Pelican’s SnoBalls^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

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What Is Pelican’s SnoBalls?

Pelican’s SnoBalls is a franchise specializing in flavored ice products prepared with proprietary formulae. Franchisees operate Pelican’s SnoBalls stores in buildings that bear the brand’s interior and/or exterior trade dress, offering Proprietary Items (flavored ice) and non-proprietary products such as toppings, beverages, and ice cream, and may also sell Pelican’s SnoBalls branded merchandise.

Pelican’s SnoBalls Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise's biggest strength is a Franchise Stability Score of 92/100, showing excellent retention and that franchisees overwhelmingly stay in the system; the primary risk is five reacquired outlets-unusually high for this size and suggesting operator turnover you should probe during due diligence.

Pros

Franchise Stability Score: 92/100 - an excellent, top-tier retention rate versus industry peers, meaning franchisees overwhelmingly stay in the system.

Item 7 Total Min $81,750 (and low reserves $0–$3,000; initial fee $0–$25,000) - these startup and reserve figures are well below typical Food & Beverage benchmarks, which significantly lowers the cash you need to open and operate.

Num Franchisor Initiated Enforcement: 0 (and zero franchisee-initiated judgments/settlements/cases alleging fraud) - far below typical levels, indicating limited formal legal conflict across the system and less likelihood of enforcement-related disruption.

Cons

Company Owned Units: 0 - the franchisor operates no corporate-run locations, which limits their ability to test new ideas and keep hands-on operational experience.

Reacquired Outlets: 5 - unusually high for this size of system and primarily reflects franchisees exiting the network, signaling operator turnover you should investigate further.

Government Agency Penalties or Orders: 1 - above typical for the sector and indicates the brand has faced at least one regulatory compliance friction you’ll want to probe during due diligence.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

86/100

NORMAL

Pelican’s SnoBalls reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

51/100

Good

Pelican’s SnoBalls grants a site-specific protected territory for an approved PSB Store that is not exclusive and has no minimum size; the franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units, use alternative distribution channels including e-commerce, and restrict relocation and mobile/catering services under defined territorial rules.

Training & Support

40/100

NORMAL

Pelican’s SnoBalls provides a Targeted 47-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two individuals for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance focused on operational readiness, provided without an additional fee, and franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging expenses.

Franchisee Stability

Excellent

Pelican’s SnoBalls earns an Excellent Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 1.46% is well below the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%), placing the system well under what most peers experience across the sector. Out of 8 total exits, ceased operations dominated with 5, alongside 3 terminations, no non-renewals, and no franchisor buybacks.

The dominance of ceased operations suggests location-level economics were at play: operators chose to close underperforming locations rather than exits driven by franchisor enforcement. Prospective buyers should ask about the circumstances around those closures and whether they were concentrated by geography or operator experience. Request examples of closed-store financials, recent unit-level sales trends, and documentation of what remediation or support the franchisor provided to underperforming operators. For prospective franchisees, this is among the strongest retention profiles in franchising.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Pelican’s SnoBalls Franchise?

Opening a Pelican’s SnoBalls franchise requires a total initial investment of $81,750 to $230,800, 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

$81,750

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$230,800

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$25,000

Real Estate$9,500

Equipment & Assets$37,500

Reserves$0

Training$1,000

Other$8,750

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$25,000

Real Estate$98,200

Equipment & Assets$83,000

Reserves$3,000

Training$4,000

Other$17,600

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.

Pelican’s SnoBalls Franchise Earnings: Not Disclosed

Pelican’s SnoBalls did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information, which can make it harder for prospective owners to evaluate expected revenue before investing.

This franchise company did not publish these results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pelican’s SnoBalls a good franchise to own?

Whether Pelican’s SnoBalls is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Pelican’s SnoBalls operates 202 locations, received a legal risk score of 86/100, a training and support score of 40/100. The franchisor does not disclose financial performance data. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Pelican’s SnoBalls franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Pelican’s SnoBalls franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $81,750 to $230,800. 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 Pelican’s SnoBalls franchise?

Break-even timelines for Pelican’s SnoBalls 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 Pelican’s SnoBalls a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Pelican’s SnoBalls operates 202 franchised locations and 0 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Does Pelican’s SnoBalls disclose franchise revenue data?

Pelican’s SnoBalls did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2024 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.

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