From the filings
Dippin' Dots' headquarters names Square as the currently approved point-of-sale cash register, reserves the right to designate an approved point-of-sale software supplier, and requires franchisees to make the periodic point-of-sale software and hardware upgrades it or its designee makes available, with no cap on how often or how much that can cost. The system spans 260 franchised units with no company-owned locations.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ongoing fee load
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
8%of gross sales (FY2025)
15% reference
Franchisor behaviours
28 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 explicit no's; 4 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall record all sales on a computer-based, point-of-sale record keeping and control system that we designate, or on any other equipment specified by us in the Manual or otherwise in writing.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We will have independent electronic and manual access to the P.O.S. System, and no contractual limitations exist to prevent or limit our right to access this information for your Franchised Business.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
No later than March 31st of each year, a profit and loss statement showing the results of operations of the Franchised Business for the preceding fiscal year.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
Our affiliate, ICEE, is the only approved supplier of certain ICEE® and Slush Puppie® products.
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 11
DDF Franchisee Council, Inc. (“Franchisee Council”) is a Kentucky non-profit organization that has been formed to benefit the relationship between us and our franchisees.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
We reserve the right to change the minimum and maximum levels of inventory and Products required in response to changing market conditions.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
For the fiscal year ending on September 28, 2024, DDF did not derive revenue from franchisees’ required purchases or leases.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
We may, however, receive rebates or other payments from approved suppliers, or from other suppliers, including equipment and kiosk suppliers, manufacturers, sales to our franchisees and our owned stores.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
47Item 8
Purchases from DDL, our approved suppliers or in accordance with our standards should represent approximately 47% to 66% of your total purchases of goods and services in connection with establishment and continued operation of your Franchised Business.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall pay a charge not to exceed the actual cost of the evaluation and testing.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you desire to purchase or lease any equipment, supplies, non-ice cream products, advertising materials, construction services or other products or services from an unapproved, alternate supplier, you must obtain our prior written approval.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall assign to us any interest which you may have in and to the telephone number(s) of the Franchised Business and you must immediately cease use of said telephone number(s).
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall permit us and our agents to enter the Premises, and any other location at which you are operating the Franchised Business with our consent, at any time during normal business hours for the purpose of conducting inspections; shall cooperate with our representatives in such inspections by rendering such…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
We may from time to time revise the contents of the Manual, and you expressly agree to comply, at your sole cost and expense, with the Manual as revised.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
While you are responsible for choosing the site, you must request our approval of any site you select.
Marketing
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall conduct, at your expense, such grand opening promotional and advertising activities as we may require, but be a minimum of at least Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to benefit the first Retail Venue operated under the Exhibit “B” attached hereto.
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
If a Regional Fund for the geographic area in which you are located is established during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you must become a member of the Regional Fund.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase all ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and flavored ice products from DDL, which is the only approved supplier of Dippin’ Dots® brand products.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
You may only purchase or lease equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising materials, construction services and other products and services used for the operation of your Franchised Business from approved manufacturers, contractors and other suppliers who demonstrate, to our continuing reasonable satisfaction: (i)…
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase credit and debit card and gift card services from a designated approved supplier.
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
The royalties for each month will be deducted from your bank accounts by ACH debit by the 25th of each month (or first business day thereafter).
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 8
You must purchase credit and debit card and gift card services from a designated approved supplier.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
Your Franchised Business must be directly supervised by an on-site manager who has successfully completed the Basic Management Training Program (“Manager”).
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You will take all steps necessary to ensure that your employees meet all employment criteria, maintain a neat appearance and comply with our required dress code.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
You must purchase credit and debit card and gift card services from a designated approved supplier.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We will have independent electronic and manual access to the P.O.S. System, and no contractual limitations exist to prevent or limit our right to access this information for your Franchised Business.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may provide refresher or additional training programs, seminars or advanced management training for you and your employees at our principal training facility (or any other location we designate provided the other location is closer to your Franchised Business).
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
All members will be required to attend the Annual Meeting each year
Who buys here
The decision-maker a vendor sells to at this scale, and the gaps they’re paid to close, derived from our data by segment and unit count, not a guess.
HQ leadership: CEO/President + VP Ops/Franchise + a first dedicated IT/systems owner.
Dippin' Dots operates 260 franchised quick-service units with no company-owned locations, and franchised outlets are up 5.69% year over year. The FDD makes no financial performance representation. Dippin' Dots is part of J&J Snack Foods.
Dippin' Dots' headquarters, whose parent J&J Snack Foods is led by President and CEO Daniel Fachner, names Square as the currently approved point-of-sale cash register, reserves the right to designate an approved supplier of point-of-sale software, and requires franchisees to make the periodic point-of-sale software and hardware upgrades the company or its designee makes available, with no contractual limit on how often or how much that requirement can cost.
Item 11 sets Dippin' Dots' technology requirements directly: franchisees must buy a point-of-sale system whose currently approved cash register is Square, and must make the periodic software and hardware upgrades the company or its designee makes available, with no contractual limit on frequency or cost; the company reserves the right to designate an approved point-of-sale software supplier. Credit, debit and gift card services must come from a designated approved supplier.
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier list: franchisees must buy all ice cream, yogurt, sherbet, and flavored-ice products, and branded cups, from DDL — the only approved supplier of Dippin' Dots-brand products — and certain ICEE and Slush Puppie products from affiliate ICEE. Purchases from DDL and other approved suppliers run roughly 47% to 66% of total purchases. The initial term runs 5 years, with renewal available on 3 to 6 months' written notice, current payment status, compliance, a remodel, and a renewal fee of $2,000 to $2,500.
The embedded viewer below carries Dippin' Dots' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 and Item 11 language summarized above.
Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like Dippin' Dots where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.
Questions vendors ask
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FDD alert
We’ll email you the moment Dippin'Dots Franchising, L.L.CDippin' Dots Dippin' Dots files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
2 operators run 2 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| KY | 1 |
|---|---|
| WI | 1 |
Ownership
unknown of j j snack foods.
Related Quick service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.