- 2025 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#413 Ranked #320 last year
- Initial investment
-
$430K - $2.2M
- Units as of 2025
-
86 1% over 3 years
Founded in 1983, la Madeleine delivers a French bakery and cafe experience. It began franchising in 2011 and offers a menu of all-day breakfast, coffees, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and entrees, along with a traditional French bakery display featuring fresh bread and French-inspired pastries. La Madeleine operates nearly 100 corporate and franchise locations in multiple U.S. and one international cafe in India.
Why You May Want to Start a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe Franchise
The ideal candidate for a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchisee has the resources to develop and operate at least one location with an experienced operator. If you desire to secure a multi-unit agreement, at least one group member must have extensive multi-unit restaurant experience. Overall, franchisees should have a strong background in multi-unit restaurant operations and a deep understanding of the local retail real estate market. If you’re passionate about bringing delicious food and pastries to a warm, bistro-like setting, opening a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchise could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Franchisees will use la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe's tasty and proprietary recipes. The commitment to fresh meals, organic produce, healthy recipes, and a calm environment may make a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchise a community favorite. La Madeleine Bakery & Cafe is good for the body, environment, and soul. With your franchise, you will support local farmers and provide non-genetically modified food to hungry locals.
What Might Make a La Madeleine Bakery & Cafe Franchise a Good Choice?
To be part of the la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of the franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for the existence of ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees.
La Madeleine Bakery & Cafe has worked to carve out a niche in the market with their dedication to providing quality food. Their tasty menu and fun atmosphere may have given them loyal and regular clientele.
How To Open a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe Franchise
Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, it is crucial that you perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchising team questions.
To start a la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchise, you need to be sure to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements before filling out a pre-qualification application form. If approved, you'll then have an in-person interview and meeting to assess if you are a good fit for the la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe brand.
As you progress through the process of opening your own la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe franchise, you will attend a discovery day to meet the team, assess the business, and complete the final qualifications. If you pass, you will receive franchise approval and attend an approval meeting, which is where you'll sign the franchise agreement. Once you've signed on board, construction, marketing, and training begin so you can move forward with opening your new la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe.
Company Overview
About la Madeleine
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 2011 (14 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 40 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises worldwide. This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming |
| # of Units | 86 (as of 2025) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a la Madeleine 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
|
$20,000 - $40,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$430,077 - $2,204,095 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$1,500,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$500,000 |
|
Royalty Fee
|
5% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
0.5%-2% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
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 | 252 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 48 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 |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
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No |
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Can this franchise be run part time?
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No |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where la Madeleine landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where la Madeleine ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
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