Doc Popcorn franchise
2026 filing · April 16, 2026
Doc Popcorn at a glance
A popcorn business selling fresh-popped, flavored popcorn from kiosks, retail shops and mobile units at events.
The business
- Franchisor
- Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchising since
- 2009
- 17 years of selling franchises
- Franchisor based in
- Paducah, Kentucky
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $135K–$353K
- A fixed Doc Popcorn kiosk
- Franchise fee
- $15,000
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 6%
- 6% of gross revenue, paid monthly
- Brand fund
- 1%
- 1% of gross revenue, paid with the royalty
- Renewal fee
- $2,500
- When the agreement ends and you sign again
- Agreement length
- 5 years
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
From Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Doc Popcorn among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Doc Popcorn | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $243,775 | Costs less than 63% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $15,000 | Lower than 93% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 6% | Higher than 35% of brands with a set rate |
How much a Doc Popcorn franchise costs
Opening a fixed Doc Popcorn kiosk costs an estimated $135,000 to $352,550. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are construction ($63,000 to $130,000) and equipment/Décor ($20,000 to $45,000). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $15,000 | ||
| Training Expenses | $1,000 | $3,550 | |
| Real Estate Lease | $1,000 | $32,000 | |
| Equipment/Décor | $20,000 | $45,000 | |
| Construction | $63,000 | $130,000 | |
| Architect’s Fees | $0 | $14,000 | |
| Opening Inventory | $4,000 | $12,000 | |
| Signage | $0 | $2,500 | |
| Computer System | $3,000 | $6,000 | |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $3,000 | $12,500 | |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $5,000 | $40,000 | |
| Payroll Expenses | $20,000 | $40,000 | |
| Total | $135,000 | $352,550 | |
Source: Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C, 2026 filing, page 17
Doc Popcorn franchise fee
The franchise fee is $15,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C, 2026 filing, page 10
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross revenue, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 1% of gross revenue, paid with the royalty. |
| Point of Sale Fee | Up to $79 per month |
| Successor/Renewal Franchise Fee | $2,500 |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C, 2026 filing, page 12
Other fees as filed, from pages 13–14. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
No figures Doc Popcorn does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C, 2026 filing, page 40
SBA loans to Doc Popcorn franchisees
Lenders approved 8 SBA 7(a) loans for Doc Popcorn franchisees from 2014 to 2019, $951K in all. All 8 have ended: 4 were paid in full and 4 were charged off.
A charged-off loan is one written off as uncollectible. See SBA franchise loans for how 7(a) and 504 loans work.
Source: SBA 7(a) and 504 loan data, as of September 30, 2026
How Doc Popcorn compares
Of the 139 mobile franchises on this site, Doc Popcorn is the 96th cheapest to open.
| Figure | Doc Popcorn | Typical mobile brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $135K | $96K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $353K | $167K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $15K | $35K | $40K |
| Royalty | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Brand fund | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 91 of 139 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 139 brands in mobile franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Who owns Doc Popcorn?
Doc Popcorn franchises are sold by Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C.
From Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C’s 2026 filing.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | None. The filing says no litigation has to be disclosed. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C, 2026 filing, litigation on page 10, bankruptcy on page 10
Doc Popcorn filings
The figures on this page come from Doc Popcorn Franchising L.L.C’s 2026 filing, issued April 16, 2026, on record with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 filing | April 16, 2026 | Minnesota | Costs and fees |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
Other mobile franchises
All mobile franchises
Doc Popcorn is also on these lists: retail franchises, food franchises.