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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Marble Slab Creamery Franchise

Marble Slab Creamery is a premium ice cream franchise founded in Houston, Texas in 1983, credited with pioneering the frozen slab technique in which fresh, small-batch ice cream is hand-mixed with customer-chosen mix-ins on a chilled stone slab. The menu is built around super-premium homemade ice cream, waffle cones hand-rolled and baked in-store, ice cream cakes, shakes and the brand’s signature unlimited free mix-ins.

It runs a brick-and-mortar, territory-based quick-service model in compact retail units of roughly 500 to 1,800 sq ft. The network spans 250-plus franchised locations across about 22 US states and 11 countries, including Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and several Middle Eastern markets. Many units operate a co-branded format with sister brand Great American Cookies, letting one owner run two concepts under a single roof.

Marble Slab Creamery is owned by FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT), a global franchising group whose portfolio includes Fatburger, Johnny Rockets and Round Table Pizza. The co-branded Marble Slab and Great American Cookies format is among FAT Brands’ faster-growing concepts by new openings.

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Why buy a Marble Slab Creamery Franchise?

Marble Slab Creamery pairs a recognised, four-decade-old brand with a differentiated product: chef-style, made-in-store ice cream and the hand-mixed slab experience that built its name. That combination of brand equity and a distinctive in-store ritual supports customer loyalty and repeat visits in a category people return to year after year.

The standout ownership feature is the co-branding option with Great American Cookies, also owned by FAT Brands. Running both concepts from one location adds dessert revenue streams without doubling rent or staffing, and it is one of the parent group’s faster-growing formats. Membership in a large, publicly listed franchising group also gives owners established supply, marketing and operating systems that an independent ice cream shop would have to build alone.

Marble Slab Creamery Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1983

    • Franchising Since

      1984

    • New Startup Cost

      $354,500 – $476,650

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $15,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of total Net Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of total Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      249

    • New Units Opened *

      13

    • Units Transferred *

      21

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $480,828

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Marble Slab Creamery – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners receive structured initial training of 2 hours of classroom instruction plus 39 hours of hands-on, on-the-job training. Ongoing support covers field operations assistance, national and regional marketing campaigns, social media, email marketing and a customer loyalty app, backed by proprietary software, a franchisee intranet, purchasing cooperatives and franchisee conventions. Buyers of an existing unit should confirm what transfer training and intranet and system access FAT Brands provides when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits hands-on, operations-led owners comfortable running a retail food-service location: hiring, training and scheduling hourly staff, holding food-safety and quality standards, and delivering a fast, friendly counter experience. Strong local marketing and community involvement help drive foot traffic and repeat visits. Prior food-service or retail experience is useful but not required, as the franchisor provides training. Owners considering the co-branded Great American Cookies format should be ready to manage two product lines under one roof.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Marble Slab Creamery is ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 (most recently #268 in 2025) and has placed among Entrepreneur's top ice cream franchises, alongside earlier recognition on fastest-growing and top global franchise lists. As part of FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT), it carries the backing of a large multi-brand franchising group, and offers a 25% veteran discount. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the unit's local reviews, reputation and repeat-customer base.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US frozen desserts market was valued at about $21.7 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow steadily through the early 2030s (Grand View Research), supported by demand for premium, customizable and experiential treats. Ice cream remains a broadly resilient, year-round indulgence, though individual stores can see seasonal swings in warmer months. For resale buyers, local foot traffic, site visibility and the strength of the surrounding trade area matter as much as category-wide growth.

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