Top Bagel Franchises to Consider for your Next Investment

Are you reviewing bagel franchises for your next venture? You’re definitely not alone. After all, bagels have become one of the most popular types of breakfast and snack foods today. This trend can be attributed to several factors, including the return of retro foods and people looking for healthier options when eating out.

It is evident that the bagel industry is booming at the moment, with new businesses opening up all over the country. Franchising offers an opportunity for those who want to run their own business and make a profitable venture in an area with demand for this type of food. Read on to find out which are the top bagel franchises to consider for your next investment.

1. Brooklyn Water Bagel

One of the best bagel franchises to invest in is Brooklyn Water Bagel won’t disappoint. The New York bakery sells its house-made bagel with high-quality roasted coffee. The bagel shop, which started franchising back in 2011, is now looking for partners to expand the business in Southeast US. The initial franchise fee is estimated to be $35,000 per location. Plus, according to their website, the total opening cost of a location is from $599,900 to $799,000. 

2. Manhattan Bagel

Manhattan Bagel has been around since 1987 and can’t get any more authentic than this community staple. The brand is a New York-style bagel deli that isn’t afraid to show how much it loves breakfast and brunch food. Aside from their freshly made bagels, they also serve deli sandwiches and roasted arabica coffee. Finally, the retail bakery supports new franchise locations by providing its partners with systems, equipment, and business models. 

3. Beach Bagels

Meanwhile, this award-winning bagel joint may be your next franchise dream. They serve basic, classic bagels, a variety of cream cheese and jams, and a copious selection of bread. Aside from this, they also serve omelets, lunch options, and healthy smoothies. Unlike most bagel franchise joints, Beach Bagels doesn’t require its partners to have experience in the restaurant business. Their franchise fee is $25,000, while the gross investment for a single location is estimated to be from $319,270 to $644,170. 

4. Long Island Bagel Cafe

If you’re looking to sell authentic hand-rolled New York bagels and bagels with a funky twist, you should try Long Island Bagel Cafe. Aside from that, they also sell brewed coffee and other tasty sandwiches. To date, the brand has eight bagel franchises and over 80 million pieces of bagels sold to its loyal customer base. If you’re wondering, “Are bagel shops profitable?” You won’t be disappointed with the answer. According to their website, their franchise locations make an average of $2.1M in gross sales. 

5. Einstein Bros. Bagel

On the other hand, Einstein Bros. Bagel is one of America’s most famous bagel franchises. The brand is a part of Panera Brands, one of the biggest fast-casual retailers in the country, and has more than 300 franchises. Aside from their selection of fresh bagels, they also sell breakfast sandwiches, specialty coffee, and sweet desserts. Plus, this bagel company always comes up with new yummy flavors so customers can stay engaged and interested. Finally, the retail bakery offers catering services for your corporate functions. 

You can also read about the cost and other requirements of opening an Einstein Bros. Bagel franchise here.

6. Bruegger’s Bagels

Bruegger’s Bagels is one of the best bagel franchises to invest in. After 35 years in the business and 260 nationwide locations, it’s still growing and attracting customers. So if you’re wondering, “Should I open a bagel shop?” You can finally have an answer to that question. Aside from New York classic bagels, it also does specialty drinks and a couple of breakfast sandwiches.

7. Bagel Boss

The franchise fee of Bagel Boss is higher than most bagel franchises at $35,000 to $40,000. It has a great franchise partner program, though, as the retail bagel shop does help with training, managing operations, and finding real estate. Aside from bagels, Bagel Boss also offers sandwiches and other house specialties. This 50-year-old bagel shop currently has 15 locations, with 14 locations in New York and one branch in New Jersey. 

8. Big Apple Bagels

Meanwhile, Big Apple Bagels focuses on selling breakfast items while also offering a great lunch menu. In particular, the brand sells freshly made bagels, special muffins, and its brand of coffee. Their franchise program offers operations training, marketing campaigns, and other forms of support for their franchisers. Their estimated bagel franchise cost is $325k to $481k, while their franchise fee is $25,000. You can view the estimated investment cost with a breakdown on their website for free. 

9. Between Rounds

Between Rounds is a notable Connecticut-based bakery that’s been on the market for over 20 years now. The fast-casual brand crosses between a bakery and cafe and offers a small gathering for your local community. It’s also a great general spot for people of all ages, so you can expect your location to be the staple family spot. The bagel shop has expanded to serve more than classic boiled bagels. They also cater sandwiches, salads, wraps, and a variety of coffee-based drinks. 

10. Shmagel’s Bagels

Shmagel’s Bagels is a well-known bagel shop in Ocean City, Maryland. The bakery offers fresh bagels, shmuffins, bagelninis, and bagel sandwiches that are the perfect quick breakfast eat. But aside from their excellent menu variety, they also have a great franchise program. For one, they conduct training programs for their franchise partners. Plus, they also offer support to their partners in order to provide catering opportunities for functions and parties.

Choosing the right bagel franchise for you

There are many things that you need to consider before choosing a franchise. Having a good knowledge of the industry, as well as the various types of franchises, is the best way to make sure that you are investing in a franchise that will be successful.

You should ensure you can answer these questions before looking into a bagel franchise business. For instance, Why do you want to invest in a bagel franchise? And why would customers choose this particular bagel franchise? You need to consider the needs of your potential customers and the product or service you will be offering. This will help you determine if this bagel franchise is the right fit for you.