake Mix Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$272K
Average Investment
$343K
Maximum Investment
$415K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Up to 1% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $271,800 – $414,900 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $272K–$415K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (Up to 1% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Construction and Leasehold Improvements | $125,000 | $225,000 |
| Lease Deposits – Three Months | $9,000 | $17,500 |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | $30,000 | $40,000 |
| Signage | $6,500 | $9,000 |
| Computer, Software and POS System | $1,300 | $2,700 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $12,000 | $18,000 |
| Utility Deposits | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Insurance Deposits – Three Months | $2,000 | $3,300 |
| Travel for Initial Training | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Professional Fees | $8,000 | $12,500 |
| Licenses and Permits | $2,500 | $3,400 |
| Additional Funds – Three Months | $20,000 | $25,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $30,000 |
| Renewal Fee | $35,000 |
| Technology Fee | Up to $500 per month |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit (if underreporting 2% or greater) |
| Franchisee Directed Local Marketing | Up to 2% of Gross Sales, currently 1% of Gross Sales |
| POS System | Currently $120 per month |
| Online Ordering, Customer Rewards, and Gift Cards | As invoiced and as incurred (currently not implemented) |
| Local and Regional Advertising Cooperatives | Established by cooperative members, but not exceeding 2% of Gross Sales |
| Annual Conference Attendance Fee | Not greater than $1,500 |
| Additional Employee Initial Training | $500 per person per day |
| Supplemental On-Site Training | $500 per day plus expenses |
| Interest | 18% per annum from due date |
| Reporting Non-Compliance | $150 per occurrence |
| Operations Non-Compliance | $450 to $1,000 per occurrence |
| Payment Non-Compliance | $150 per occurrence |
| Quality Assurance Audit | Actual costs incurred by us |
| Collections | Actual fees, costs, and expenses |
| NSF Check Fee of Failed Electronic Fund Transfer | 5% of amount or $50, whichever is greater, or maximum fee allowed by law |
| Non-Compliance | Actual fees, costs, and expenses |
| Supplier Review | Actual fees, costs, and expenses |
| Management Service | Actual costs incurred by us |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 4 days |
| Classroom Training | 2 |
| On-the-Job Training | 30 |
| Training Location | Irvine, California |
| Additional Training | Franchisor may require supplemental on-site training for franchisees and Operating Managers. New Operating Managers must complete the initial training program. Franchisees may also be required to attend a system-wide training program (up to 5 days annually). |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Non-exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Smaller of 5 miles from Studio Location or a population of 50,000 people |
| Description | Designated by zip code, boundary streets, highways, county lines, designated market area, and/or other recognizable demarcations. May be limited to physical boundaries of a mall or similar facility with a captive market. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or other distribution channels/brands controlled by the franchisor. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | $35,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Franchisee must be in compliance, provide 180 days written notice, sign the then-current Franchise Agreement and related agreements, sign a general release, remodel/upgrade the studio to current standards, secure legal right to occupy premises, and meet all other renewal requirements. Owners and spouses must also guarantee the new agreement. |
| Transfer Fee | $30,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Transfers require prior written consent from the franchisor, which may be granted or withheld at their discretion. Conditions include providing 30 days notice, satisfying all outstanding obligations, transferee meeting franchisor's standards, executing new agreements, completing training, and paying the transfer fee. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate for various defaults, including insolvency, abandonment, intentional misrepresentation, unauthorized transfer, disclosure of confidential information, felony conviction, or failure to comply with operational standards or pay fees. Cure periods are 10 days for monetary defaults and 30 days for most other curable defaults, but some defaults result in immediate termination without cure. |
| Non-Compete Period | 24 months |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term and for 24 months after termination/expiration, franchisee (and owners/spouses) cannot have any interest in or work for a competitive business within the Designated Territory, a 25-mile radius of the Designated Territory, or a 10-mile radius of any other Duff's CakeMix Studio. This also includes compliance with confidentiality and non-solicitation covenants. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The Managing Owner (who must own at least 25% equity) is required to be personally responsible for the management and overall supervision of the studio. Day-to-day on-site operations can be delegated to an approved Operating Manager who has completed training and meets franchisor criteria. Each studio in a multi-unit agreement must have an Operating Manager. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase initial and ongoing System Supplies (cakes, cupcakes, toppings, fillings, decorations, instructional materials, displays, packaging, uniforms, retail items, beverage ingredients) from the franchisor, its affiliates, or designated exclusive suppliers like Sysco and Distinct Indulgence Inc. Branded furniture, fixtures, and signage must be from designated suppliers. A Clover point-of-sale system, designated credit card processing vendor, and CakeMix Gift Card, LLC for online ordering, customer rewards, and gift card systems are also required. All branded marketing materials must be purchased from the franchisor or designated exclusive suppliers. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees are restricted to offering and selling only Approved Services and Products and must use only products, supplies, equipment, technology systems, and services authorized and designated in writing by the franchisor. The franchisor may designate itself or its affiliates as exclusive suppliers for certain goods and services, or a third party as the sole and exclusive supplier, regardless of competing options. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | No revenue received from suppliers as of the FDD issuance date, but franchisor may receive rebates/payments in the future. |
Duff's Cake Mix Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Duff's Cake Mix 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.
Duff's Cake Mix 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.
Duff's Cake Mix Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordDuff's Cake Mix 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.
Duff's Cake Mix System Growth
Total Units
2
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
2
Duff's Cake Mix currently operates 0 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 3
Public Figures (Item 18)
The following public figures are associated with this franchise: Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman
State Registrations
Registered in 23 states: CA, CT, FL, HI, IL, IN, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, NE, NY, NC, ND, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$57K
Net Income
$23K
Total Assets
$77K
Audited by Metwally CPA PLLC for year ending December 31.
Duff's Cake Mix Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Duff's Cake Mix franchise ranges from $271,800 to $414,900, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $45,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Duff's Cake Mix charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a Up to 1% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Duff's Cake Mix 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 Duff's Cake Mix to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Duff's Cake Mix 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.
Duff's Cake Mix has been franchising since 2022. The FDD shows an investment range of $271,800-$414,900, a 6% of Gross Sales 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 $45,000 and the total investment ranges from $271,800 to $414,900 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $20,000 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 Duff's Cake Mix and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Duff's Cake Mix or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com