How to Start an Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

Orange Leaf’s official franchising page publishes the same screen for Traditional and Non-Traditional opportunities: $100,000 in liquid assets and $250,000 minimum net worth. These are public qualification figures, not contractual approval guarantees. The 2026 FDD publishes no first-time applicant minimum for credit score, education, citizenship or restaurant experience.

The FDD does impose ownership and operating-role conditions once the franchise is formed. A Business Entity’s Managing Owner must own at least 10%, complete initial training to Orange Leaf’s satisfaction and devote full-time efforts to the business. If the franchisee operates multiple Stores, or the Managing Owner will not be full-time at a Store, an Orange Leaf-approved Key Person who has completed training must handle full-time Store operations. Every beneficial Owner in the ownership chain must sign the Guaranty and Personal Undertaking.

The first-time candidate approval timetable is not disclosed in the FDD, so the roadmap below separates the published inquiry and qualification stage from the contractual steps that begin once Orange Leaf proceeds with the candidate. Qualification discussions and FDD review may overlap; signing and payment cannot bypass the federal disclosure period.

The franchisee must find and acquire a site meeting Orange Leaf’s criteria and, unless Orange Leaf agrees otherwise, work with its designated tenant-representative consulting firm. Site approval is separate from lease approval and does not assure sales or profitability.

The Franchise Site Application may require demographics, traffic, parking, competition, lease economics, physical characteristics and a site plan. The lease cannot be signed before Orange Leaf approval; landlord refusal to sign the Lease Addendum can cause location rejection. Orange Leaf must receive the executed lease and amendments within 10 days after execution.

For the first Orange Leaf Store, the Managing Owner must attend and complete Orange Leaf’s initial training program to the franchisor’s satisfaction before the Store may open. The program is approximately six days, with 12 classroom hours and 36 on-the-job hours, and is generally scheduled no later than three weeks before opening. Up to two attendees may train together without tuition or registration charges, although the franchisee bears wages, travel, lodging and dining.

The curriculum covers owner orientation, operations, technology, supply chain, finance, marketing, food safety, product preparation, POS, management, inventory, guest service and an assessment. Trainees must read, write and converse in English. Orange Leaf may modify training for existing HUMBLE DONUT CO. operators or offer combined training for a new co-branded franchisee.

For the first Store, Orange Leaf provides one individual for three days of on-site opening assistance, with travel, lodging and dining reimbursed by the franchisee. Later Stores have no mandatory opening-assistance commitment; additional help is discretionary and may carry per-diem and expense charges.

The core path—qualification, disclosure, site/lease approval, buildout, training and written opening permission—applies across the disclosed formats, but premises, territory treatment and agreement attachments differ. Fix the exact format before signing.

A multi-unit developer signs a Store Development Agreement plus a separate Franchise Agreement for each Store. Attachment B sets the Store Development Area and Development Schedule; later Stores may use Orange Leaf’s then-current Franchise Agreement. The developer must remain operationally, financially and legally qualified.

Each Franchise Agreement must be signed by its scheduled Execution Date, no later than 12 months before the Projected Opening Date. Missing the Development Schedule is a default; extensions require Orange Leaf’s written approval. The development fee is fully earned and nonrefundable when paid.

Ask Orange Leaf to confirm the applicable Summary Pages, Site Selection Area, Control Date, format, Protected Area treatment, lease documents and opening conditions. For multi-unit development, reconcile the two-versus-three-Store disclosure conflict and obtain the final Development Schedule before paying the nonrefundable development fee.

Use Item 20 and Exhibit F to ask current and former franchisees about actual timing for site approval, leases, permits, construction, equipment, training and opening authorization. Review the full FDD, agreements and applicable state addenda with qualified advisers rather than relying on sales discussions.