Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Franchise

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a premium frozen-dessert franchise built around small-batch ice cream made fresh on-site every day. Founded in 1989 by Bruce Reed in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, the brand starts each recipe with a proprietary homestyle mix delivered from its own dairy co-op, then churns artisan batches of ice cream, yogurt, ices and sorbets in the store where they are sold.

Each location rotates a deep menu of flavors made daily, alongside sundaes, blasts, shakes, handmade waffle cones and custom ice cream cakes and pies. The shops serve families and local communities as a neighbourhood gathering spot, with most sales running through walk-up and drive-thru locations. Bruster’s operates around 200 franchised shops across more than 20 US states, plus a presence in international markets including South Korea and Guyana.

The company is privately held and family-focused, led by CEO Jim Sahene and a tenured leadership team. Its core differentiator is fresh, made-on-premises product under tight “cow to cone” quality control, backed by a loyal following — the franchisor notes most of its owners were Bruster’s customers first.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Bruster’s Real Ice Cream resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Franchise?

Bruster’s pairs a recognisable premium ice cream brand with a simple, refined operating model developed over more than three decades. The fresh, made-on-site product and “cow to cone” quality control give individual shops a real point of difference from soft-serve and pre-packaged competitors, supporting the brand’s positioning around higher average unit volumes within the scoop-shop category.

To buy a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream franchise is to step into a system with an established, data-driven national marketing programme, generous protected trade areas and a supply chain anchored by the brand’s own dairy co-op for its proprietary mix. The model fits owner-operators but also supports semi-absentee ownership through POS technology that lets owners monitor performance remotely, and many franchisees add carts, trailers, catering and fundraising to extend revenue beyond the core shop.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1990

    • Franchising Since

      1993

    • New Startup Cost

      $409,033 – $2,644,060

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $40,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $20,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      3%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      206

    • New Units Opened *

      17

    • Units Transferred *

      13

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $745,019

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners complete structured initial training covering 19.5 hours of classroom instruction and 62 hours of on-the-job training in ice cream production and shop operations. Ongoing support spans a data-driven national marketing programme, operations guidance benchmarked against first-year goals, and state-of-the-art POS technology that allows remote performance monitoring. Buyers of an existing Bruster's shop should confirm what transfer training and system access the franchisor provides to incoming owners and their staff.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Bruster's suits hands-on, community-minded operators who enjoy customer-facing retail and managing a largely young, seasonal workforce. No prior ice cream or foodservice experience is required, since the franchisor trains owners in production from the ground up, but strong people management, local marketing instinct and a focus on consistent customer experience matter most. The model works for owner-operators committed to daily involvement, though POS technology also makes semi-absentee ownership feasible for those who build a capable store team.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Bruster's Sweet Rewards loyalty programme, with more than 650,000 members, has been named to Newsweek's America's Best Loyalty Programs, recognised in both 2021 and 2022. The brand has also been listed among Franchise Business Review's Top 25 Food & Beverage Franchises, with franchisee satisfaction rated above the survey's industry benchmark. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific shop's local reviews, referral sources and community standing.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US ice cream and frozen-dessert market generates well over $10 billion in annual sales, supported by steady demand for affordable, experiential treats. Scoop shops benefit from their role as local gathering places and from premiumisation toward fresh, made-on-site product. Demand is seasonal and peaks in warmer months, making location and shoulder-season strategy important. The category has proved resilient across economic cycles, as small indulgences tend to hold up when discretionary spending tightens, a useful backdrop for resale buyers reviewing a shop's revenue history.

Learn more about
how to own a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.