Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a la Madeleine Franchise

la Madeleine is a French bakery and café concept founded in Dallas, Texas in 1983, now owned by France-based Groupe Le Duff. Operating close to 100 corporate and franchise locations across multiple U.S. states and one international café, the brand brings an accessible French bistro experience to everyday dining.

The café menu spans all-day breakfast, brunch, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, coffees and entrées alongside a traditional French bakery display of fresh breads and pastries. Franchise formats include Traditional, Petite and Express models, giving operators options suited to different market sizes and traffic profiles. The brand emphasizes fresh ingredients and an unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere that distinguishes it from standard fast-casual competitors.

La Madeleine began franchising in 2011 and has pursued active expansion under new leadership, with a stated goal of reaching 200 locations by 2030. The brand operates with proprietary recipes and operational systems developed across four decades of service, offering franchisees a differentiated concept in a space where few established bakery-café brands operate at scale in the U.S. market.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no la Madeleine resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a la Madeleine Franchise?

To buy a la Madeleine franchise means acquiring one of the few established French bakery-café brands in U.S. fast casual, backed by the culinary heritage and resources of parent company Groupe Le Duff. The brand’s counter-service format in a warm bistro setting gives it a customer experience few fast-casual competitors replicate, and multi-format options across Traditional, Petite and Express footprints expand real estate flexibility.

The multi-daypart model captures revenue across breakfast, lunch, dinner and catering within a single unit. Ongoing franchisor support covers marketing, purchasing coordination, operations and technology, reducing the management burden on individual operators. With the brand actively pursuing growth toward 200 locations by 2030, buyers of an existing unit enter a network still building brand awareness in many U.S. markets.

la Madeleine Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1983

    • Franchising Since

      2011

    • New Startup Cost

      $448,250 – $2,254,160

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $20,000 - $40,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      3.25%

      of Gross Sales; up to 4%

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      86

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $2,308,167

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

la Madeleine – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    La Madeleine structures franchisee training around 252 hours of on-the-job instruction and 48 hours of classroom training. Ongoing support covers day-to-day operations, purchasing and supplier coordination, marketing materials and campaigns, and technology system integration. Resale buyers should confirm what initial and transfer training the franchisor provides to incoming owners and their management team, and what system access carries over with the unit.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal la Madeleine franchisee is an experienced multi-unit restaurant operator or a business owner prepared to hire and oversee a qualified café manager. Strong operational and financial acumen matters more than hands-on kitchen skills, as the owner's primary role involves team leadership, performance management and community presence. A genuine guest-service orientation and knowledge of the local real estate market are qualities the franchisor actively seeks. The model suits both owner-operators and semi-absentee investors with the right management infrastructure in place.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    La Madeleine has been listed in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 in both 2024 and 2025, most recently ranked #413 in 2025. The brand also appears in the Franchise Times Top 400 Franchises of 2025, was named to Nation's Restaurant News' 100 Under 100 Emerging Restaurant Chains, ranked #206 in Technomic's 500 Chain Restaurant Report, and received a QSR Best Brands to Work For designation in 2025. For resale buyers, the brand's consistent recognition across industry publications is a positive signal of system stability and market presence.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US bakery cafes industry is valued at approximately $17.8 billion according to IBISWorld, supported by consistent consumer demand for accessible, quality dining between quick-service and full-service restaurants. The fast-casual segment has grown steadily as diners prioritize fresh ingredients, flexible mealtimes and a comfortable atmosphere. Multi-daypart concepts are positioned to capture a broader daily share than single-daypart competitors. For resale buyers, local foot traffic, proximity to residential and office populations, and daypart revenue splits are the key unit-level indicators to assess.

Learn more about
how to own a la Madeleine 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.