Fall flavors available now! 🍂

After 20 years of making better ice creams and bringing people together, Jeni’s is expanding its Fellowship Model—a community-driven approach that prioritizes quality, innovation, and shared success—to include franchising. By partnering with passionate entrepreneurs, we’re bringing our ice cream to new markets, while maintaining the creativity and connection that makes Jeni’s special.

  • 85+ scoop shops across 15 states & DC
  • James Beard Award-winning founder
  • Passionate community of brand fans

THE FELLOWSHIP MODEL

Our Fellowship Model is rooted in community—partnering with growers, makers, and producers who share our passion for quality, creativity, and connection. Franchising is the next step in expanding this model, allowing entrepreneurs to bring Jeni’s unforgettable flavors to more people. With dedicated franchise partners, we can grow thoughtfully, ensuring that every scoop shop delivers the Jeni’s experience.

What makes Jeni’s Different

  • Quality

    Everything we do starts and stops with the quality of our ice cream. If it isn’t remarkable, isn’t delicious, then nothing else matters. Anything that’s even a measure less than splendid doesn’t get the Jeni’s script logo on it. Promise.

  • Creativity

    From making flavors inspired by art, history, and pop culture to complete world-building creativity and a tireless attention to detail are what elevate the experience of our ice cream beyond its rational category to the sublime.

  • Connection

    People LOVE our ice cream. Not only because it’s delicious. But because of our ability to create authentic connections. There’s no community without connection, no connection without emotion — and a Jeni’s experience makes you feel something.

Our Scoop Shops

From the taste (and scent) of freshly made waffle cones to the art and design, every detail in a Jeni’s scoop shop is there for a reason—to enhance the experience of eating our ice cream. At the heart of it all are passionate team members who bring the experience to life with flavor knowledge and warm service. Whether a first-time guest or a lifelong fan, Jeni’s scoop shops are a place where people come together and connect.

FLAVOR IS EVERYTHING

  • NEW AND SEASONAL FLAVORS
    From elevated takes on classic flavors to ice creams you won’t find anywhere else — inspired by art, history, pop culture, and beyond — our flavor calendar keeps Jeni’s top of mind and in the news.
  • FLAVOR COLLABORATIONS
    Our collaborations cut across culture (and through the noise) in a carefully calibrated way, creating flavors that people didn't know they wanted, but all of a sudden NEED.

Award-Winning Ice Cream

Industry insiders, food critics, and connoisseurs have long considered Jeni’s the standard by which all other ice creams are judged. And we have the trophy case to prove it. From Jeni’s Food & Wine Tastemaker Award in 2005 (for people under 35 who changed the world of food and wine) to our several PEOPLE magazine Food Awards, our ice creams have been consistently recognized as the most innovative in the industry over the past 20 years. The only thing that’s changed is that more people know now than ever before.

All it takes is one bite to get hooked.

No one else makes ice cream like Jeni.

The best ice cream in the whole damn world.

Franchise Support

  • Training and onboarding
    We have a comprehensive training and onboarding program to ensure every franchise partner is set up for success. With a proven playbook, expert support, and immersive brand education, you’ll confidently bring the magic of Jeni’s to your community.
  • Marketing and branding
    We provide award-winning marketing and branding support. From national advertising and social media engagement to local marketing assets and PR support that ensures strong brand visibility, you’ll have the tools to attract, engage, and grow a devoted customer base.
  • Continuous innovation
    We introduce more than a dozen new flavors every year, using our shops as a testing ground to gauge customer excitement and refine recipes. Our dynamic, ever-evolving menu keeps guests excited and eager to return, making every visit a fresh experience.

Investment and Financial Requirements

Financial Requirements

  • Minimum liquid investment assets: $500,000

  • Minimum Net Worth: $1,500,000

    Investment and Fees

  • Franchise Fee: $40,000

  • Total Estimated Investment: $696,000-$1,265,750
  • Royalty: 5%

  • Brand Fund: 2%

  • Agreement Term: 10 Years with two 5-year options

Where we’re growing

Trade Areas Available: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nebraska,
Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin

Select Trade Areas Available: Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia

Coming Soon: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Dakota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming, West Virginia, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Alaska

Steps to ownership

Initial Inquiry: Let us know you’re interested! Submit your information.

Introductory Call: Speak with a Jeni’s franchise representative so we can learn more about you and why you’d like to join the Jeni’s community.

Educational Calls: We’ll guide you through everything there is to know about the Jeni’s business model and talk through how we can support you.

Due Diligence: Speak to our executive team, align on your desired search areas, and discuss our standard franchise agreement.

Meet the Team: Travel to Columbus to meet the team, tour our scoop shops, and experience firsthand what it will be like to be a part of the Jeni’s team.

Legal Commitment: Once you’ve been approved and within 30 days of meeting the team, sign your agreement and get started on your journey!

Franchising FAQs

The total investment will range from $696,000 to $1,265,750. Our Franchise Disclosure Document (“FDD”) provides specific details of these costs.

Jeni’s cannot guarantee how much money you can expect to make, however, we offer a proven concept and an excellent franchise support system. Income from each Jeni’s Scoop Shop varies based on many variables, including market size, demographics, and franchisees' ability to manage the day-to-day operations.  Our FDD provides historical financial performance for our 83 company-owned shops in 2024.

Before we share our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), we ask that you complete our short Franchise Inquiry Form. This helps us learn more about your background, experience, and the market you’re interested in. Once submitted, we’ll reach out to schedule an introductory call where we can answer your initial questions and explore whether there’s a strong mutual fit.

The franchise fee is $40,000 per scoop shop.

Five percent (5%) of net sales.

An additional two percent (2%) fee is collected to support the national brand and awareness efforts of the Jeni’s brand nationally. This fee is what Jeni's refers as its "Brand Fund"

Ten years, with two five-year renewal options.

The traditional studio size is approximately 900 - 1,400 square feet.

On average, it will take about 8-12 months, depending on how quickly you identify the right location.

Yes, but our franchise partners are limited to purchasing up to five (5) shops initially.  

A typical Jeni’s Scoop Shop will operate with a small staff of 5-8 employees during the slower months and 15-20 during peak ice cream season. Depending on volume, 1-2 employees will typically be full-time, while the rest will be part-time and seasonal.

Unless you are a current multi-unit franchisee, we strongly encourage our franchise partners to work within the Scoop Shop for at least the first six months to thoroughly understand your local community’s operations and customer needs.

We require a liquid capital minimum of $500,000 and a net worth of $1,500,000.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for informational purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction.