Kilwins franchise
Kilwins is a confectionery shop selling handmade chocolates, fudge, caramel corn and its own ice cream, much of it made in the store. Shops do well in tourist and downtown areas and come as full-line stores or smaller Scoops & Sweets shops. At the end of 2025 there were 187 Kilwins locations in the US, 181 franchised and 6 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $485K–$880K
- Franchise fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 5%
- Locations, 2025
- 187+36 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Petoskey, Michigan
- Time to open
- Must open within 365 days of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Kilwins franchise costs
Opening a Kilwins full-line store costs an estimated $484,638 to $880,295. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc, 2026 filing, page 21
Kilwins franchise fee
The franchise fee is $45,000, for a first store ($35,000 for additional stores, $10,000 off for qualifying veterans). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc, 2026 filing, page 13
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 3% of gross sales as a marketing contribution. |
Source: Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc, 2026 filing, page 14
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Kilwins publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports historical operating results for franchised full-line stores. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc, 2026 filing, page 53
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 159 (+14) | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 168 (+9) | 4 | 6 |
| 2025 | 181 (+13) | 6 | 5 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc, 2026 filing, page 58
How Kilwins compares
Of the 12 ice cream franchises on this site, Kilwins is the 9th cheapest to open and the 10th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Kilwins | Typical ice cream |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $485K | $359K |
| Royalty | 5% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +24.8% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 11 of 12 |
Typical is the median across the 12 brands in ice cream franchises.
Other ice cream franchises
Kilwins franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Kilwins?
Must open within 365 days of signing, according to Kilwins's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Kilwins help with financing?
No. Kilwins does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Kilwins franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Kilwins assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Kilwins franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Kilwins growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 48 franchised locations opened and 12 closed or left, a net change of +24.8%. About 2.5% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 2.8% typical for ice cream franchises.
How does Kilwins compare with other ice cream franchises?
Of the 12 ice cream franchises here, Kilwins is the 9th cheapest to open (low end $485K against a $359K median) and the 10th largest by number of locations. Its 5% royalty is below the 6% median.
Does Kilwins say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports historical operating results for franchised full-line stores. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Kilwins based?
Kilwin's Chocolates Franchise, Inc is based in Petoskey, Michigan.