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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a The MilkShake Factory Franchise

The MilkShake Factory is a Pittsburgh-based dessert franchise serving handcrafted milkshakes, craft sundaes and gourmet chocolates built on proprietary family recipes, with housemade ice cream made fresh daily and a menu of more than 55 shake flavors. The brand traces its roots to a 1914 chocolate shop and soda fountain opened in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood by Greek immigrants Charlie and Orania, and is run today by fourth-generation chocolatiers who rebuilt it in the early 2000s as a community-focused retail dessert destination.

The business is a brick-and-mortar, territory-based model centered on a storefront that doubles as a neighborhood gathering place. Owners and their teams prepare shakes and sundaes in front of customers and sell the brand’s signature chocolates, pairing a heritage product line with a modern, experience-led retail format.

The MilkShake Factory began franchising in 2023 in partnership with Franworth, a franchise accelerator, expanding beyond its original Pittsburgh-area locations into multiple states. It remains family-led under founder and CEO Dana Edwards Manatos as it scales nationally.

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Why buy a The MilkShake Factory Franchise?

The MilkShake Factory pairs a century-old chocolate and milkshake heritage with a refined, scalable retail format, giving buyers a differentiated dessert concept rather than a generic ice cream storefront. Its made-to-order shakes, craft sundaes and proprietary housemade chocolates support premium pricing and repeat local visits, and the brand has earned national consumer visibility through features on the Today Show, Good Morning America, USA Today, People and The New York Times.

To buy a The MilkShake Factory franchise is to step into a family-built system supported by Franworth, with established operating playbooks, certified training programs and a dedicated franchise support team behind each unit. The storefront model anchors the business in a fixed community location, which can build durable local loyalty in a category that customers treat as an affordable, feel-good indulgence.

The MilkShake Factory Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2003

    • Franchising Since

      2023

    • New Startup Cost

      $510,492 – $772,548

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $60,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Adjusted Gross Sales; year2+ min $1,200–$1,500/month

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Adjusted Gross Sales; up to 3%

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      14

    • New Units Opened *

      4

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

The MilkShake Factory – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners complete a structured program combining 24 hours of classroom training with 48 to 80 hours of on-the-job training, alongside the brand's certified shaker and chocolatier programs that qualify staff to produce its signature shakes and chocolates. A dedicated franchise support team, backed by Franworth's experience, provides ongoing operations and marketing guidance, and candidates attend a Discovery Day at corporate. Resale buyers should confirm with the franchisor what transfer training is offered to new owners and which staff hold current shaker and chocolatier certification.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits hands-on local operators who enjoy running a customer-facing storefront and leading a small hourly team through daily shake and chocolate production. Owners should be comfortable with retail operations, scheduling, staff management and delivering a consistent, high-quality guest experience, while staying active in their community as a neighborhood gathering spot. Food-service experience helps but is not required given the certified training programs; genuine care for people and a steady business mindset matter more than industry background.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    The MilkShake Factory has built recognition as Pittsburgh's destination for handcrafted milkshakes and gourmet chocolates, supported by national media coverage including the Today Show, Good Morning America, USA Today, People, Travel + Leisure and The New York Times. Its rapid franchise growth since launching in 2023 reflects strong market interest in the concept. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local reviews, referral sources and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    The MilkShake Factory operates in the US frozen desserts and ice cream shop category, a market estimated at roughly $21.7 billion in 2025 and forecast to keep growing through the early 2030s. Demand is driven by consumer appetite for premium, nostalgic and indulgent treats, and the category has proved resilient as an affordable everyday luxury. Storefront dessert concepts also benefit from foot traffic and experience-led visits. For resale buyers, local demand depends on the unit's location, visibility and seasonality within its specific market.

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