Do you want to start a popcorn business by buying a franchise? If YES, here are 9 best gourmet popcorn franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Popcorn is one snack that people use to pass the time or even to slake that niggling hunger, but when you throw in gourmet into the mix, popcorn now turns out to be a snack that brings joy to the taste buds. This is why businesses that offer gourmet popcorn keep springing up by the week.
It has been reported by the Popcorn Board that Americans eat around 16 billion quarts of popcorn a year, and artisanal, handmade varieties are garnering an increasing chunk of what was nearly a $1 billion market at the beginning of the decade.
The gourmet popcorn industry has grown so much from the kiosk businesses they used to be, and today, a lot of the successful businesses sell their franchise. If you are a popcorn lover, and you do not mind starting a business in that direction, even a franchise, we are providing you various gourmet popcorn franchises that can pop you to success in a short time.
9 Best Gourmet Popcorn Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost
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Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn
Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Company has taken the nostalgia of hot, fresh movie-theatre popcorn and the old-fashioned idea of providing great customer service and given it a modern twist. The result? A fun and appealing gourmet popcorn franchise opportunity.
As a hometown company with a solid history, great brand recognition, and high regard in their community, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn have always used the highest quality corn and popped it daily in small batches so it’s as fresh as possible for every customer. They can show you how it’s done. You only need to contact them.
Finance Information
- Investments: $160,500 – $442,500
- Franchise fee: $28,000
- Royalty fee: 6%
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On & Poppin’
On & Poppin’ is an online store that sells and delivers gourmet popcorn. The business is quite handy for first time internet start-ups. It is tailor-made for stay-at-home Moms, young college students, and retirees looking to supplement their fixed income. Their Online Franchise Opportunity offers a complete turnkey program from start to finish.
On & Poppin’ has a dedicated support staff that will assist with creating and launching your e-commerce storefront, Twitter and Facebook account creation and integration with optional full or part-time management of both social media platforms, assisting with logo design, branding, and even quarterly email reports that keep you informed on which varieties are most in demand based on seasonal and holiday events.
If you are eager and self-motivated, the On & Poppin’ franchise/licensee program is a perfect way to reach freedom and independence. If you think this is the right opportunity for you, then contact them for more information or with questions.
franchise/licensee fee – Option 1:
- Licensee Fee – $22,500 you build out a retail outlet and purchase all the popcorn from their corporate store at wholesale prices till you decide you want to move up and purchase.
Option 2:
- Licensee Fee – $45,000 you build out a retail outlet with a licensed kitchen and make your own popcorn on site.
- royalty fee – 5% of total sales or they can negotiate a buy-out price to be paid upfront.
- Total cost – $25,000 – $150,000 depending on what type of investment you want to make on equipment and retail build out of your store.
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Original Popcorn House
The Original Popcorn House is a franchise of gourmet popcorn stores owned and operated by families who love delicious popcorn. Their gourmet popcorn is handcrafted in their stores each day. The Original Popcorn House prides themselves in using only the finest and freshest ingredients available in the popcorn industry.
Some of these ingredients include popping their colossal sized mushroom-style corn in 100% pure coconut oil, covering our flavored popcorn in gourmet Belgian white, dark, or milk chocolate, preparing it with the highest grade of white and cheddar cheese, and hand-sifting each and every batch. It is truly a remarkable difference that you can taste. But don’t take our word for it.
Finance Information
- Capital Required – $149,500 – $253,500
- Liquid Capital – $30,000
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Tastebuds Popcorn
Tastebuds Popcorn was established in 2011 by owner Jay Pithwa in the historic town of Belmont, NC. Born and raised in London, England, Jay moved to the Carolinas in 2007. Being a huge movie buff, Jay loved the excitement and variety of the big screen. However, he quickly grew tired of the limited popcorn selection. This inspired him to reinvent the world’s most popular snack.
Like Willy Wonka, Jay then spent several years to research and develop the perfect recipes. Still in Belmont, Tastebuds Popcorn now creates over 200+ flavors and has grown from a humble 200 square-foot kitchen to a Top Secret Popcorn Facility that’s over 4000 square feet.
Having been honored to appear on multiple TV stations, including the Charlotte Today Show and Good Day Charlotte as well as many print publications like the Food Network Magazine has only helped propel our popularity. The company has gotten awards like Retailer of the Year, Best of Weddings from the Knot Magazine and the Epic Award. If you want to buy this gourmet popcorn franchise, you have to contact the company for their franchise costs.
Finance Information
- Investment – $60,000
- Royalty – 2%
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Doc Popcorn
Doc Popcorn is a retail franchise selling fresh-popped popcorn in a verity of flavors. Inspired by their experience with “mom and pop” kettle corn makers at a Boulder Farmers’ Market, co-founders Rob and Renee Israel saw an opportunity to professionalize the way this tasty treat is created and sold.
After owning and operating 11 units of their own in Colorado, Rob & Renee started franchising in 2009 so they could share their vision of creating smiles all over the world with their great tasting, freshly-popped snack.
Using 100 percent corn oil, proprietary flavor blends and other high-quality ingredients, Doc Popcorn handcrafts a wide variety of fresh-popped specialty flavors of popcorn. Doc Popcorn’s delicious flavors are gluten-free, whole grain, wheat-free and nut-free.
Doc Popcorn started franchising in 2009 and has since been recognized as one of the hottest snack franchises in the country. In 2015 and 2016, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Doc Popcorn among the “Top Food Franchises,” “Top Mobile Franchises,” “Top Franchises Under $50,000,” and placed the company on the upper half of its “Franchise 500,” a highly-regarded list in the franchise industry.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $45,836 – $352,716
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $80,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $7,500 – $15,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
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Ohana Bros
Inspired by the world travels of the Ohana Bros Surfer Dudes, they create awesome variations of popcorn, potato chips, french fries and Hawaiian shave ice. Their products are made fresh daily using natural ingredients that are sourced with care, prepared with love, and delivered with good energy.
Whether you’re buying online or visiting them in their shop, you feel the Aloha vibe. Their products are made fresh daily, hourly and sometimes every minute. They are made with love and ingredients that were chosen with a purpose, to provide amazing flavors without unwanted artificial flavors, colors, and fillers.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment – $192,670 – $368,070
- Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement – $150,000
- Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000 – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee – 7%
- Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
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Planet Popolicious
Planet Popolicious is a national popcorn confections and smoothie franchise with headquarters in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Planet Pop is expanding fast with kiosks in malls across the country. Planet Popolicious also offers Popcorn Confections, Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Gift Baskets, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Fruit Explosion Baskets, etc.
Financial Requirements
- Liquid Capital Required: $12,000
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Popped
Popped, based in Las Vegas, is the only gourmet popcorn store to combine addicting flavors with creative customizable packaging. Their products are available in their retail stores, online, wholesale resellers and corporate accounts. You would have to contact the company if you are interested in this franchise.
9. Clusters
Owners Linda and Jules Sghiatti thought New Hope was a great place to open a caramel corn store. As Bucks County natives, they have lived in New Hope for over 15 years, raising three children, and working in their own residential building business. After attending the Friday Night Fireworks on the Delaware River in New Hope one evening in 2010, they discussed that New Hope didn’t have any quick snack stops other than ice cream.
They thought about how much they love the caramel corn from the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore and that’s how the idea came about. After a bit of research and planning, Jules got to work designing and building the shop. Linda and the kids went to work creating popcorn recipes. A year later, they opened April, 2011.
Clusters provides franchisees franchise development opportunities, training and operational, marketing, accounting, audit, and legal support, referral program, tried and tested business model and a strong differentiation from other popcorn businesses