Start a Pelican's SnoBalls Franchise in 2024

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $82K - $231K

Units as of 2024: 202 7.4% over 3 years

Keep it cool in your community and start up a Pelican's SnoBalls franchise!

Pelican's SnoBalls was founded by 13-year-old Ansley Johnson in 2001, who ran the outlet with the help of her family. Demand for this dessert grew, and Ansley's father, Adrian, started offering franchise opportunities to those who wanted to be a part of their brand in 2011.

The Johnson family eventually sold Pelican's SnoBalls to Randall Wright and Gregg Fatool. They still strive to carry on the tradition Ansley started by providing one of the world's best Pelican's SnoBalls creations along with quality customer service. There are more than 180 Pelican’s SnoBalls locations across more than ten states, and there are many opportunities for growth and expansion.

Why You May Want to Start a Pelican's SnoBalls Franchise

You do not necessarily need to have prior business ownership experience to join the Pelican's SnoBalls family. However, a desire to serve the community refreshing treats should be at the forefront of a potential franchisee's mind.

The Pelican's SnoBalls brand is growing, and it is recognized by those who love it and would like to experience the original New Orleans shaved ice. There are over 10 Pelican's SnoBalls flavors that you can sell to your customers, making it full of variety and fun flavors.

Pelican's SnoBalls is considered a franchise family, and you may enjoy the connected community and network with the franchisees. As a potential franchisee, you will have marketing support and receive branding elements for your store.

What Might Make a Pelican's SnoBalls Franchise a Good Choice?

Pelican's SnoBalls’ business model is scalable and is designed to give franchisees a chance to grow. You may be able to expand your reach by franchising multiple units and offering mobile events. Large gatherings, school and church events, festivals, and celebrations may provide franchisees the opportunity to grow within the community.

To be part of the Pelican's SnoBalls team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees, including royalty fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set liquid capital requirements.

How To Open a Pelican's SnoBalls Franchise

You can express your interest in becoming a Pelican’s SnoBalls franchisee by submitting an interest form, after which Pelican's SnoBalls may schedule an introductory call. You may then do your due diligence and research the brand. As part of your due diligence, speak to existing franchisees and ask the Pelican's SnoBalls team questions.

The Pelican's SnoBalls team may also help you create the layout of your store. However, the length of this duration is influenced by various factors, including locating and securing a site, the construction period, and the time taken to get the supplies, equipment, permits, and licenses. The grand opening of your outlet marks the start of you bringing refreshment and joy to your community.

Knock yourself out with one of the more well-known shaved ice franchises and get started with Pelican's SnoBalls location!

Company Overview

About Pelican's SnoBalls

Industry	Food
Related Categories	Ices, Food: Quick Service, Frozen Desserts, Desserts
Founded	2001
Leadership	Randall Wright, Co-CEO
Corporate Address	801 E. 2nd Ave. Gastonia, NC 28054
Social	Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2011 (13 years)
# of employees at HQ	16
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	202 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Pelican's SnoBalls franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$25,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$81,750 - $230,800
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$20,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	10% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	8%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	15 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Pelican's SnoBalls has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	40 hours
Classroom Training	7 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates Social Media SEO Website Development Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	Yes
# of employees required to run	5-10
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes