🍧 The Franzy Five

Welcome to the Franzy Five — your 5-minute fix on the most compelling franchises and the trends shaping the industry. Each week, we spotlight one standout concept worth watching, then round up key stories driving growth across food, fitness, home services, and beyond. Think of it as your shortcut to understanding where the smartest money in franchising is headed — and why.

The Brand Story

Frios was built around a simple but powerful idea: happiness sells, especially when it's served on a stick. What began as a handcrafted gourmet popsicle concept quickly evolved into a mobile business designed for flexibility, fun, and emotional connection.

Frios franchisees operate colorful mobile units — the "Happiness Hauler," "Sweet Ride," or pop-up carts — that can show up almost anywhere: neighborhood events, school functions, corporate parties, weddings, retail centers, and even indoor venues. The product itself does much of the heavy lifting. Hand-poured gourmet pops made with real ingredients, bold flavors, and eye-catching designs naturally create excitement. Customers don't just buy dessert — they buy a moment.

Unlike traditional food franchises tied to one location and fixed hours, Frios owners choose when and how they work. With a fully pre-packaged product, operators can run hands-off wholesale accounts and offer freezer-ready pops through schools, offices, retailers, and events in a way most competitors can't. The brand gives franchisees multiple ways to generate revenue without locking them into a single operating lane.

The Data Angle

From a numbers perspective, Frios sits in a very different category than most food franchises — and that's exactly the point. The total investment range of $60K to $100K places Frios far below the typical food truck or brick-and-mortar dessert concept, where startup costs often exceed $400K. That low barrier to entry opens the door for first-time franchisees, lifestyle entrepreneurs, and operators who want flexibility without heavy debt.

Instead of percentage-based royalties, Frios uses a flat weekly fee structure ($125-$175). That means franchisees keep more upside as sales grow, without royalties scaling against top-line revenue. For motivated operators who book high-volume events or multiple engagements per week, that structure can be especially attractive.

With approximately 115 units in the system, Frios has reached meaningful national scale while still offering white space opportunities in many markets. Franchisees average nearly 30,000 pops sold annually, with top performers reaching over 99,000 pops in a single year — highlighting what's possible when owners lean into community events, partnerships, and local visibility. The business does carry seasonality, but successful operators offset that risk through prepaid bookings, indoor events, school partnerships, and thoughtful scheduling.