Maggiemoo's (Ice Cream)

The Ice Cream franchise operates in the All Other Specialty Food Stores category and is headquartered in Austin, TX. Its founding year and founders are not stated. Ice cream has a long commercial history, from Roman Emperor Nero mixing ice with fruit toppings in the second century B.C. and King Tang of Shang China creating early ice and milk dishes, to Philip Lenzi advertising ice cream on November 25, 1773, in Rivington's New York Gazatteer. Augustus Jackson, known as the Father of Ice Cream, developed an eggless technique and salt preservation methods in 1800s Philadelphia. Nancy M. Johnson patented the hand crank freezer design in 1843, and Jacob Fussell opened a large scale commercial plant in Baltimore in 1851. The Ice Cream franchise reports 71 total units and 76 franchised units, with no company owned units. The global ice cream market was valued at USD 82.70 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 151.96 billion by 2034. The global ice cream shop franchises market was estimated at $12.1 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach $19.1 billion by 2034 at a 5.2% annual growth rate. Buyers should assess the brand with independent research rather than marketing claims alone.

The global ice cream market is projected to grow from USD 82.70 billion in 2025 to USD 151.96 billion by 2034, with a 7.23% CAGR from 2026 to 2034. The U.S. market is projected to reach USD 28.56 billion by 2032. Ice cream shop franchises are estimated at $12.1 billion in 2025 and are forecast to reach $19.1 billion by 2034 at a 5.2% CAGR. Asia Pacific held 37.47% of global revenue in 2025, while North America held 30.87%. Demand is supported by premium, artisanal, customizable, plant based, dairy free, and allergen friendly products. The non dairy segment is projected to grow at a 5.43% CAGR through 2031. Other drivers include fast food spending, urbanization in emerging economies, flavor and texture innovation, and products such as Chill N's olive oil sea salt and black cherry cheesecake flavors. Fast casual dining and affordable luxury also support impulse purchases. Tourist attractions are projected to be the fastest growing segment from 2025 to 2034. Retail held 78.76% of revenue in 2025, while foodservice is expected to grow at a 3.8% CAGR from 2026 to 2033.

The Ice Cream franchise has a total initial investment range of $100,000 to $286,000. The broader industry average is $150,000 to $500,000. Bruster's Real Ice Cream ranges from $409,000 to $2,644,000, Frost Gelato ranges from $388,000 to $1.17 million, and Chill N Nitrogen Ice Cream is estimated at $326,614 to $685,657. Häagen Dazs ranges from $215,000 to $568,000, while Cold Stone Creamery ranges from $57,000 to $628,000. Typical costs cover build out, leasehold improvements, equipment, initial inventory, and working capital, with the total depending on store size, format, and location. Industry franchise fees range from $17,500 for Cold Stone Creamery to $55,000 for Frost Gelato. Dippin' Dots charges $25,000 and Häagen Dazs charges $30,000. Industry royalty fees range from 4% for Häagen Dazs to 6% for Cold Stone Creamery and Dippin' Dots. Bruster's charges a 5% royalty and a 3% marketing fee. Meridian Ice Cream charges no royalty for the first 3 years, then 3%, while Lickees Ice Cream initially offers no royalty fees. Franchise fees are the largest segment of the ice cream shop franchises market. Buyers should review all ongoing charges and ownership costs before committing.

Daily franchise operations generally include customer service, sales transactions, local marketing, and financial review. Consistency across the Ice Cream franchise's 76 franchised units may be supported by operation manuals, quality checks, sales systems, and loyalty applications. Staffing often combines full time and part time employees, including younger workers, which makes training and supervision important. Franchisors commonly train owners and staff in customer service, inventory management, and hygiene. Meridian Ice Cream provides on site training, while Pecan Jacks covers product preparation and operating practices. Industry formats include inline stores, kiosks, and mobile units in shopping malls, suburban and urban markets, and tourist destinations. Meridian Ice Cream cites a minimum shop size of 200 to 500 sq. ft., while Lickees Ice Cream requires 250 to 300 sq. ft. Ongoing support may include field consultants, technology platforms, marketing programs, and supply chain assistance. A negative review for Ice Cream Emergency cited infringement of exclusive territory and different service areas for franchisees, so territory language deserves close review. Multi unit requirements for the Ice Cream brand are not specified, although its 76 franchised units may appeal to multi unit operators.

Even disclosed figures may emphasize top performing franchisees or combine company owned data. Buyers must develop their own projections using the brand's unit count and broader industry information.

The Ice Cream franchise has 71 total units and 76 franchised units from its Austin, TX headquarters, but brand specific year over year unit trends are not stated. Broader growth is supported by demand for premium and customizable treats and expansion into suburban, urban, mall, and tourist locations. Market Intellix reports that the ice cream franchise market is expected to expand through 2030. Cold Stone Creamery has 953 U.S. locations, including 952 franchised locations, and a 3 year unit growth rate of 9%. Dippin' Dots has 246 U.S. locations, all franchised, and a 3 year unit growth rate of 10%. Frost Gelato has 14 U.S. locations, including 11 franchised locations, and a 38% 3 year unit growth rate. Sloan's Ice Cream is expanding in Texas, including a San Antonio signing and a Plano opening within 30 days of January 2026, and in Ohio with a Cleveland opening in summer 2025. It is expanding across five states and planning locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and Sarasota, Florida, within the next 12 months. Chill N Nitrogen Ice Cream had 15 units as of April 2024, with nearly 20 locations across Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Competitive factors include brand recognition, proprietary products, operating models, supply chains, real estate, and loyalty programs. The industry is also adopting digital ordering, customized pint delivery, sustainable packaging, regional production, cold chain partnerships, and subscription based direct to consumer models.

Specific franchisee requirements for the Ice Cream brand are not stated. In this sector, suitable owners often bring management ability, customer service skills, and interest in the product and local community. Food service or retail experience can help, although franchisor training is common. Many concepts favor owner operators because daily work is customer facing, while multi unit ownership can provide a growth path. The Ice Cream franchise has its headquarters in Austin, TX and 71 total units, including 76 franchised units, suggesting a model that may interest multi unit investors. Expansion is occurring in suburban and urban markets, high traffic sites, and tourist attractions, which are projected to grow fastest from 2025 to 2034. Sloan's Ice Cream is targeting San Antonio, Plano, and Cleveland. Chill N Nitrogen Ice Cream is focused on South Florida, Southwest Texas, and Nashville. The timeline from signing to opening, agreement term, and renewal terms are not stated. Buyers should also review transfer and resale provisions as part of their exit planning.

The Ice Cream franchise requires an initial investment of $100,000 to $286,000, compared with typical industry startup costs of $150,000 to $500,000. Its Austin, TX headquarters and reported 71 total units, including 76 franchised units, reflect a franchise focused system. The global ice cream market is projected to grow from USD 82.70 billion in 2025 to USD 151.96 billion by 2034. The ice cream shop franchises market is forecast to reach $19.1 billion by 2034 at a 5.2% CAGR. PeerSense provides independent franchise research that includes SBA lending history, Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and comparison tools for evaluating the opportunity.