How to Finance a Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise: Waffles, Crepes, SBA
By Marc Cornella
A Ked’s Ice Cream franchise loan funds a dessert shop that serves scooped ice cream alongside made-to-order waffles, crepes and drinks. The full brand name is Ked’s Ice Cream, Waffles & Crepes, and it is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, so qualified buyers can pursue SBA-guaranteed loans as well as conventional and equipment financing.
This article covers the concept, the costs to confirm in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), what the SBA directory note means if you own your building, and how lenders look at a seasonal dessert franchise in a young, regional system.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Ked’s Ice Cream, Waffles & Crepes; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, so review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchisor: Ked’s Franchise, Inc., based in Plano, Texas.
- Concept: artisan ice cream in a wide range of flavors, plus waffles, bubble waffles, crepes, boba tea and coffee.
- Footprint: shops across North Texas, expanding into the Austin and San Antonio areas.
- Franchise fee, royalty and marketing fees: confirm in Items 5 and 6 of the current FDD; we could not verify them on franchisor materials.
- Total investment and owner requirements: confirm in Item 7 and with the franchisor.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Ked’s Ice Cream, Waffles & Crepes under code S8105, with a note about the rider to lease when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Ked’s Ice Cream?
Ked’s began as a family-run ice cream shop in Plano, Texas, and grew into a dessert brand that combines artisan ice cream with made-to-order treats. Over time the menu expanded beyond scoops to crepes, classic and bubble waffles, boba teas and coffee, giving guests reasons to visit for a sit-down dessert, a drink or a quick treat.
Why the broader menu matters. An ice cream-only shop leans heavily on warm-weather evenings and weekends. Adding warm waffles, crepes and hot drinks can help smooth traffic through cooler months and lift the average ticket, which is important to any lender reviewing a dessert concept.
Store format. Expect a retail storefront with an ice cream dipping cabinet, a waffle and crepe station, a drink bar and seating; confirm the brand’s site and size criteria with the franchisor. Delivery and online ordering add sales from guests who do not visit in person.
How lenders see the brand. Ked’s is a young, regional franchise system. Lenders like a simple, high-margin product line with broad appeal, but they will focus on seasonality, labor during peak hours and the owner’s own experience and capital. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains what changes with a newer system.
Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise Costs
We could not access the current FDD, so the categories below are what to confirm rather than amounts. Request the latest disclosure document before you apply for a loan.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 discloses the fee, when it is due and whether additional shops carry a different fee.
Lease and build-out. A dessert shop needs plumbing for dipping wells and handwashing, electrical capacity for freezers and waffle irons, ventilation, a service counter, seating and brand finishes. Our article on restaurant build-out financing explains how these costs are funded.
Equipment. Dipping cabinets, hardening and storage freezers, refrigeration, waffle and bubble waffle irons, crepe griddles, blenders, tea and espresso equipment, a dishwasher and point-of-sale systems.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, training, grand opening marketing, deposits, insurance and funds to carry the shop through its first months and its first slow season.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD totals the estimated initial investment. Expect line items such as:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements and construction
- Freezers, dipping cabinets and refrigeration
- Waffle, crepe, tea and coffee equipment
- Furniture, fixtures and signage
- Technology and point-of-sale systems
- Opening inventory and supplies
- Training expenses and grand opening marketing
- Rent and utility deposits, insurance and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty and marketing. Item 6 lists the royalty, any brand fund contribution, technology fees, local advertising requirements, and transfer and renewal fees.
Product sourcing. Ask how ice cream is supplied to franchised shops and whether any products must be bought from the franchisor or approved suppliers, since that affects food cost.
Why this matters to the loan. Lenders project cash flow after royalties, rent, payroll, food costs and utilities for freezers, then test whether the shop can cover loan payments in its slowest months as well as its busiest. Monthly projections, not just annual totals, make that case.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not verify published net worth or liquid capital minimums. Ask the franchisor for its current requirements, whether it expects owner-operators, and whether it is awarding franchises in your market.
Approval process. Expect an inquiry, discovery calls, financial review, receipt of the FDD with the required waiting period before signing, site approval and training before opening.
Ways to Own a Ked’s Ice Cream Shop
A new shop. Most buyers open a new location in an approved territory. Read about franchise start-up financing.
Buying an existing shop. A resale offers sales history, trained staff and a finished space, subject to franchisor approval. See our franchise restaurant acquisition financing.
Multiple shops. Owners may add shops in a region where the franchisor offers additional territory. Each new shop usually needs its own financing as it opens.
Financing Options for a Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, a Ked’s Ice Cream franchise loan often starts with the SBA 7(a) program, which can cover the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital in one loan.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy the building, an SBA 504 loan can finance the real estate. Most dessert shops lease, so this fits owners who purchase property.
