About U Swirl Franchise
U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt is a self-service frozen yogurt franchise system where franchisees operate retail locations offering self-service frozen yogurt, beverages, and other frozen dessert products.
Franchisees serve customers of all ages and economic levels under one of several brand names including U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, CherryBerry, Yogurtini, Yogli-Mogli, Aspen Leaf Yogurt, Let's Yo!, and Fuzzy Peach.
Franchisees may also operate co-branded locations offering Fosters Freeze frozen confections alongside their standard frozen yogurt products.
U Swirl Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$419K
Average Investment
$524K
Maximum Investment
$630K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Gross Sales (Advertising Fund Contribution) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $418,500 – $629,920 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $419K–$630K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (1% of Gross Sales (Advertising Fund Contribution)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Furniture, Equipment, and Fixtures | $194,000 | $278,000 |
| Computer System | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| Pre-Opening Rent, Deposits, Approved Architectural Fees and Leasehold Improvements | $131,000 | $185,920 |
| Signage | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Training | $3,500 | $7,500 |
| Grand Opening Program | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $500 | $1,500 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Professional Fees | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $35,000 | $71,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 |
| Technology Fee | Varies under circumstances |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit and inspection, any understated amounts, and related accounting, legal and travel expenses |
| Local Advertising Requirement | 1% of Gross Sales per month |
| Unauthorized Advertising Fee | $500 per occurrence |
| Additional Training or Assistance Fees | $500 per attendee |
| POS Manual Interface Fee | $100 per month |
| Conference Fee | $500 per person (estimated) |
| Supplier and Product Evaluation Fee | $100 to $500 |
| Food Safety Inspection | Approximately $2,500 |
| Customer Issue Resolution | $20 to $100 |
| Payment Service Fee | Up to 4% of total charge |
| Late Payment Fee | $100 per occurrence plus 18% per year interest |
| Non-Sufficient Funds Fee | $100 per occurrence plus 18% per year interest |
| Failure to Submit Required Report Fee | $100 per occurrence and $100 per week |
| Management Fee | $500 per day plus costs and expenses |
| Gift Card Services Fee | $15 to $35 per month |
| Extension Fee | $200 per month up to 12 months |
| Liquidated Damages | Average monthly Royalties and Ad Fund multiplied by lesser of 36 or months remaining, minimum $30,000 |
| Transfer to Entity Fee | $500 |
| Insurance Reimbursement | Cost plus 20% administration charge |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 9.75 hours classroom, 16.5 hours on-the-job (approximately 26.25 total hours) |
| Classroom Training | 9.75 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 16.5 hours |
| Training Location | Franchised Location in Arizona |
| Additional Training | Periodic refresher training, remedial training, and additional training available at $500 per attendee per day. Replacement Responsible Owners or Franchise Managers must complete initial training at $2,500 for up to two attendees. National or regional conferences may be mandatory. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected (non-exclusive) |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Typically up to a seven-mile radius around Franchised Business; may be smaller in urban areas |
| Description | Franchisor will not establish or franchise another USF Brand Business within the designated Territory during the term, but franchisee will not receive an exclusive territory. Franchisee may face competition from other franchisees, franchisor-owned outlets, or other channels of distribution. Territory may be modified upon renewal. No territory granted for non-traditional or metropolitan area locations. Franchisor retains rights to sell through alternate channels, use other trademarks, and operate outside territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 10 years (one successor term) |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Must provide written notice 60-180 days before expiration; not in default; no more than 3 written notices of default in prior 12 months; sign then-current franchise agreement; sign general release; pay $5,000 renewal fee; renovate to current standards; have lease rights for successor term duration |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Written notice 45 days before transfer; qualified transferee; all monetary obligations paid; transferee completes training; obtains licenses/permits; signs then-current franchise agreement; franchisor right of first refusal (30 days); landlord consent to lease assignment; remodel to current standards; general release signed |
| Termination for Cause | Immediate termination without cure for: bankruptcy, fraud, violation of law (10-day cure), criminal offense, under-reporting, IP misuse, health/safety violations, abandonment (3 days), failure to pay (10 days after demand), unauthorized transfer, brand covenant violations, repeated defaults. 30-day cure period for other defaults. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the 2-year restricted period after termination, expiration, or transfer, franchisee and owners may not engage in any competitive business within a 5-mile radius of the Franchised Business or any other USF Brand or Fosters Freeze location operating or under construction. Restricted period extends by duration of any violation. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Franchisee must either directly operate the Franchised Business or designate an approved Franchise Manager. The Responsible Owner must have authority and responsibility for day-to-day operations and must have at least a 10% equity interest if franchisee is a legal entity. Both Responsible Owner and Franchise Manager must successfully complete the training program. |
| Required Suppliers | Proprietary food products must be purchased from franchisor or licensed third-party suppliers. Soft serve mix for Co-Branded locations from designated Soft Serve Suppliers. Gift card processing from U Swirl Gift Card LLC (USGC). Trademarked paper products from authorized suppliers. Computer hardware, software, and POS system from designated suppliers. |
| Supply Restrictions | Approximately 80% of purchases to open and 50% of ongoing purchases must be from approved suppliers or under franchisor specifications. Franchisees may not deviate from methods, standards, and specifications without prior written consent. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | $273,241 received from suppliers in fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, representing 15% of total revenue of $1,837,285 |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease or obligation. |
U Swirl Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$482K
Median Revenue
$469K
Revenue Range
$304K – $660K
Sample Size
56 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
U Swirl Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordU Swirl 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.
U Swirl System Growth
Total Units
57
Franchised
57
Company-Owned
0
U Swirl currently operates 57 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 | 0 | 10 | 61 |
| 2023 | 3 | 7 | 57 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 57 |
Transfers: 3 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: IN, MN, SD, CA, HI, IL, MD, MI, NY, ND, RI, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$1.8M
U Swirl Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a U Swirl franchise ranges from $418,500 to $629,920, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $25,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
U Swirl charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 1% of Gross Sales (Advertising Fund Contribution) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the U Swirl 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 U Swirl to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, U Swirl franchise owners report average revenue of $482K and median revenue of $469K. This is based on a sample of 56 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
U Swirl has been franchising since 2023. The FDD shows an investment range of $418,500-$629,920, a 6% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an 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 $25,000 and the total investment ranges from $418,500 to $629,920 depending on location size and market. 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 U Swirl and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with U Swirl or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com