FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Great Harvest Bread Co..
Based on 2024 FDD · 1 filing in corpus
Cost and profit at a glance
Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Great Harvest Bread Co. franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $46K – $984K. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.
Quick fee read: $35K franchise fee · 7.5% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.
Great Harvest Bread Co. requires a total initial investment of $46K to $984K (midpoint approximately $515K), with an initial franchise fee of $35K. The ongoing fee burden is 7.5% (5% royalty plus 2.5% advertising fund). This is below the industry average of approximately 14.2%, leaving more margin for the operator.
Great Harvest Bread Co. does not publicly disclose Item 19 financial performance data in their FDD. This is a significant transparency gap — franchisees must rely on validation calls and personal research rather than audited financial representations. Prospective buyers should demand current unit-level financials from existing operators during due diligence.
Great Harvest Bread Co. operates approximately 155 franchised units. However, the brand has been contracting with a 3.7% net unit decline, which may signal franchisee dissatisfaction, territory saturation, or competitive pressure. The SBA 7(a) loan default rate of 16.7% is above the franchise industry average of approximately 9.4%, suggesting elevated financial risk for franchisees relying on debt financing.
Prospective franchisees should verify all figures against the most recent FDD, conduct validation calls with multiple existing franchisees, and consult with a franchise attorney before signing any agreement.
Analysis based on 2024 FDD filing. FDDIQ Editorial Team · Methodology
Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.
Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.
Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2010-2026). 96 loans across 33 states.
Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.
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