FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Papa Murphy's.
Based on 2025 FDD · 10 filings in corpus
Cost and profit at a glance
Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Papa Murphy's franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $367K – $733K. Reported owner economics show $37K. 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: $25K franchise fee · 7% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.
Papa Murphy's requires a total initial investment of $367K to $733K (midpoint approximately $550K), with an initial franchise fee of $25K. The ongoing fee burden is 7% (5% royalty plus 2% advertising fund). This is below the industry average of approximately 14.2%, leaving more margin for the operator.
According to Item 19 of the 2025 FDD, the median revenue for Papa Murphy's locations is $616K. The implied franchisee EBITDA is approximately $37K, based on the margin assumptions disclosed in the FDD. The estimated cash-on-cash return is 6.7% with a payback period of approximately 14.9 years.
Papa Murphy's operates approximately 1,119 franchised units. However, the brand has been contracting with a 10.3% net unit decline, which may signal franchisee dissatisfaction, territory saturation, or competitive pressure. The SBA 7(a) loan default rate of 8.2% is in line with industry norms of approximately 9.4%.
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 2025 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 (2013-2018). 133 loans across 27 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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