2010
23
$399,800
$35,000
$850,800
No
Dare to be different in the booming fast-casual dessert industry? CUPS Frozen Yogurt – That's Hot™ offers an exceptional franchise opportunity that transcends the typical self-serve frozen yogurt shop. CUPS is a premier, high-energy, beach-themed concept, uniquely positioned in the marketplace not just as a dessert destination, but as a genuine social hot spot. We’ve redefined the "fro-yo" experience by combining premium, high-quality, customizable frozen yogurt with an edgy, club-like atmosphere featuring loud dance music, vibrant lighting, and eye-catching murals. This differentiated experience has successfully captured the attention of a highly desirable demographic, particularly teenagers and young adults, ensuring high repeat traffic and brand loyalty.
For the savvy US entrepreneur, CUPS offers a proven, streamlined business model within the resilient, customizable dessert segment. The self-serve format inherently provides lower labor costs compared to traditional quick-service restaurants, as the customer handles their own creation. Backed by a parent company with decades of extensive experience in high-growth franchising and hospitality, you’re not just buying a store; you’re investing in a brand built on operational excellence, strong corporate support, and a compelling, unique market proposition that is designed to capture significant market share in your local area.
Why Invest in CUPS Frozen Yogurt?
Unique "Club-Like" Vibe: Unlike competitors that focus on a family-friendly atmosphere, CUPS offers an "edgy", high-energy social experience that attracts a younger, high-spending demographic, positioning it as a local hot spot. This differentiates you significantly from the competition.
Proven Operational Streamlining: The self-serve model inherently simplifies labor management and inventory control, leading to potentially lower labor costs and ease of management for the franchisee.
Customization is King: We tap into the powerful consumer trend of personalization, offering up to 24 rotating frozen yogurt flavors and over 50 different toppings and sauces. This extensive customization drives customer engagement and repeat visits.
Experienced Leadership: The brand was created and backed by a large, highly experienced restaurant and hospitality group (The Briad Group), providing an unparalleled foundation of franchise knowledge, real estate expertise, and development support.
Robust Industry Category: The frozen dessert and customizable quick-service food category remains highly popular and resilient in the USA market, offering strong growth potential, particularly in high-traffic and family-friendly regions.
Established Year: 2010
Founders: Rick Barbrick and The Briad Group
Ownership: Acquired by SMA Group LLC in 2016
Headquarters: Clifton, New Jersey, USA
Franchise Units: As of 2014, CUPS had 23 locations across New Jersey, New York, California, Florida, and Virginia, with 10 area development agreements representing 45 franchise units.
Brand Journey & Company History:
CUPS Frozen Yogurt was launched with a mission to create a unique, energetic dessert experience that goes beyond traditional frozen yogurt shops. From the beginning, it focused on a self-serve concept that allows customers to mix and match 24 rotating flavors with over 50 toppings, enhancing personalization and engagement. The brand quickly became known for its club-like atmosphere featuring loud dance music, neon lighting, and bold murals—positioning it as a social destination for dessert lovers rather than just a food stop.
Over the years, CUPS has expanded beyond New Jersey into several key states, building a loyal following thanks to its innovative approach and fun, interactive environment. Media coverage and celebrity visits further boosted its brand visibility, helping it stand out in the competitive frozen dessert market.
Market Presence in the USA:
CUPS holds a strong presence in the Tri-State area (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) and has expanded into Florida, California, and Virginia. Its unique experiential model has carved a niche in the frozen dessert industry, positioning CUPS as both a lifestyle brand and a dessert franchise opportunity.
Industry Category: Frozen Yogurt / Dessert / Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR)
Other Notable Information:
CUPS emphasizes innovation with seasonal flavors, rotating toppings, and creative sauces.
Focused on providing a fun and social customer experience.
Recognized for its edgy, youth-oriented branding that differentiates it from conventional frozen yogurt shops.
Offers potential franchisees opportunities for multi-unit ownership and strategic market growth.
CUPS franchisees benefit from the expertise of a franchisor with decades of experience operating some of the largest national restaurant brands. The support system is designed to guide franchisees from site selection through daily operations.
