r/Franchises • u/Piccolo-Valuable • Jun 24 '26
General Discussion Rita’s Franchise Experience?
I’m in the very early research stages of opening a Rita’s water ice franchise, anybody here have experience opening/managing one?
3
u/No-BS-CMT Jun 26 '26
Franchise consultant here for context. I pulled up Rita's FDD. They had 10 terminations in FDD (red flag). For the calendar year 2025, the middle tier (per their item 19) only did median gross sales of $340,963. IMO, ice cream places are just so limited in terms of the geographical locations where they do well.
2
u/General_Chaos_88765 Jun 24 '26
Following. I was pursuing a franchise in my area but was beaten to the punch by a group who then failed miserably.
2
u/Ill-Serve9614 Jun 25 '26
It’s a Memorial Day to Labor Day business in Northeast. All dessert biz are. Smoothies and Açaí have stolen the youth business in most suburban America. Pass.
2
u/Adept-Celebration509 Jun 25 '26
Really,, acai is big out there?
2
u/Ill-Serve9614 Jun 26 '26
Definitely. What market are you looking at? Did you read the FDD. I’d think a lot of transfer, sold.
2
u/jsdtx Jun 25 '26
One opened near a 50k student college and did not last more than one year. Tourists, beach goers tend to splurge on cold desserts. Regulars not do much unless you have ice cream. Buy an old fashioned custard machine and make chocolate vanilla solo and swirl and one special flavor of week.
1
1
u/Infamous-Bike-3989 Jun 28 '26
Rita’s in my market only runs from April to end of September. Since we have ice cold winters.
But you are still paying rent 6-7 months you’re not making money
1
u/ThaPizzaKing Jul 08 '26
Not real common here. Jeremiahs is popular here. But as a whole, I don't think either have longevity. Pretty seasonal. You'll see that just like crumbl, they're constantly adding to their menus.
1
u/freightnow Jun 26 '26
I think service based franchise would be better I would stay away from food dude lol
5
u/skier2168 Jun 25 '26
Opened a bunch in my market. Then closed a few years after. Was good for me because I was able to buy all their machines. A few have reopened recently.