How to Finance a Chocolate Bash Franchise: Dessert Café Costs
By Chris Cornella
A Chocolate Bash franchise loan pays for a dessert café built around Belgian-chocolate crepes, waffles, milkshakes and coffee, served in a social space where friends and families gather to celebrate. Because the brand publishes its fee, royalty and investment range, a buyer can start planning financing earlier than with many younger systems.
This article covers what Chocolate Bash’s own franchise materials say about costs, how its SBA Franchise Directory listing and lease note work, and how buyers finance a new café, an existing one or a market development deal.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Chocolate Bash; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s website and disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice; review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant before signing.
Chocolate Bash Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a European café-style dessert shop with an open dessert kitchen, a chocolate-focused menu, specialty coffee and a retail gifting line.
- Founded: 2015 in Southern California by founder and CEO Rasha Albasha.
- Initial franchise fee: $45,000, according to the franchisor’s website.
- Royalty: 6%.
- Total investment: $212,550 to $395,300, including the franchise fee.
- Training: more than 120 hours of hands-on training.
- Territory: an exclusive territory.
- System size: more than 30 locations in the U.S. and abroad, according to the franchise site.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S6110, with a note about the Rider to Lease Agreement.
What Is Chocolate Bash?
Chocolate Bash began as a single dessert café in Orange County, California, in 2015. Founder Rasha Albasha, who came to the U.S. in 2014, built it to recreate the dessert cafés she knew growing up: places where people share sweets, coffee and conversation. The brand has since grown into locations across the U.S. and in markets including Dubai, Qatar and India.
The menu. The franchise site lists crepes and waffles, pancakes, Bash Bites, Bash N’ Cup, sundaes, milkshakes, specialty coffees and gifts. The company’s story page also links to party bookings, so celebrations are part of the experience.
Recent growth. The company’s news pages describe new franchise signings in Southern California, the Bay Area and Arizona, and a master franchisee for the Dallas, Texas area announced in 2025.
How lenders see the brand. Lenders understand dessert and coffee cafés well. They will focus on foot traffic at the site, the owner’s management plan and whether the budget follows the FDD, because a Chocolate Bash franchise loan for a young system relies on the borrower’s own strength.
Chocolate Bash Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. The franchisor lists a $45,000 initial franchise fee. It is included in the published investment range.
Real estate and build-out. Cafés are typically leased retail spaces, so leasehold improvements, the open dessert kitchen, counters, seating and decor are the major build-out costs. The franchisor says it provides build-out guidance.
Equipment. Expect crepe and waffle equipment, refrigeration, freezers and dessert display cases, blenders and milkshake equipment, espresso and coffee equipment, point-of-sale systems and signage.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, retail gift stock, training, a grand opening campaign the franchisor supports, deposits and funds for the first months round out the budget.
Total investment. Chocolate Bash puts the total investment at $212,550 to $395,300, including the franchise fee. Item 7 of the FDD breaks that range into lines such as:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements and construction
- Kitchen equipment, furniture and fixtures
- Signage, decor and technology
- Opening inventory and supplies
- Training and grand opening marketing
- Deposits, licenses and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Use the FDD’s own line items so your loan request matches the total.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty. The franchisor lists a 6% royalty.
Marketing and other fees. The franchise site does not list a brand fund or technology fee, so check Item 6 of the FDD for any marketing contribution, local advertising requirement, software fees, transfer fee and renewal fee.
How lenders factor these in. The royalty comes off the top of sales before rent, labor, chocolate and dairy costs and debt service. Lenders model every Item 6 fee into monthly projections and look for cash flow that covers loan payments with room to spare, including in slower months.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchise site does not publish a minimum net worth or liquid capital figure, so ask the franchise development team and confirm in the FDD. A lender will want to see that you can make the equity injection, cover any gap between the low and high end of the investment range and still hold reserves.
The approval process. Candidates book a discovery call, review the FDD, discuss a territory and work toward signing the franchise agreement. Starting financing conversations early means you can act when a site is approved.
Ways to Own a Chocolate Bash
A new café. Most buyers will open a new location in an exclusive territory, financed on projections, the lease and the owner’s capital. Our overview of franchise start-up financing explains how we approach new units.
Buying an existing café. Existing cafés come up for sale from time to time. The franchisor must approve the buyer and transfer, and lenders can underwrite actual sales. See our article on buying a franchise resale.
Master or multi-unit development. The company has announced a master franchisee for the Dallas area. Deals that cover a whole market usually involve financing one café at a time on a schedule.
Financing Options for a Chocolate Bash Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. With a directory listing, the SBA 7(a) loan program is a natural fit for the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital of a new café, or for buying an existing one.
SBA 504 loans. The SBA 504 program fits owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets, so it only applies if an owner buys the building.
Conventional term loans. Buyers with strong finances may prefer a conventional business loan, which can carry different structures and covenants.
Equipment financing. Crepe and waffle stations, refrigeration, display cases and espresso machines can be financed separately. Learn more about franchise equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Holidays such as Valentine’s Day and the winter gift season can raise inventory needs for chocolate and retail gifts, while rent and payroll stay steady. A line of credit can bridge those swings. See our working capital and lines of credit options.
Seller financing on resales. When buying an existing café, a seller may carry part of the price. A seller note must be acceptable to the senior lender, is typically subordinate to it, and may be limited under SBA program rules.
