Le Macaron French Pastries Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Le Macaron French Pastries is a dessert franchise selling French macarons, pastries, gelato, and coffee. Franchisees run boutique shops or kiosks, managing product sourcing, merchandising, and counter service.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES franchise requires a total initial investment of $164K – $452K, including a $45K franchise fee and an ongoing 6.0% royalty[2]. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). SBA 7(a) loans show a 11.8% charge-off rate across 17 loans[1]. FranchiseVerdict grade: F (Weakest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $164K – $452K
- 16th pct Service Resta…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Outlet subset
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- 46th pct Service Resta…
- Units
- 59
- 68th pct Service Resta…
- SBA charge-off
- 11.8%
- % of SBA 7(a) loans not repaid · median varies by category
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 $164K – $452K including a $45K franchise fee, 6.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSThe figure shown was the BOTTOM QUINTILE — seven of the 31 franchised traditional shops and permanent kiosks in the table (printed p.44). The five printed quintile averages run $591,752 / $387,239 / $336,324 / $247,449 / $181,123. No all-shop average is printed.
- RISKVerdict F (Weakest tier), verdict score 20/100 (higher is better). SBA loan charge-off rate of 11.8% across 17 loans (above the 16% franchise average, based on all SBA 7(a) franchise lending, 2010–2025).
- FLAGAuditor disclosed a going-concern note, which flagged doubt about the franchisor's ability to continue operations. Verify against the latest FDD.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Le Macaron Development LLC
- Parent company
- MAXYMAC, LLC
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Rosalie Guillem
- Incorporated in
- FL
- HQ
- 2300 Bee Ridge Road, #401, Sarasota, Florida 34239
- Auditor
- A&G LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $1.4M
- vs $1.3M prior year
- ⚠ Going-concern note
- Disclosed in FDD 2025
- Auditor flagged doubt about continued operations. Verify against the latest FDD before deciding.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Rosalie Guillem
- Headquarters
- FL
- Founded
- 2010
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 21
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 53% below the typical quick-service restaurants franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $45K | $45K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $10K | $25K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $109K | $382K |
| Total initial investment | $164K | $452K |
Source: LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $164K – $452K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $10K – $25K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $45K – $45K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 1.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 7.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 6.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 1.0% of gross sales |
| Transfer fee | $23K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Inventory (initial) | $20K – $25K |
| Total fee load | 7.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES 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 LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
35%
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: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
The figure shown was the BOTTOM QUINTILE — seven of the 31 franchised traditional shops and permanent kiosks in the table (printed p.44). The five printed quintile averages run $591,752 / $387,239 / $336,324 / $247,449 / $181,123. No all-shop average is printed.
Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system
- Item 19 type
- quintile
- Sample size
- 31
- vs category median 20
- Range (low → high)
- $151K→$753K
- Cohort dispersion (min → max)
- Quartile band
- $181K→$592K
- Bottom 25% → top 25%
- Source filing
- FDD 2025
- The FDD edition these figures were read from
- Transparency
- 0 / 10
- vs category median 4 / 10 · below
Compared against 782 Quick-Service Restaurants brands
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 7.0% (near the Quick-Service Restaurants average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports quintile rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
System contracting at -3.5% CAGR over 3 years. Investigate whether closures are franchisor-driven consolidation or franchisee exits.
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 Le Macaron French Pastries Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 59
- Opened
- 6
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 9
- Turnover rate
- 52.7%
- Company-owned
- 4
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 93%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- -3.5%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- -3.5%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 28
- Closed (3yr)
- 27
- Terminated (3yr)
- 1
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 1
- Transfers (3yr)
- 3
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 9 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.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
- Total loans
- 17
- Loan volume
- $4.3M
- Median loan
- $280K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- 11.8%
- rates vary by category · see methodology
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- 88.2%
- 5-yr charge-off
- 50.0%
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 11
- Defaults
- 2
- Typical loan rate
- 7.9%
- avg rate to borrowers
- Franchised industry avg
- 10.6%
- brand above franchise avg ↑
- Jobs supported
- 118
- 2.8 per loan
- Lender concentration
- 35%
- top lender's share
Borrower mix: 94% went to startups / new businesses, 6% to established operators
Franchise vs independent — in snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, franchised businesses charge off at 10.6% vs 8.9% for independents — franchising is associated with 19% higher SBA default risk in this category.
Top lenders financing Le Macaron French Pastries franchisees
Showing 3 of 11 lenders. The full breakdown — every lender, state distribution, interest rates & risk ratings — is in the SBA Lending Report below.
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Premium insight
SBA Lending Report
Deep-dive into Le Macaron French Pastries's SBA lending history: lender network, geographic footprint, interest rates, and more.
SBA Lending Report
- Principal loss rate and NAICS industry benchmark
- 10 lenders with concentration factor
- Per-state charge-off rates across 13 states
- Startup risk premium and job creation velocity
- 7-year lending trend
Instant access. No subscription.
What could kill this investment?
The auditor flagged going-concern doubt (Item 21) — the single biggest risk here.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Litigation (Item 3)
Le Macaron Development LLC and Le Macaron Confectionary LLC v. Le Macaron LLC et al. (Case No. 2017-CA-02339-NC): breach of contract, trademark infringement, and related claims over unpaid franchise fees/loans; awards entered for LMD and LMC; defendants' counterclaims dismissed; defendants appealing as of 2025 FDD
Largest disclosed settlement: $316,686
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · A&G LLP⚠ Going-concern note flagged
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: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 20 / 100 verdict
- 01MEDSystem contracting sharply: -5.2% unit decline YoY with only 60 units remaining suggests market saturation or operational challenges
- 02MINORNo financial disclosure: Absence of Item 19 (Average Unit Volume) prevents validation of 6% royalty burden against actual profitability
- 03HIGHActive litigation with appeal/remand: Franchisor sued franchisee for breach; case still unresolved indicates potential contract enforcement issues and ongoing legal risk
- 04HIGHGoing concern: False flag indicates potential financial instability of franchisor, threatening support infrastructure and system viability
- 05MED10-year term with 6% royalty on undisclosed sales creates long-term commitment to unproven economics
- 06MINORCompetitive pastry market: French pastry concepts face intense competition from established bakeries, chains, and local operators
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 7.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · 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 | 3 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 10 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Sarasota, Florida |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | FL |
| Litigation count | 1 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Le Macaron Development LLC and Le Macaron Confectionary LLC v. Le Macaron LLC et al. (Case No. 2017-CA-02339-NC): breach of contract, trademark infringement, and related claims over unpaid franchise fees/loans; awards entered for LMD and LMC; defendants' counterclaims dismissed; defendants appealing as of 2025 FDD
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 17 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 23 hrs
- Training location
- Orlando, Florida (Pastry Shop); Sarasota, Florida (affiliate shop)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Site selection
- franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
69 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES franchise?
The total investment to open a LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES franchise ranges from $164K – $452K, with an initial franchise fee of $45K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES franchise owners earn?
LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES 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 LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES 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 LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES's franchise failure rate?
Based on SBA 7(a) loan data, LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES has a charge-off rate of 11.8% across 17 loans, meaning 11.8% of franchise loans were charged off. Charge-off rates are one proxy for franchise risk, though they do not capture all closures. This data comes from FOIA-sourced SBA lending records.
How many LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES has 59 total units in the United States, including 55 franchised units and 4 company-owned units. 6 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES as a F-grade franchise with a verdict score of 20 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?
If you represent LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
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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.