Great Harvest®
What Is Great Harvest?
Great Harvest is a retail bakery cafe franchise focused on whole-wheat baked goods and made-from-scratch sandwiches, salads, soups, granola, breakfast items and other café products. Sales are primarily retail with limited off-premises activity, and revenues are generated mainly from the sale of baked goods and café food items. Bakery cafes typically operate in high-traffic urban and suburban areas and the system includes bread-baking “hub” locations and non-bread-baking “spoke” locations that supply bread to nearby cafes.
Great Harvest Franchise: Pros and Cons
The franchise's low $7,500 entry fee - in the bottom 5% for Food & Beverage - leaves more cash for build-out, but it lacks mandatory ongoing training (about 91% of peers require it), which could leave operators without structured continuing education or standardized updates after opening.
Pros
Cons
Lawsuits & Legal Risk
Great Harvest reported no material legal proceedings,
Territory Protection
Great Harvest grants a site-specific Exclusive Franchise Territory after you sign a lease, typically ~50,000 residents and generally under a 15-mile diameter; the Exclusive Search Territory used for site selection is unprotected. The franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units, use e-commerce and other alternative distribution channels, condition relocations, and offers no right of first refusal.
Training & Support
The brand provides a comprehensive 293-hour training curriculum designed to prepare the two individuals included in the initial franchise fee for launch and early operations. The program includes on-site launch assistance as operational readiness support, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses as well as any additional fees for on-site support.
Franchisee Stability
Great Harvest receives a Normal Stability Score.
Three-year turnover of 6.40% sits above the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%), placing the system modestly higher than many industry peers yet not at the high end of the industry range. Out of 32 total exits across the three reported years, ceased operations dominated with 31, alongside 1 franchisor buyback and no terminations or non-renewals; these outcomes occurred among about 161 franchised outlets in the most recent year, suggesting closures were concentrated at the unit level rather than reflecting system-wide withdrawal. That pattern suggests location-level economics: operators chose to close underperforming units for site- and market-specific reasons such as weak demand, lease or labor pressures, or owner exits, not necessarily due to franchisor-franchisee friction. For prospective franchisees, retention is in line with industry peers.
Unit Growth Analysis
This franchise is on a modest but clear decline: unit counts fell from 169 (2022) to 162 (2023) to 156 (2024), a cumulative loss of 13 units (−7.7%) and a latest YoY of −3.7%. The contraction is moderating - the year-over-year rate eased from about −4.1% (2023) to −3.7% (2024) - which suggests continued attrition or closures that investors should monitor, but not a rapid collapse; remediation or stabilization efforts may be starting to take effect.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Great Harvest Franchise?
Opening a Great Harvest franchise requires a total initial investment of $168,262 to $984,154, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.
Minimum Investment
Maximum Investment
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Maximum Investment Breakdown
Investment Analysis
This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.
The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
How Much Do Great Harvest Franchise Owners Make?
Great Harvest franchise locations reported average gross sales of $907,502 and median gross sales of $861,185 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Great Harvest a good franchise to own?
Whether Great Harvest is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Great Harvest operates 156 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.
Is a Great Harvest franchise worth the investment?
The value of a Great Harvest franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $168,262 to $984,154. Great Harvest disclosed average gross sales of $907,502 in 2024. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.
How long does it take to break even with a Great Harvest franchise?
Break-even timelines for Great Harvest franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.
Is Great Harvest a franchise or a corporate-owned business?
As of the 2024 FDD, Great Harvest operates 155 franchised locations and 1 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.
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