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Absolutely - and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Crave Ice Cream Social is designed to simplify ownership. With no complex equipment, no need for specialized back-of-house training, and streamlined operations, you can run a profitable franchise—even if it’s your first time in the food industry. Plus, our hands-on support ensures you’re set up for success every step of the way.
Absolutely - and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Crave Ice Cream Social is designed to simplify ownership. With no complex equipment, no need for specialized back-of-house training, and streamlined operations, you can run a profitable franchise—even if it’s your first time in the food industry. Plus, our hands-on support ensures you’re set up for success every step of the way.
Can I Really Own a Business Without a Restaurant Background?
With Crave, you’ll gain the tools, training, and support to own a profitable business in a fun, low-stress environment.
We Create Business Owners
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Your Future Starts with Crave
Whether it’s a cozy neighborhood shop or a high-traffic urban spot, Crave offers a range of store layouts to seamlessly fit your space and community.
Flexible Formats
Powered by a robust tech stack, Crave simplifies ownership with advanced systems for operations, marketing, and supply chain management. It’s business ownership made smarter.
Tech-Forward Efficiency
No prep hours. No skilled labor. No stress. Crave’s simple operations model makes onboarding employees a breeze, with only 3–6 teammates needed during peak hours.
Streamlined Operations
Ice cream transcends age and demographics. Crave Ice Cream Social attracts families, college students, retirees, and everyone in between. With artisan ice cream as one of the fastest-growing dessert trends, your franchise will always have a loyal customer base.
Broad Target Appeal
What’s Included:
- Weekly manager calls, Semi-annual S.W.O.T. analysis and monthly franchisee calls
- Real estate, construction, and design assistance
- Ongoing marketing support
- Elite training programs
- Franchise Fee: $49,000
- Initial Investment Begins at $260,051
- Available Multi-Unit Deals: 3-pack and 5-pack
OWN YOUR OWN CRAVE ICE CREAM SOCIAL
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ABOUT US >>
Join a growing brand with a proven model and a supportive team behind you.
Multi-Unit Ownership Available!
Best Territories AVAILABLE NOW!
- Location, Location, Location - the best territories are available now
- Ground floor opportunity- help write the CRAVE story
- Work directly with founder & Purdue University Restaurant Mngmnt Alumn
WHY NOW?
- Excellent financials with healthy profit margins from 20-35% when well ran.
- Low cost of entry into the fast casual restaurant space. Investment from $261-301K. *Corporate store sales $623,000
- Average check of $13.51- this is DOUBLE the national average!
- SBA loan approved . High level nationwide relationship with PNC bank
- Core Values: Authenticity, Trust, Transparency, Accountability
- Low hours, High pay, Semi absentee ok . Do you want a legacy?
WHY CRAVE?
"We frequent Crave Ice Cream Social a little too frequently. My kids will ask almost daily after dinner if we can have Crave! And a couple times a month I give in! Apologies for the nights we come in just 15 minutes before closing!!:wink: But the staff is always so friendly and accommodating! I love that they have non-dairy options, and my youngest son loves their smoothies! We even love to get a pint every now and then and surprise a neighbor with Crave Ice Cream on one of our trips! Truly a gem of a locally-owned shop here in Fishers!"
-Angela
The Sweet Spot Everyone’s Talking About!
"Easily one of our favorite ice cream places in Indy."
-Amanda
The Sweet Spot Everyone’s Talking About!
"Delicious ice cream! Cute, fun, and clean environment!
I highly recommend this place!"
-Juliana
The Sweet Spot Everyone’s Talking About!
"Crave is the best! We like to grab a shake or ice cream cone during the summer after a long day out on the lake!"
-Sofia
The Sweet Spot Everyone’s Talking About!
Step 1:
Let’s Talk
Schedule a call with Chris to learn everything you need about Crave Ice Cream Social franchising.
Step 2:
Sign Your Franchise Agreement
Once approved, sign your agreement and start planning your location.
Step 3:
Open Your Shop
With Crave’s guidance on real estate, construction, and operations, you’ll be ready to welcome your first customers in as little as 3-6 months.
Crave Ice Cream Social Franchise FAQ
How much money do I need to open my own Crave Ice Cream Social franchise location?
What is the franchise fee?
How much liquid capital and net worth do I need to qualify?
What kind of franchise owner support can I expect from the Crave team?
What does a typical Crave location look like?
What do you do for marketing and advertising?
How quickly can I expect to open after signing the franchise agreement?
How many employees will I need to hire?
Can I own a Crave franchise on a semi-absentee ownership basis?
What kind of equipment will I need?
Will Crave assist with my real estate and buildout?
Can I invest in multiple Crave franchise units?
Is the franchise fee a one-time or annual fee?
How much money do I need to open my own Crave Ice Cream Social franchise location?
Our initial franchise investment is around $260,051 All inclusive including franchise fee, buildout, licenses & permits, equipment, pos & reserve capital.
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How much liquid capital and net worth do I need to qualify?
We ask that franchise candidates have at least $100,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of $400,000.
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What kind of franchise owner support can I expect from the Crave team?
Expect best-in-class support. Franchise Owners receive hands-on training, field support, marketing guidance, and ongoing assistance directly from the Crave Founders and our expert franchise development team.
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What does a typical Crave location look like?
While no two Crave Ice Cream Social locations are exactly alike, an ideal footprint is between 1,200–2,000 square feet. We recommend sites in densely populated residential areas with high foot traffic and proximity to hotels, apartments, office buildings, or colleges. Tourist-heavy areas and outdoor seating are bonuses that help showcase our beautifully crafted treats!
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How quickly can I expect to open after signing the franchise agreement?
Our average ramp-up time is 6–10 months. We’ve completed buildouts as quickly as 60–90 days, so you can expect a swift and efficient process!
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How many employees will I need to hire?
We recommend a team of 8–10 employees and 2–3 Shift Leads. For daily operations, you’ll need 2–4 hourly employees and a Shift Lead per shift. You can also choose to act as the General Manager if desired.
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Can I own a Crave franchise on a semi-absentee ownership basis?
Absolutely! Semi-absentee ownership is an option for candidates with strong management experience who are ready to hire a General Manager to oversee daily operations.
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What kind of equipment will I need?
With Crave, simplicity is key. You’ll need:
- A shake machine
- Two dipping cabinets
- Two stand-up freezers
- This keeps your operations straightforward and your buildout costs low.
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Will Crave assist with my real estate and buildout?
Yes! Our team will help with nearly every aspect of your location’s real estate, construction, and design. We aim to get it done quickly, efficiently, and below market cost.
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Can I invest in multiple Crave franchise units?
Yes! We offer 3-pack and 5-pack franchise deals for qualified candidates. Ask for more details during your consultation call.
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Is the franchise fee a one-time or annual fee?
The franchise fee is a one-time fee valid for 10 years. After 10 years, the renewal fee is only $10,000—20% of the original franchise fee.
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What do you do for marketing and advertising?
We ask Franchise Owners to spend 1% of quarterly gross sales on local marketing. Our Executive Team provides marketing support, and we leverage our impressive social media following, which has organically created loyal brand ambassadors.
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