Conventional loans. Experienced restaurant operators may prefer a conventional business loan, especially for later shops.
Equipment financing. Freezers, dipping cabinets, waffle irons and espresso machines can be financed separately. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital. Dessert sales peak in warm months and on weekends. A line of credit helps cover payroll, rent and inventory in slower periods. Learn about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and loan programs may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Ked’s Ice Cream Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. A listing clears the franchise relationship for review but does not approve any borrower.
The listing. Ked’s Ice Cream, Waffles & Crepes appears under code S8105 with this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the rider to lease may not be executed.
What the note means. Many franchisors require a lease rider that gives them certain rights in a franchisee’s lease, such as notice of defaults or the right to step in and take over the space. That works when you rent. If you own the property and pledge it as collateral for the SBA loan, there is no third-party lease to amend, so the rider should not be signed. Tell your lender early whether you will lease or own.
Program limits. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. Our SBA loan calculator can help with planning estimates, which are not an offer or approval.
How Lenders Evaluate a Ked’s Ice Cream Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and require personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want an equity injection and reserves left after opening, especially for a seasonal business.
Food service experience. Restaurant, retail or management experience strengthens a request, since evening and weekend rushes require tight staffing.
Business plan and projections. Projections should show monthly sales by season, average ticket, mix of ice cream versus waffles, crepes and drinks, food costs, labor schedules and all franchise fees.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal, transfer conditions, Item 10 for any franchisor financing and whether Item 19 includes financial performance representations.
Site and lease. Lenders review the lease term, rent, foot traffic, nearby families and evening activity. For resales, expect to provide several years of financial statements.
Freezers, Griddles and Drink Equipment
Ice cream shops depend on cold-chain equipment that runs around the clock. A failed freezer can mean lost inventory and a closed shop, so budget for service contracts, temperature monitoring and a repair reserve. Waffle irons and crepe griddles add electrical load and need regular cleaning and replacement plates. Tea and espresso equipment needs water filtration and maintenance. When you finance equipment separately, match the term to its useful life so payments end before replacement is due.
Multi-Unit Growth
Lenders usually fund each new shop as it opens and want to see the first one perform through a full year, including a slow season, before financing the next. Development schedules should leave time for site selection, build-out and hiring. Read more about multi-unit franchise financing.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner opening one shop. A former retail manager opens a shop with an SBA 7(a) loan that covers build-out, equipment and working capital for the first winter.
A multi-shop operator. An owner with one successful shop adds two more in nearby suburbs, financing each with a conventional loan backed by existing cash flow.
An owner buying the building. A franchisee buys a small retail building with an SBA 504 loan, so the rider to lease is not signed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Building projections on summer sales alone
- Underestimating electrical and plumbing work in the build-out
- Skipping service contracts on freezers
- Understaffing evening and weekend rushes
- Opening with too little working capital for the slow season
Read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most for more.
Next Steps to Finance Your Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Confirm fees, investment, requirements and territory availability.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Choose your site. Decide whether you will lease or own.
Step 4: Build projections. Model sales by month, menu mix, labor, rent and fees.
Step 5: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA, conventional and equipment financing.
Step 6: Apply and coordinate. Align loan approval with franchisor approval, lease signing and construction.
Ked’s Ice Cream Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Ked’s Ice Cream franchise cost?
Item 7 of the current FDD gives the estimated initial investment. We could not verify it, so request the latest document from the franchisor.
What are the franchise fee and royalty?
Items 5 and 6 of the FDD disclose them.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Ked’s Ice Cream shop?
Yes, if you qualify. The brand is listed under code S8105, with a note about the rider to lease when real estate secures the loan.
Can I finance the freezers and equipment separately?
Yes. Freezers, waffle irons, griddles and drink equipment can be financed with an equipment loan or lease.
How does seasonality affect my loan?
Lenders want monthly projections and enough working capital to carry the shop through cooler months.
Can I buy an existing shop?
Yes, with franchisor approval. Lenders will review the shop’s financial statements and lease.
Can a first-time owner get a Ked’s Ice Cream franchise loan?
Yes, with good credit, enough equity, a realistic plan and management experience.
Does Ked’s offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the FDD. Most owners use outside loans.
How long is the franchise agreement?
Item 17 of the FDD discloses the term, renewal and transfer conditions.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Check Item 19 of the current FDD and talk with current owners.
Final Thoughts
A Ked’s Ice Cream franchise loan pays for a dessert shop with a broader menu than scoops alone. Buyers who plan for seasonality, protect their freezers, staff the rushes and keep strong reserves give lenders confidence.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
