Cooper’s Scoopers Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Cooper's Scoopers is a dessert franchise serving scooped ice cream and frozen treats. Franchisees run the shops, managing product inventory, staffing, and counter service.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Cooper’s Scoopers franchise requires a total initial investment of $40K – $80K, including a $10K – $40K franchise fee and an ongoing 12.0% royalty[2]. The 2026 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: D (Below average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2026 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $40K – $80K
- 4th pct Pet Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 12.0%
- 79th pct Pet Services
- Units
- 4
- 24th pct Pet Services
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Pet Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Pet Services avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $40K – $80K including a $40K franchise fee, 12.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSFirst audited fiscal year (year ended December 31, 2025); only one year of audited financials presented. Total operating revenues of $7,307 comprised initial franchise fees $5,748, royalties $702, marketing and technology fees $857. Interest income of $4,930 reported as other income.
- RISKVerdict D (Below average), verdict score 29/100 (higher is better).
- DATANo Item 19 financial performance representation. Without franchisor-disclosed revenue data, you'll need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Coopers Scoopers, LLC
- Parent company
- Loyalty, LLC
- CEO title
- President
- Julie Harrell
- CEO experience
- 8 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- VA
- HQ
- 780 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Suite 240, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
- Auditor
- Kezos & Dunlavy
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $7K
- Most recent fiscal year
Independent franchisee associations
- Franchise Advisory Council (FAC)
Franchisee-led councils or alliances disclosed in Item 20. Indicates operator voice.
Affiliated brands
- has offered franchises s
- Tectum Franchising
- Loyalty Business Services
- ATAX
- Happie Doggie
- Purely Pet
- Whole PM Holdings
Other brands the franchisor or its parent operates (Item 1).
Overview
About
- CEO
- Julie Harrell
- Headquarters
- VA
- Founded
- 2024
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 3
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 91% below the typical pet services franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown11 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $10K | $40K | |
| Travel and Living Expenses to Attend Initial Training | $500 | $2K | |
| Computer Hardware and Software | $2K | $5K | |
| Vehicle | $3K | $5K | |
| Vehicle Branding | $500 | $5K | |
| Supplies/Inventory | $500 | $3K | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $5K | $10K | |
| Insurance | $1K | $2K | |
| Licenses, Permits, and Certifications | $400 | $3K | |
| Professional Fees | $500 | $1K | |
| Additional Funds - 90 days | $3K | $5K | |
| Total initial investment | $26K | $80K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $40K – $80K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $3K – $5K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $10K – $40K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 12.0%
- formula · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 14.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 12.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $125 |
| Transfer fee | $5K |
| Renewal fee | $0 |
| Inventory (initial) | $500 – $3K |
| Total fee load | 14.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Cooper’s Scoopers did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Cooper’s Scoopers unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
106%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2026 FDD
Financial Performance
First audited fiscal year (year ended December 31, 2025); only one year of audited financials presented. Total operating revenues of $7,307 comprised initial franchise fees $5,748, royalties $702, marketing and technology fees $857. Interest income of $4,930 reported as other income.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 14.0% — above the Pet Services average of 9.3%.
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Multi-unit rate
Only 13% of franchisees own multiple units. Could indicate challenging economics or a young system where operators haven't had time to expand.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Pet Services averages
How Cooper’s Scoopers Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 4
- Opened
- 4
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 12.5%
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 4
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Projected new
- 20
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 3 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
Available to sell in · Item 12
- Virginia
States where the franchisor is registered to sell new franchises (FDD registration filings).
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Avoid this franchise: Litigation-plagued parent company leadership, system collapse (4 units only), undisclosed financials, going concern status, and aggressive royalty floor create extreme operational and financial risk.
Litigation (Item 3)
Multiple matters involving John T. Hewitt (CEO/Chairman of parent Loyalty): 1 pending investor fraud suit against Hewitt/ATAX/Loyalty; 7 concluded civil matters relating to prior employment at Liberty Tax (settlements totaling $1.37M+); 1 CA regulatory consent order requiring disclosure of DOJ Final Order; 1 DOJ action against Liberty Tax (unrelated entity, Hewitt not a named party).
Largest disclosed settlement: $775,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Kezos & Dunlavy
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: No
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 29 / 100 verdict
- 01HIGHExtreme litigation risk: Multiple fraud allegations, breach of contract, securities violations, and DOJ settlement involving parent company Chairman John Hewitt create substantial reputational and operational risk
- 02MINORSystem collapse indicators: Only 4 units with unknown/likely stagnant growth suggests failed franchise model unable to attract or retain franchisees
- 03HIGHFinancial opacity: No disclosed average revenue or net income data prevents ROI validation; combined with going concern status, suggests financial distress
- 04MINORAggressive hybrid royalty structure: Greater of 12% OR $125/week ($6,500/year minimum) means even struggling locations pay fixed overhead, reducing profitability during slow periods
- 05MINORParent company integrity concerns: Consent order requiring DOJ settlement disclosure indicates serious regulatory violations affecting franchisee brand trust and legal exposure
- 06MEDMinimal franchisee base: 4 units is critically small; no disclosed growth trajectory suggests existing franchisees are not profitable enough to attract new investment
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 14.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Territory type | exclusive |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | Yes |
| Territory population | 125,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 1 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | VA |
| Litigation count | 9 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Multiple matters involving John T. Hewitt (CEO/Chairman of parent Loyalty): 1 pending investor fraud suit against Hewitt/ATAX/Loyalty; 7 concluded civil matters relating to prior employment at Liberty Tax (settlements totaling $1.37M+); 1 CA regulatory consent order requiring disclosure of DOJ Final Order; 1 DOJ action against Liberty Tax (unrelated entity, Hewitt not a named party).
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 14 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 0 hrs
- Training location
- Virginia Beach, VA, or another designated training center, or online
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 1 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee (home-based allowed; office site approval by franchisor if applicable)
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Franchisor-designated CRM scheduling software
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Franchisor-designated CRM scheduling software
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
4 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Cooper’s Scoopers · FDD (2026) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Cooper’s Scoopers franchise?
The total investment to open a Cooper’s Scoopers franchise ranges from $40K – $80K, with an initial franchise fee of $40K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Cooper’s Scoopers franchise owners earn?
Cooper’s Scoopers does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Cooper’s Scoopers FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Cooper’s Scoopers FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Cooper’s Scoopers's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Cooper’s Scoopers (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Cooper’s Scoopers franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Cooper’s Scoopers has 4 total units in the United States, including 4 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 4 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Cooper’s Scoopers a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Cooper’s Scoopers as a D-grade franchise with a verdict score of 29 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.