Brand Dossier

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

FDD-based analysis. Item-level data. No franchisor input.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers costs $854,834 to $2,802,000 to open (2026 FDD Item 7), with a Variable fee model fee structure and an average unit volume of $1,859,481 (median $1,820,745) disclosed in 2026 FDD Item 19. Strength on Fee Structure, Unit Economics, and Operator Validation, In Line on Litigation History, Deal-Specific reads on Term & Exit Terms. Independent analysis, no commissions, no franchisor revenue.
Rank #85 on Entrepreneur 2026FoodFDD issued 4/30/2026
Ranking ContextRanking from Entrepreneur Media's 2026 Franchise 500. Zorzee is independent and not affiliated with Entrepreneur Media.
Source File2026 Franchise Disclosure Document
About the Brand

About Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Freddy's, L.L.C. franchises Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers restaurants that sell steakburgers, hot dogs, and frozen custard to the general public from a single location. Each Freddy's Restaurant operates under a system covering distinctive design, decor, color scheme, and furnishings, along with standards for operations, quality control, training, and advertising, and franchisees receive a protected territory around their approved location. Freddy's Restaurants compete in the developed and very competitive quick service restaurant market against major food service and fast food chains as well as local restaurants, with sales typically higher during summer months given the custard and frozen dessert offerings.

Source: Entrepreneur 2026 ranking/profile data and Franchise Disclosure Document, rewritten by Zorzee

Investment Summary

The Numbers At a Glance

Total Investment Range
$854,834 to $2,802,000
FDD Item 7
Franchise Fee
$35,000
Development fee: $15,000 multiplied by number of Restaurants in Assigned Area, plus $20,000 License Fee Deposit for first Restaurant, due at Development Agreement signing; Development Fee credited to License Fee for each developed Restaurant.
FDD Item 5
Royalty + Fees
Variable fee model
True combined currently-assessed total paid to franchisor is ~7.5% of Gross Receipts: 5% Royalty (Item 6, p.8) + 2.5% National Marketing and Advertising Fund, administered/collected by the franchisor (Item 6, p.8; Item 11, p.23). Excludes local advertising (self-spent, up to 2.0% of Gross Receipts) and Cooperative Advertising (0-2%, none currently established).
FDD Item 6
Earnings Claim
Yes
Average Unit Metric $1,859,481. Median Unit Metric $1,820,745.
FDD Item 19

Every value here comes straight from the FDD; anything not yet source-verified stays blank rather than estimated. The Pro figures and full interpretation unlock with a Pro membership.

The FDD Data Table

Everything the 2026 Filing Discloses

Every data point Zorzee tracks for this brand, in FDD Item order. Missing source data stays blank; Pro-only interpretation remains locked.

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ItemData PointValueSource
Item 3Litigation Actions (total) 0 actions disclosed FDD Item 3
Item 5Initial Franchise Fee The Initial Franchise Fee is $35,000. (Item 5, p.6) FDD Item 5
Item 5Development Fee $15,000 multiplied by number of Restaurants in Assigned Area, plus $20,000 License Fee Deposit for first Restaurant, due at Development Agreement signing; Development Fee credited to License Fee for each developed Restaurant. FDD Item 5
Item 6Royalty Fee 5% royalty FDD Item 6
Item 6National Media Fund Pro FDD Item 6
Item 6Corporate Ad & Development Fund Pro FDD Item 6
Item 6Total Ongoing Fee Burden Pro Calculated (Item 6)
Item 7Total Investment (low) $854,834 FDD Item 7
Item 7Total Investment (high) $2,802,000 FDD Item 7
Item 8Required Purchases (food/supplies) Pro FDD Item 8
Item 11Franchisor Assistance Pro FDD Item 11
Item 12Exclusive Territory Pro FDD Item 12
Item 12Territory Size Pro FDD Item 12
Item 15Operating Participation Pro FDD Item 15
Item 17Initial Term Length Pro FDD Item 17(a)
Item 17Renewal Terms Pro FDD Item 17(b)-(c)
Item 17Required Remodel at Renewal Pro FDD Item 17(c)
Item 17Termination Triggers Pro FDD Item 17(f)-(h)
Item 17Transfer Fee Pro FDD Item 17(m), Item 6
Item 17ROFR Provisions Pro FDD Item 17(n)
Item 17Post-Termination Non-Compete Pro FDD Item 17(r)
Item 19Revenue Metric Disclosed Yes: Average Unit Metric $1,859,481 / Median Unit Metric $1,820,745 FDD Item 19
Item 20Total Franchised Units (2025) 542 FDD Item 20
Item 20Company-Owned Units (2025) 38 FDD Item 20
Item 20Total System Net Unit Growth (YoY) +30 FDD Item 20
Item 20Terminations Pro FDD Item 20
Item 20Agreements Signed, Not Yet Open Pro FDD Item 20
Item 21Audited Financials Pro FDD Item 21
Pro Data Points Locked
The free table maps every data point to its FDD source. Pro fills in the values and interpretation that require the full read.
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The Signal Tracker