SBA Loans for Chocolate Bash Franchisees
SBA lenders generally need a franchise brand on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to its franchisees. A listing clears the franchise relationship for review; it does not approve any borrower. The franchise site itself describes Chocolate Bash as an SBA-recognized, financeable concept.
Chocolate Bash’s listing. The brand is listed as “Chocolate Bash” under code S6110. The directory note says: “When the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Rider to Lease Agreement may not be executed.”
What the note means. Chocolate Bash’s franchise documents include a Rider to Lease Agreement, an addendum to the café’s lease that typically gives the franchisor certain rights in the lease, such as notice of defaults or the option to take it over. In the less common case where the café’s real estate itself secures the SBA loan, for example when the owner buys the building, that rider should not be signed. For the typical leased café, the rider is part of the normal closing package, and your lender and attorney will review it alongside the lease.
Program size and tips. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though rules can change. Bring the FDD and franchise agreement, a lease or letter of intent with the rider, contractor bids, equipment quotes, a personal financial statement, tax returns and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early estimates for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a Chocolate Bash Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, plus a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders confirm the source of your equity injection and look for reserves after closing.
Industry and management experience. Food service, coffee, retail or hospitality management experience strengthens a request, as does completing the franchisor’s training.
Business plan and projections. Build assumptions around your site’s foot traffic, evening and weekend demand, holiday gift sales and any party bookings, and include the 6% royalty and every other Item 6 fee.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal, transfer provisions and territory rights. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains what matters most.
Site and lease. The lease term should generally match or exceed the loan term, and the Rider to Lease Agreement will be reviewed with it.
Historical financials for resales. For an existing café, expect several years of profit and loss statements matched against tax returns.
The Dessert Kitchen and Café Experience
Chocolate Bash’s open dessert kitchen is part of the show: guests watch crepes and waffles being made. That means the kitchen must look good as well as work, so finishes, display cases and lighting carry more weight in the budget than in a back-of-house kitchen. The seating area matters too, because the concept is built for people who stay to share desserts and celebrate. Lenders will look at whether the layout supports both quick takeout and groups.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
The Dallas master franchise shows the brand will grant rights to a whole market. Under a development schedule, owners typically open cafés in sequence, and lenders usually want the first café operating before funding the next. Plan equity for each unit and keep consolidated financial statements. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how lenders handle growth.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner opening a mall-adjacent café. A former retail manager signs for a single territory and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for the build-out, equipment and working capital, with the Rider to Lease Agreement included at closing.
A family buying an existing café. A couple with restaurant experience buys an established café. The lender underwrites its sales history, the franchisor approves the transfer and the seller carries a small subordinate note.
A developer planning several cafés. An experienced operator signs for a metro market, finances the first café with an SBA 7(a) loan and plans the next once the first shows a year of results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting from the low end of the $212,550 to $395,300 range without a site-specific estimate
- Overlooking Item 6 fees the franchise site does not list
- Skipping a lease review that includes the Rider to Lease Agreement
- Underestimating inventory needs before holidays
- Spending reserves on build-out overruns
Read more about loan mistakes owners of family venues make.
Next Steps to Finance Your Chocolate Bash Franchise
Step 1: Book a discovery call. Learn about territories and ask for current net worth and liquidity expectations.
Step 2: Review the FDD. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist. See how a Chocolate Bash franchise loan would be sized under SBA 7(a) or conventional terms.
Step 4: Secure a site. Get site approval and negotiate a lease that works with the Rider to Lease Agreement.
Step 5: Build the budget. Collect contractor bids and equipment quotes and build monthly projections.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your loan package, coordinate closing with construction and keep working capital in reserve.
Chocolate Bash Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Chocolate Bash franchise cost?
The franchisor puts the total investment at $212,550 to $395,300, including the franchise fee.
What is the Chocolate Bash franchise fee?
The franchise site lists a $45,000 initial franchise fee.
What royalty does Chocolate Bash charge?
The franchisor lists a 6% royalty. Check Item 6 of the FDD for marketing and other ongoing fees.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The franchise site does not publish a figure. Ask the franchise team and plan for the equity injection plus reserves.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Chocolate Bash?
Yes, subject to approval. Chocolate Bash is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S6110.
What is the Rider to Lease Agreement?
A lease addendum in the franchise documents. The SBA directory note says it may not be executed when the café’s real estate secures the SBA loan.
Can I finance the equipment separately?
Often, yes. Crepe and waffle stations, refrigeration, display cases and espresso machines can be financed or leased on their own.
Can a first-time owner get a Chocolate Bash franchise loan?
Yes, if the franchisor approves the candidate and the borrower meets lender requirements. The franchisor provides more than 120 hours of training.
Can I buy an existing Chocolate Bash café?
Yes, when one is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. Lenders underwrite the café’s actual results.
Does Chocolate Bash offer financing?
The franchise site does not describe direct financing. Check Item 10 of the FDD.
How long is the franchise term?
The franchise site does not state it. Item 17 of the FDD covers term, renewal and transfer.
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Bash publishes clear headline figures, an SBA directory listing and a social café format built for celebrations. A well-planned Chocolate Bash franchise loan pairs those figures with a site-specific budget, a careful lease review and enough working capital for the holiday rush.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Explore our franchise financing solutions and family entertainment business financing.
