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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Buff City Soap Franchise

Buff City Soap is a specialty retail franchise founded in Bartlett, Tennessee in 2013, built around handmade, plant-based personal care products. The brand’s Soap Makeries operate as combined retail and manufacturing spaces where products including soap bars, bath bombs, candles, laundry soap, and body care items are crafted daily in front of customers using simple, paraben- and phthalate-free ingredients.

A defining feature of the model is in-store scent customization: guests work with trained Soap Makers to create personalized fragrances across most product lines. Additional revenue comes from private events and soap-making parties. Products are also sold online and shipped directly from individual Makeries, and the brand operates a loyalty program, giving each location multiple demand channels.

The brand began franchising in 2017 and has grown to over 210 Soap Makeries across more than 30 states. Backed by investment from General Atlantic (2021) and earlier from Guideboat and Crux Capital (2019), Buff City Soap operates its franchise support functions out of its Soapport Center in Dallas, Texas.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Buff City Soap resales available
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Why buy a Buff City Soap Franchise?

Buff City Soap occupies a distinctive position in the retail personal care category: a manufacturing-and-retail hybrid where products are made fresh daily on-site and in-store customization creates a shopping experience that mass-market and online competitors cannot easily replicate. The brand’s product range has expanded beyond soap to include candles, laundry products, and body care, broadening the everyday relevance of each Makery to routine household purchases.

The business model offers multiple revenue channels within a single location: direct retail sales, customized product orders, private events and soap-making parties, online fulfillment, and a loyalty program that drives repeat visits. Franchisees benefit from national and regional marketing support, and can enter as single-unit owners or scale through an Area Development Agreement.

Buff City Soap Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2013

    • Franchising Since

      2018

    • New Startup Cost

      $395,427 – $1,278,424

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $50,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of then-current Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      260

    • New Units Opened *

      4

    • Units Transferred *

      1

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $583,800

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Buff City Soap – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Buff City Soap provides initial training of up to 7 days at the Soapport Center in Dallas, Texas, followed by up to 7 days of hands-on training at the Makery. Ongoing support includes field visits, business coaching, regional training, and access to refresher courses. Franchisees use a POS system and inventory management tools, and receive ongoing marketing support covering national and regional advertising, social media, and local store promotions. A Discovery Day at the Soapport Center is offered for prospective owners. Buyers of an existing unit should confirm what transfer training and system access are available when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Buff City Soap franchisee is customer-oriented and comfortable managing a retail staff of trained Soap Makers. Retail, hospitality, or business ownership experience is helpful but not required; the franchisor expects active involvement in operations, whether as a hands-on owner or through a hired manager with direct franchisee oversight. Strong customer service instincts, a community mindset, and genuine interest in the brand's plant-based product focus suit the role well. Prior multi-unit or franchise experience is preferred for those pursuing an Area Development Agreement.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Buff City Soap earned a place on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 New Franchises list in 2020, recognizing its early growth and differentiated concept. The brand is backed by General Atlantic, a growth-equity firm with an established track record in consumer and retail businesses. Operating across more than 30 states, Buff City Soap has built a recognizable presence in the handmade personal care category. For resale buyers, local customer reviews and community visibility complement brand-level recognition as indicators of unit strength.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US natural personal care market is a growing category, valued at approximately $3 billion and projected to expand at around 9–10% annually through the latter part of the decade, driven by rising consumer demand for plant-based, chemical-free formulations. Clean beauty and ingredient transparency have moved into mainstream expectation, with consumers increasingly seeking brands with visible manufacturing practices and simple ingredients. For resale buyers, local foot traffic, territory demographics, and the unit's online sales history are meaningful factors in assessing a specific location.

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