Five Signals From the 2026 Filing

Each signal turns one part of the filing into a read a buyer can act on. Strength means the disclosed data is favorable. In Line means it is typical for the category. Deal-Specific means the term is populated but you still have to model it against your own deal. Concern means the disclosed data is a real risk. The read is free. The reasoning behind it is the Pro read.

Fee Structure
Strength
FDD Item 6
The Pro Read

Fee terms are disclosed in Item 6. The full ongoing fee burden and the supporting math are included in Pro.

Unit Economics
Strength
FDD Item 19
The Pro Read

The filing discloses average, median, high, and low for the franchised-restaurant total.

Litigation History
In Line
FDD Item 3
The Pro Read

Source-reviewed FDD Item 3 discloses 0 actions. The legal-context read remains locked in Pro.

Operator Validation
Strength
FDD Item 20
The Pro Read

The system grew by 30 units in 2025 to 580 total, mostly franchised.

Term & Exit Terms
Deal-Specific
FDD Item 17
The Pro Read

The initial term is 15 years from opening, with a 15-year renewal available if requirements are met. Transfer rights, a right of first refusal, and a post-term non-compete are all disclosed.

Five Reads In. The Reasoning Is Locked.
You can see where each signal lands. Pro gives you the why: the math, the source detail, and what to validate before you act.
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Item 19: Earnings Disclosure

What the Earnings Claim Says, and What It Does Not

Item 19 earnings data is disclosed for Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. The full disclosure is free below; Zorzee's read of what it means stays in Pro.

What the Claim Discloses
Average Unit Metric
$1,859,481
Median Unit Metric
$1,820,745
Sample Size & Coverage
See notecoverage detail
Cohort: Table 7, systemwide annual gross receipts of the 477 franchised restaurants open for the entire 2025 fiscal year, shown as the by-quartile total (Item 19, p.43). As of December 31, 2025 the system had 38 company-owned and 542 franchised restaurants; the tables exclude 43 franchised restaurants not open the full year (42 new openings and one fire closure), 19 franchised restaurants that closed during the year, and 23 non-traditional restaurants operating limited hours at college campuses, casinos, airports, and sports arenas (Item 19, p.41). Figures are gross receipts, unaudited, drawn from franchisee royalty and financial reports.
High / Low Range
$644,497 to $4,164,361
Met or Beat the Average
219 / 47%
What the Disclosure Excludes
Expenses, net income, owner compensation
Gross revenue is not profit
What the Number Doesn't Tell You
Free, because misreading Item 19 is one of the costliest mistakes a first-time buyer can make.
  • Item 19 reports the disclosed sales or revenue metric. That is not profit, and not a forecast of what you would personally take home.
  • An average and a median are not the same number. Know which you are shown and how far apart they sit.
  • What reaches you is whatever survives operating costs and debt service. Item 19 never shows that figure.
Earnings Read Locked
Pro turns the disclosed fields into a read: whether the average is trustworthy, what the disclosure leaves out, and the year-one revenue number Zorzee would underwrite.
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Unit Count and Trajectory

A System Still Expanding

Total Units
580
As of 2025, FDD Item 20
Franchised
542
As of 2025, FDD Item 20
Company-Owned
38
As of 2025, FDD Item 20
Total System Net Change (YoY)
+30
As of 2025, FDD Item 20
Total System Units, Latest Available FDD Years
517
2023
550
2024
580
2025

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers trajectory is shown only where source-backed. Missing Item 20 fields stay blank inside the locked layout instead of removing the section.

