Eiffel Waffle Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Eiffel Waffle is a dessert franchise serving Hong Kong-style bubble waffle cones, ice cream, shakes, and treats. Franchisees run the shops, managing dessert prep, inventory, and counter service.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Eiffel Waffle franchise requires a total initial investment of $209K – $338K, including a $40K franchise fee and an ongoing 6.0% royalty[2]. The 2026 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: C (Average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2026 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $209K – $338K
- 27th pct Service Resta…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- 46th pct Service Resta…
- Units
- 10
- 37th pct Service Resta…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Quick-Service Restaurants · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Quick-Service Restaurants 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 $209K – $338K including a $40K franchise fee, 6.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSFranchisor Eiffel Waffle Enterprise, LLC (Illinois LLC). Audited statements as of Dec 31, 2025 (comparative with 2024), in whole USD. 2025 operating revenues 88,804 = franchise fee 48,852 + royalty income 31,981 + other franchise income 7,971; other_revenue reflects the 7,971 other-franchise-income line. Negative members' equity both years (deficit 164,196 in 2025, 65,129 in 2024); state cover-page risk factor states the franchisor's financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services. Two audit sets appear in Exhibit D (a 2025+2024 comparative report and a prior-year 2024-only report for the same entity); figures taken from the 2025 comparative report. Auditor firm name not present in extracted text (report signed Troy, MI, Feb 13, 2026).
- RISKVerdict C (Average), verdict score 45/100 (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
- Eiffel Waffle Enterprise LLC
- Parent company
- None
- Predecessor
- company
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Co-Founder
- Omar Falaneh
- Incorporated in
- Illinois
- HQ
- 9990 South Ridgeland Avenue, Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415
- Auditor
- DA Advisory Group PLLC
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $24K
- vs $89K prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Omar Falaneh
- Headquarters
- Illinois
- Founded
- 2023
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 3
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 58% below the typical quick-service restaurants franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown29 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40K | $40K | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $25K | $75K | |
| Lease/Security Deposit | $3K | $7K | |
| Utility Deposit | $0 | $750 | |
| Architect/Engineer Fee | $3K | $5K | |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $10K | $25K | |
| Equipment | $75K | $90K | |
| Computer Equipment | $3K | $4K | |
| Software - 3 months | $573 | $573 | |
| Internal System Fee - 3 months | $750 | $750 | |
| Misc. Equipment & Supplies | $3K | $4K | |
| Accounting Service - 3 months | $500 | $2K | |
| Signage | $3K | $10K | |
| Initial Inventory of Products to Produce Ice Cream | $5K | $5K | |
| Initial Inventory - Other | $11K | $15K | |
| Office Equipment & Supplies | $100 | $150 | |
| Initial Supply of Promotional Materials (Menus) | $500 | $750 | |
| Uniforms | $2K | $2K | |
| Telephone (3 months) | $300 | $420 | |
| Internet Fees (3 months) | $300 | $450 | |
| Total initial investment | $209K | $338K |
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
- $209K – $338K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $10K – $25K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $40K – $40K
- Middle of category vs category
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 3.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 9.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 6.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 3.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $250 |
| Transfer fee | $32K |
| Renewal fee | $4K |
| Inventory (initial) | $16K – $21K |
| Total fee load | 9.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Eiffel Waffle 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 Eiffel Waffle unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
34%
Within the 30–60% "attractive franchise" band
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
Franchisor Eiffel Waffle Enterprise, LLC (Illinois LLC). Audited statements as of Dec 31, 2025 (comparative with 2024), in whole USD. 2025 operating revenues 88,804 = franchise fee 48,852 + royalty income 31,981 + other franchise income 7,971; other_revenue reflects the 7,971 other-franchise-income line. Negative members' equity both years (deficit 164,196 in 2025, 65,129 in 2024); state cover-page risk factor states the franchisor's financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services. Two audit sets appear in Exhibit D (a 2025+2024 comparative report and a prior-year 2024-only report for the same entity); figures taken from the 2025 comparative report. Auditor firm name not present in extracted text (report signed Troy, MI, Feb 13, 2026).
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 9.0% (near the Quick-Service Restaurants average).
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
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 Quick-Service Restaurants averages
How Eiffel Waffle Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 10
- 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
- 6
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 40%
- vs corporate-owned
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
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 3 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
3
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
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
Eiffel Waffle presents HIGH RISK due to going concern status, micro-scale unit count, complete absence of financial performance data, and structural royalty burden that may exceed typical QSR margins.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation required to be disclosed.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · DA Advisory Group PLLC
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 45 / 100 verdict
- 01HIGHGoing concern status is FALSE — indicates potential financial instability or undisclosed operational issues at corporate level
- 02MEDOnly 6 total units system-wide suggests extremely limited scale, unproven model replicability, and minimal support infrastructure
- 03MINORNo average revenue or net income disclosure in FDD Item 19 — impossible to assess ROI or validate $208k-$338k investment justification
- 04MEDFranchise fee ($40k) represents 19-24% of total investment with no disclosed unit economics to justify cost
- 05MINORSemi-monthly royalty structure on gross revenue (not net) creates cash flow pressure regardless of profitability
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 9.0% 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 | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory radius | 2 mi |
| Territory population | 30,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Granted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 20 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 30 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 5 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 32 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Illinois |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | Illinois |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 8 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 32 hrs
- Training location
- Chicago Ridge, Illinois (affiliate-owned outlet or another location)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Field support
- 4 hrs/yr
- On-site visits per year
- Time to open
- 7 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- franchisee
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Clover
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Clover
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
1 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Eiffel Waffle · FDD (2026) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Eiffel Waffle franchise?
The total investment to open a Eiffel Waffle franchise ranges from $209K – $338K, 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 Eiffel Waffle franchise owners earn?
Eiffel Waffle 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 Eiffel Waffle 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 Eiffel Waffle FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Eiffel Waffle's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Eiffel Waffle (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 Eiffel Waffle franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Eiffel Waffle has 10 total units in the United States, including 4 franchised units and 6 company-owned units. 4 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Eiffel Waffle a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Eiffel Waffle as a C-grade franchise with a verdict score of 45 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
Are you the franchisor?
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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.