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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Baskin-Robbins USA Co.

Ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen beverages

Background

Founded: 1945 Franchising since: 1948
As a teenager in the 1930s, Irv Robbins managed an ice cream shop in Tacoma, Washington. Bored with serving traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, Robbins began experimenting by mixing fruit and candy into the ice cream. After serving in World War II, Robbins bought an ice cream parlor in Glendale, California. Three years later, he convinced his brother-in-law, Burt Baskin, to join the business. The two men flipped a coin to see whose name would go first on the sign. Baskin won, and in 1945, Baskin-Robbins was born.

Today, Baskin-Robbins has locations in more than 50 countries, each serving the company's famous 31 flavors of ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt, sherbet, cakes and drinks. Baskin-Robbins is part of Dunkin' Brands Inc., which also franchises Dunkin' Donuts. Dunkin' Brands Inc. is owned by a consortium of private equity companies: Bain Capital, The Carlyle Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners.

130 Royall St.
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Phone:
(781)737-3000


Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 2601 117 3382 1
2008 2,699 119 3,071 2
2007 2,793 117 2,925 0
2006 2,786 129 2,864 0
2005 2,279 0 2,845 0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $121.3K-419.6K
Franchise fee: $15K-35K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5.9%
Term of agreement: Term of agreement not renewable
Express/kiosk option available

Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No No
Startup Costs No No
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $350K
Cash liquidity requirement: $125K
Business Experience:
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills


Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: Varies

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Regional advertising

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#13 (2009); #16 (2008); #22 (2006); #31 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2009; 2008; 2006;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#17 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#12 (2009); #14 (2008); #22 (2005);