Source: FDD Item 20 where present. Total system units, franchised plus company-owned. Not financial advice.

Beyond the Net Number
A net unit count is not the same as healthy stores. Pro breaks out openings, closures, terminations, and what the trajectory signals.
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Litigation History

What FDD Item 3 Discloses

0 actions disclosed in source-reviewed FDD Item 3.

Source Status
Item 3 litigation detail not yet sourced
Not yet sourced. No zero-action conclusion has been loaded for this brand.
The Read · Pro
What a Litigation Count Doesn't Tell You
Free, because a raw lawsuit count is one of the most misread lines in any FDD.
  • A count means nothing without scale and time. Always compare it to system size and years covered.
  • The pattern matters more than the total. Repeated allegations matter more than isolated disputes.
  • Concluded and open matters are not the same weight. Open matters require different diligence than old resolved matters.
Litigation Read Locked
Pro gives the case-by-case read: allegations, status, scale context, and whether any pattern matters long before signing.
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Editorial Analysis

The Zorzee Read

The Zorzee Take
The editor's synthesis: what the filing actually means once the numbers, diligence, and operator reality are weighed against each other. The Take names what matters, what does not, and what must be validated before any decision.
The Read · Pro
The Inversion
Charlie Munger's rule: to understand a thing, study how it fails. Zorzee stress-tests every brand against forecasting, site selection, management depth, and exit math. The framework is free. Which modes bite hardest for this brand, and the fix for each, is the read.
The Failure-Mode Read · Pro
The Editorial Read Is Locked
Pro unlocks the full Zorzee read on Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: the editorial synthesis, the math behind the numbers, and the failure modes the filing reveals. Zorzee briefs the decision; you make it.
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Zorzee editorial. Independent analysis. No franchisor review or approval. Not financial advice.

The Decision

You've Seen the Filing. The Read Is Still the Missing Piece.

The filing tells you what Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers costs to open. Pro adds the read on whether the numbers work for you, in your market, and whether this brand is a business or a job you bought.

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This Dossier
  • The full read behind all five Signal Tracker verdicts
  • Pro FDD data points from fee burden through Item 17 and audited financials
  • The Item 19 earnings read where disclosed
  • The litigation and system-health read
  • The Zorzee Take and failure-mode analysis
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FAQ

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Franchise Questions, Answered

How much does a Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchise cost?

A Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchise costs $854,834 to $2,802,000 to open, disclosed in FDD Item 7 of the 2026 filing, covering the franchise fee, buildout, equipment, and working capital to breakeven. No commissions, no franchisor revenue, independent analysis only.

What are the royalty and fees for Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers?

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers uses a Variable fee model fee structure, disclosed in FDD Item 6.

What does Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers disclose in FDD Item 19?

Item 19 for Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers discloses an average unit volume of $1,859,481 (median $1,820,745) in the 2026 FDD. The figure is gross sales, not profit. Zorzee's read of what it excludes is in the Pro dossier.

What is Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers's average unit volume?

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers's average unit volume is $1,859,481 (median $1,820,745) in the 2026 FDD. The figure is gross sales, not profit. Zorzee's read of what it excludes is in the Pro dossier.

Does Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers have any lawsuits or litigation?

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers's FDD Item 3 discloses no legal actions in the 2026 filing.

Is Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers a good franchise investment?

Zorzee does not rate franchises good or bad; it reports what the filing discloses so you can judge fit. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers shows Strength on Fee Structure, Unit Economics, and Operator Validation, In Line on Litigation History, Deal-Specific reads on Term & Exit Terms. Whether it fits depends on your capital, your market, and your operating style. Independent analysis, no franchisor revenue.