- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#95 Ranked #93 last year
- Initial investment
-
$216K - $828K
- Units as of 2023
-
163 16.4% over 3 years
Treat yourself and indulge in opening a Kilwins franchise! From its beginning in 1947, Kilwin has offered premium kitchen-made ice cream, chocolates, and fudge. Everything is freshly prepared from original recipes and premium ingredients.
Kilwins has since been a prominent part of American cuisine with an excellent reputation for providing exceptional service and high-quality products, including caramel apples, fudge, chocolate bark, caramel corn, and brittle, to mention a few.
With in-store craftsmanship, high-quality desserts, and a friendly staff, Kilwins believes they have a customer-friendly environment that feels like home. Kilwins offers an authentic taste and a sensory experience like no other.
Why You May Want to Start a Kilwins Franchise?
Kilwins is an exciting and fun business with a seasoned business model. With more than 50 years of brand recognition, you may have a great customer base. You will likely not have to worry about marketing and branding costs because Kilwins typically takes care of this for its franchisees.
Franchisees have access to an extensive training and support team that will guide you throughout your entire time while in business. Kilwins may offer personalized support to new franchisees to help them achieve their goals. All your operating system methods and products might be specified and supplied by Kilwins. This will save you time to focus on running your store, leveraging your personality for customer care.
What Might Make Kilwins a Good Choice?
To be part of Kilwins team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees that will include advertising fees, royalty fees, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet Kilwins set net worth and liquid capital requirements.
While opening a Kilwins franchise could be a great opportunity, your investment is only as good as the effort you put into it. Your hard work as a franchisee and the quality of service you offer your customers are vital elements.
How To Open a Kilwins Franchise
To become a part of the Kilwins team, you'll need to submit an inquiry form. A franchise representative may contact you if you seem to be a good fit for the brand. Then, suppose your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements. In that case, you may qualify to open a Kilwins franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment.
As you decide if Kilwins is a good fit for you, it may be a good idea to contact an attorney or financial manager in order to ensure that you have the financial stability to run a franchise. You should also make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Kilwins franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth. Live the sweet life and submit your inquiry to open a Kilwins Franchise!
Company Overview
About Kilwins
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Candy, Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Parent Company | Kilwins Chocolate Franchise Inc. |
| Leadership | Brian Britton, CEO |
| Corporate Address |
1050 Bay View Rd. Petoskey, MI 49770 |
| Social |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 1982 (42 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 125 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia |
| # of Units | 163 (as of 2023) |
|
|
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Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Kilwins franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$20,000 - $40,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$215,803 - $827,563 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$500,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$125,000 |
|
Veteran Incentives
|
$10,000 off franchise fee |
|
Royalty Fee
|
5% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
1% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Kilwins has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 56-173 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 27-43 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Ad Templates
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 6-10 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Kilwins landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Kilwins ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
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