Rita's Cost Comparisons

About Rita's

From a small porch front in 1984 in Northeast Philadelphia and a seasonal phenomenon, Rita's continues to see unprecedented growth as it continues to grow across the nation becoming a year round spectacular with its cult-like following. Rita's - made fresh daily - Italian ice obsession is hitting everyone's taste buds and creating a passion not just for the brand but the opportunity to become a Rita's Italian ice franchise owner. It's no wonder we are wired for success and fueled up for our expansion not only across the nation, but internationally we are making our presence known. Rita's franchisees come from all walks of life with one thing in common - the desire to choose their own destiny with a proven system providing on-going support; not to mention all having a passion for Rita's cool treats and foregoing happiness. There's no better time than today to begin evaluating the Rita's business model. Why not get a taste of success and view our fresh and desirable products!


The total investment necessary to begin operation of a standard Rita’s shop is between $175,500 and $435,000. These figures include between $50,000 to $55,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of an express Rita’s shop is between $121,100 and $309,900. These figures include between $33,000 to $33,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
If you enter into an agreement for a standard Rita’s shop or express Rita’s shop, we may offer you the opportunity to enter into an addendum to operate a Rita’s satellite shop and/or a Rita’s mobile unit.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Rita’s satellite shop is between $131,550 and $296,400. These figures include between $19,200 to $25,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Rita’s mobile unit is between $15,100 and $144,600. These figures include between $10,000 to $13,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.

Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies Franchise Opportunities

Below is a quick comparison of Rita's against other Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies franchises and business opportunities. For an in depth comparison of Rita's with another opportunity including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options click on the name of the company to view the detailed comparison.

