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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Abbott’s Frozen Custard Franchise

Abbott’s Frozen Custard is a heritage quick-service dessert brand built around a secret family recipe for dense, premium frozen custard. The business traces to 1902, when founder Arthur Abbott perfected his recipe travelling with East Coast carnivals before settling in Rochester, New York in 1926. The original Lake Avenue stand still operates today.

The menu centres on customisable sundaes, concretes and shakes, alongside the brand’s signature “Turtle” novelty, cakes and pies. Most locations run as compact, often drive-thru-oriented stands built for fast service and repeat local custom, giving the model a leaner footprint than a full-service restaurant.

Abbott’s has grown to nearly 40 locations across several US states while remaining family-owned; Gail Schreiber, whose parents took over the business in 1957, chairs the board. Franchisees are treated as “Owners” within a system that leans on a simple menu, established recipes and a century-plus brand story as its main points of difference.

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Why buy an Abbott’s Frozen Custard Franchise?

The case to buy an Abbott’s Frozen Custard franchise rests on a rare combination in quick-service desserts: more than a century of continuous history, a recognisable regional following, and a deliberately simple operating model. The menu is built on established recipes rather than a complex multi-product line, which keeps day-to-day operations focused.

The compact stand format and drive-thru orientation suit owners who want a lower-complexity foodservice business, and frozen custard sits in a category that has proved resilient as an affordable, everyday indulgence. Family ownership and a culture that treats franchisees as partners point to a hands-on franchisor rather than a private-equity rollup.

Abbott’s Frozen Custard Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1926

    • Franchising Since

      1977

    • New Startup Cost

      $496,900 – $1,831,200

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $37,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      67%

      of then-current Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      5.50%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      27

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      3

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $442,539

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Abbott’s Frozen Custard – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Initial training runs through Abbott's two-part programme, Scoop School: five days of hands-on training at the company's Rochester, New York base, followed by five days in the owner's own stand, with the franchisor's team staying on site through opening. The FDD documents roughly four days of classroom and 14 days of on-the-job training. Support continues afterwards with regular updates on best practices, new products and seasonal specials. Resale buyers should confirm with Abbott's what Scoop School onboarding and system access transfer to an incoming owner and existing staff.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Abbott's suits hands-on, community-minded operators who enjoy guest experience and want a straightforward foodservice concept rather than a complex menu. No prior restaurant experience is required, since Scoop School covers recipes and operations, but owners should be comfortable hiring, training and managing a small front-line team and holding consistent quality through busy, seasonal trading. People-focused leaders who value a family-style culture and take pride in repeat local custom tend to fit best.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Abbott's recognition rests largely on its heritage: a frozen custard brand operating since 1902, with its original Rochester stand still serving and a family ownership lineage stretching back decades. The signature "Turtle" novelty, introduced in 1981, remains a long-running customer favourite, and the brand is known regionally for small-batch quality and guest loyalty. For resale buyers, brand-level heritage should be weighed alongside the specific territory's reputation, including local reviews, repeat customers and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    Abbott's operates in the US frozen desserts market, valued at roughly $21.7 billion in 2025 and forecast to grow steadily through the early 2030s (Grand View Research). Frozen custard has been one of the faster-growing segments within ice cream, helped by its premium, indulgent positioning and appeal for family outings and takeout treats. Demand is seasonal but driven by affordable, everyday indulgence that tends to hold up across economic cycles. For resale buyers, local foot traffic, climate and seasonality shape a stand's revenue pattern.

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