Pre-Launch & Development Support:
Real Estate & Site Selection: Assistance in identifying and evaluating optimal locations (typically 1,200 to 1,500 square feet) with high foot traffic and desirable demographics.
Construction & Design: Guidance on the unique "That's Hot" concept build-out, including equipment layout, interior design, and obtaining approvals to ensure brand consistency.
Pre-Opening Plan: A comprehensive checklist and timeline to manage the ramp-up phase efficiently.
Operational & Academic Training:
Initial Training Program: A mandatory, detailed training program covering all facets of the business, including operations, customer service, inventory management, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and financial control. This is a mix of classroom and on-the-job training.
Operations Manuals: Access to proprietary, detailed manuals for daily execution.
Marketing & Brand Support:
Launch Campaigns: Assistance with grand opening strategies and local marketing to drive immediate excitement.
Ongoing Marketing: Access to professionally developed marketing materials, digital assets, social media strategy, and seasonal promotion concepts.
Public Relations: Support from a brand that has historically generated significant media buzz.
Ongoing Support:
Field Support: Regular visits from dedicated Franchise Business Consultants to ensure adherence to brand standards, optimize operations, and troubleshoot challenges.
Supply Chain: Access to established, high-quality, and cost-effective supply chain relationships for frozen yogurt mix, toppings, and other essential supplies.
Technology & POS Support: Assistance with integrated technology platforms for smooth management.
CUPS seeks passionate, driven individuals who are ready to embrace a high-energy, community-focused business model.
Entrepreneurial Drive & Passion: A strong desire to own and operate a successful business, coupled with a genuine passion for creating a fun, engaging, and high-quality customer experience.
Business Background: While prior food industry experience is helpful, it is not strictly required. Candidates with strong management, leadership, and operational skills from any industry are highly valued.
Financial Capability: Must be financially qualified with sufficient liquid capital to cover the initial investment and working capital requirements, as outlined in the FDD.
People-Oriented Leader: The ideal candidate is a "people person" who excels at local community engagement, team building, and managing a young, dynamic staff. They should be prepared to be an active, visible owner/operator.
Location Preference: Candidates looking to secure prime real estate in high-traffic commercial areas, college towns, dense suburbs, or near entertainment complexes are preferred, as these locations align best with the brand's social and energetic concept. Multi-unit development interest is also highly attractive to the franchisor.
Total Initial Investment Required: $399,800 to $850,800 (This range is an estimate based on historical FDD data and includes all estimated costs to open and operate for the first few months).
Minimum Investment Required (Estimated): As the Total Investment range is wide, potential franchisees should target the lower end as a starting minimum, but must be prepared for costs up to the higher end, depending on the store's size, location, and condition of the build-out.
Initial Franchise Fee: Up to $35,000 (Single Unit).
Infrastructure Cost: Included within the Total Investment, this covers leasehold improvements (build-out), equipment (fro-yo machines, POS, furniture), signage, and initial inventory.
Working Capital: The Total Investment range includes an amount for initial operating expenses and working capital (e.g., rent, utilities, initial labor, inventory purchases) needed until the store reaches a break-even point.
Royalty Fee: Typically a percentage of Gross Sales (exact percentage must be confirmed in the FDD, common for the industry is ~6%).
Marketing Budget / Ad Fund Fee: A contribution to the brand's national or regional marketing fund (often a percentage of Gross Sales, common for the industry is ~1-2%).
Potential Revenue Streams:
Primary stream: Self-serve frozen yogurt and toppings (sold by weight).
Secondary streams (vary by location): Custom ice cream sandwiches, homemade ice cream, shakes, and merchandise.
Expected ROI / Break-Even Time: CUPS Frozen Yogurt does not publicly disclose specific Return on Investment (ROI) or Break-Even timelines. These figures are highly dependent on the location, lease terms, local market demand, and the operator's management efficiency. However, the streamlined, low-labor model is designed for efficient operations and a faster ramp-up to profitability compared to full-service concepts. Prospective franchisees should consult the FDD for any Item 19 Financial Performance Representations to model their own expected returns.