Franchise Franchise Fee Royalty Advertising Fee Development Costs
16 Handles $30,000 6% 2% $274,500-$735,000
2 Scoops Cafe $28,000 6% $99,000-$175,000
32Degrees A Yogurt Bar $25,000 6 1 $275,000-$473,000
Abbott's Frozen Custard $37,000 5.5% 0.19Cents/Gal. $332,254-$571,634
All American Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops $35,000 $208,950-$288,625
All American Specialty Restaurants $25,000 3% 1% $195,000-$265,000
Andy's Frozen Custard $32,000 6% 1% $528,500-$1,387,500
Angel Berry $45,900 6% 2% $128,000-$200,000
Annie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Lemonade $25,000 6% 2% $69,500-$372,800
Applegate Farm $25,000 5% 2%local+2% Nat'l $137,650-$322,000
Aspen Leaf Yogurt $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company $29,500 6% 2% $233,326-$770,532
Bambu Desserts & Drinks $40,000-$80,000 $141,500-$304,200
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt $22,000-$37,200 5% 1% $224,500-$457,000
Baskin-Robbins $12,500-$25,000 5.9% 5% $123,952-$558,830
Ben & Jerry's $16,000-$37,000 3% 4% $152,200-$546,800
Berry Blendz $25,000 3%-6% $144,500-$354,750
BerryLicious Frozen Yogurt $25,000 $100,000-And Up
Blue Sky Creamery $25,000-$35,000 $138,750-$401,000
Boloco Inspired Burritos $25,000 6% $190,000-$400,000
Boost Juice $41,000 8% 3% $337,000-$507,000
Booster Juice $20,000 6% $153,000-$240,000
Bowl of Heaven $30,000 6% 3% Local 2%Nat'l $135,500-$328,500
Breeze Freeze $5,000-$40,000 0 $9,200-$94,300
Bruster's Real Ice Cream $35,000 5% 3% $229,200-$1,315,000
California Quivers $22,500 6% $45,000-$149,300
Carvel $30,000 $2.44/gal. $2.13/gallon $250,600-$415,500
Cefiore N/A $200,000-$350,000
CherryBerry $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Cianci European Eatery $25,000 5% $356,000-$508,000
Cold Stone Creamery $15,000-$27,000 6% 3% $50,200-$467,525
Comfy Cow, The $30,000 5% 2% $259,499-$422,260
Cool Factory N/A $142,300-$387,200
Country Style Ice Cream N/A $240,000-$265,000
Cream & Fudge Factory, The $25,000 6% 2%local +2%Nat'l $85,000-$250,000
Creamistry $40,000 6% 1.5% $224,500-$576,500
Cups Frozen Yogurt $35,000 $399,800-$850,800
Dairy Queen $45,000 4% 5-6% $1,151,135-$1,936,655
di'lishi frozen yogurt bar $25,000 4% 4% $285,700-$512,500
Dippin' Dots $15,000 Varies Varies $112,204-$366,950
EarthFruits Yogurt $40,000 6% 2% local +2% Nat'l $256,405-$438,878
Emerald City Smoothie $15,000-$25,000 6% 2% $75,250-$286,900
Farr's Fresh $20,000-$30,000 6% 2% $285,000-And Up
Forever Yogurt $40,000 6% 2% $240,000-$478,450
FreshBerry $25,000 6% $170,750-$392,200
fro.zen.yo $25,000 5.5% $354,700-$588,200
FROOTS Fresh Smoothies Salads & Wraps $20,000 6% 2% $87,600-$316,750
FroyoWorld $15,000 6% $250,000-$340,000
Fruitfull $21,000 0 $30,362-$85,670
Fruti N/A 0 $75,000-$130,000
Fuzzy Peach $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Fuzzy Peach Frozen Yogurt Bar, The $25,000 $128,500-$334,000
Haagen-Dazs Shoppe, The $30,000 4% $5.3K/yr. $164,518-$542,768
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream $50,000 6% $234,500-$814,500
Happy & Healthy $25,000 0 $600/year $53,206-$92,936
Happy Joe's $15,000-$17,000 4.5%-5% 1.5% $24,470-$1,030,625
Heidi's Brooklyn Deli $35,000 6% $300,000-$400,000
Herrell's $40,000 6% $251,000-$367,000
HipPOPs $25,000 $245,175-$351,450
Hokulia Shave Ice $27,900-$50,000 6% 2% $81,500-$133,500
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt $15,000 0 2.3% $110,000-$203,000
I-CE-NY $25,000 4% $146,400-$404,300
Ice Cream Churn $30,000 7% 1.5% $180,000-$350,000
Icebox/Soupbox $14,000-$20,000 4% $69,500-$174,500
Indigos Fruit Smoothies $25,000 6% $89,000-$270,000
Inta Juice $25,000 $163,100-$373,500
Jake's Over the Top $29,000-$40,000 5% 3% $150,000-$350,000
Jamba $35,000 6% 3% $164,750-$563,100
Jo to Go $25,000 7% $82,500-$786,000
Josie's Frozen Yogurt $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Jreck Subs $10,000 6% $49,800-$254,000
JUGO JUICE N/A $173,000-$233,000
Juice It Up! $25,000 6% 2% $214,375-$390,475
Juice Stop Smoothie $20,000 $166,500-$216,000
