Big Apple Bagels franchise
A Big Apple Bagels franchisee operates a bagel store serving bagels, spreads, muffins, sandwiches and coffee. At the end of 2025 there were 48 Big Apple Bagels locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $513K–$745K
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 5%
- Locations, 2025
- 48
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- Not on the SBA Franchise Directory
From BAB SYSTEMS, INC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a Big Apple Bagels franchise costs
Opening first Production Store costs an estimated $512,500 to $745,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: BAB SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 26
Big Apple Bagels franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, for the first Production Store; subsequent Production Stores and Satellite Stores have different fees. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: BAB SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 18
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross revenues, paid weekly. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: BAB SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 21
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Big Apple Bagels publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: 2024 and 2025 full-year, fully reporting franchised store results; 2025 includes 47 Production Stores. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: BAB SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 76
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 49 (−1) | 0 |
| 2024 | 49 (0) | 0 |
| 2025 | 48 (−1) | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: BAB SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 81
How Big Apple Bagels compares
Of the 17 bakery franchises on this site, Big Apple Bagels is the 12th cheapest to open and the 12th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Big Apple Bagels | Typical bakery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $513K | $428K |
| Royalty | 5% | 6% |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | −4% | +8.9% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 14 of 17 |
Typical is the median across the 17 brands in bakery franchises.