Juice Zone $20,000 6% 2% local 1% national $140,000-$217,000
JUICEBLENDZ $50,000 6% 1% $101,500-$481,000
Junga Juice $25,000 $180,000-$249,000
Kilwin's Chocolates $20,000-$40,000 5% 1% $177,534-$937,415
Kona Ice $15,000 $3K-$4K/yr. $500/yr. $145,600-$169,200
La Cremiere $25,000 $175,000-$500,000
La Paloma $25,000 5% $326,000-$535,000
Let's Yo Yogurt $45,000 6% $355,800-$548,500
Let's Yo! $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Little Scoops $20,000 $350/wk $87,000-$152,000
LOCO JUICE $10,000 >$200 or 5% weekly $200/ month local $56,800-$99,500
Lovin' Spoons $25,000 6% $385,000-$493,000
MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery $33,000 6% $225,000-$375,000
Marble Slab Creamery $15,000-$25,000 6% 2% $316,085-$409,135
Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies $25,000-$65,000 0 $31,100-$394,000
Mayan Jamma Juice $29,000-$40,000 5% 3% $150,000-$350,000
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, USA $25,000-$40,000 6% $218,325-$385,158
Morrone's Treat Centers $20,000 5% 0% $75,000-$150,000
Mr Whippy $35,000 5% 2% $35,000-$50,000
Mr. Smoothie $20,000 5% to 2% $87,650-$377,400
Nekter Juice Bars Inc. $45,000 6% 2% $224,500-$584,100
NRgize Lifestyle Cafe $7,500-$30,000 >6% or $250 weekly 0.5% $63,400-$341,050
Oberweis $40,000 $579,000-$1,699,410
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt $15,150-$25,150 4% 1% $189,857-$417,326
Paciugo Italian Gelato $20,000-$30,000 4.5% 2.5% + 2% $248,200-$489,250
Pinkberry $45,000 6% 2% local +2%Nat'l $150,000-$500,000
Planet Smoothie $12,000-$25,000 5% 2% $190,150-$358,500
Power Smoothie Cafe N/A $92,000-$279,900
Ralph's Famous Italian Ices N/A $200,000
Red Mango $27,000-$42,000 6% 3% $194,200-$500,900
Ricky's Candy, Cones & Chaos $30,000 5% $378,500-$563,800
Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats $25,000 7% $245,000-$394,500
Rollerz $30,000 6% 1% $138,900-$456,050
Rubyjuice Fruit and Smoothies $20,000 5.5% $106,000-$223,000
Rush Bowls $39,000 6% 2% $192,000-$351,000
San Gelato Cafe $25,000 $500,000-$1,400,000
Scooter's Coffeehouse $40,000 6% 2% $389,942-$860,654
Shaka Shaved Ice N/A 3% $200,000-$250,000
Shake's Frozen Custard $30,000 5% 3% $162,000-$287,000
Shakeaway $26,750 $122,800-$200,750
Shave It Inc $35,000 5% 2% $170,000-$365,000
Sloan's Ice Cream $40,000 6% 1% Nat'l $587,952-$896,600
Smoothie Factory $30,000 5% $141,500-$424,500
Smoothie King $30,000 6% 3% $269,550-$845,985
Spoon Me $25,000 6% $240,000-$533,000
Squeeze $25,000 6.3% $160,000-$244,000
Strickland's $25,000 6% $188,500-$315,000
Surf City Squeeze $30,000 6% 1% $64,600-$311,750
Sweet Nel's $35,000 5% 2% $354,000-$539,000
SweetDuet $25,000 5% 3% $104,250-$405,000
sweetFrog $15,000-$30,000 5% 1.5% $95,600-$477,500
Swirls and Twirls $30,000 6% $335,000-$664,750
Tasti D-Lite $30,000 5% 2% $234,000-$423,260
TCBY $35,000 6% 2% $330,000-$435,000
Tikiz $20,000 $132,500-$146,000
Tropical Flavored Shake $1,140 0 0 $1,300
Tropical Smoothie Cafe $30,000 6% 3% $198,500-$543,500
Tropicana Smoothies Juices & More! $75,000 6% 1% $175,000-$225,000
Twirlees N/A 5% 1.5% $75,000-$85,000
U-Swirl $25,000 4% 2%Nat'l + 1%Local $360,000-$466,000
U-Swirl-n-Go $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Uncle Louie Gs $35,000 $58,150-$235,500
Village Juice Co. $49,500 $373,000-$750,425
Vitality Bowls $39,500 6% 1.5% $170,100-$604,000
Vitality Juice $15,000-$35,000 5% $128,000-$393,500
Wendy's Milk Bar $25,000 $100,000-$210,000
Yeh! $25,000 $275,000-$425,000
Yo-Good N/A $110,000-$250,000
Yogen Fruz Worldwide $25,000 6% 3% $123,179-$459,679
Yogli Mogli $35,000 6% 2% $304,050-$390,050
Yogo Factory $25,000 6% 2% $123,200-$552,300
Yogurt Lab $35,000 6% of Gross Revenues 1% local $313,500-$557,000
Yogurtini $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Yogurtland $35,000 6% 2% $267,820-$479,070
Yovana $40,000 5% of Gross Sales 5% of Gross Sales $225,000-$341,500
Ziiing Yogurt $25,000 6% 2% $165,636-$506,600
Zoyo Yogurt $35,000 6% 2% $150,200-$315,000