Published on 6 Apr 2021 Time 5 min read Last update by 29 May 2024

Le Macaron Franchise Review (2024)

Le Macaron opened its first corporate store in 2009 in Sarasota, FL. The business focuses on authentic French macaron pastries made with natural ingredients and no preservatives.

The pastries are baked and immediately freeze shipped from a central bakery in Sarasota, Florida to the Le Macaron stores, thereby simplifying operations and decreasing the investment amount.

In addition to the famous macarons, the stores sell other pastries, desserts, and a variety of beverages.

Le Macaron Franchise Management Team

Le Macaron was founded by a mother-daughter combo, Rosalie Guillem and Audrey Guillem-Saba, who moved to the U.S. from their homeland of France

The family quickly realized that there was a large untapped potential to bring authentic French macarons to the U.S., so the family opened up their first location in Sarasota, FL in 2009 with franchising beginning in 2012. They have expanded throughout most of Florida since then.

le-macaron-review-2019

In addition, they have plans to share their taste in France by rapidly expanding throughout the U.S.

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Franchise Desserts Industry Analysis

Franchise Strengths

  • Operationally simple, easy to learn.
  • Artisanal, high quality, and authentically French.
  • The franchisor provides training and support with suppliers and opens the store.
  • Strong leadership team based in FL.

Franchise Weaknesses

  • The success of a business is highly dependent on the location of the store.
  • Americans are still unfamiliar with French-style macarons.
  • The focus is on narrow product categories with limited menu items.

Franchise Opportunities

  • Ability to adapt and grow with an emerging franchisor in an under-penetrated market.
  • 50 largest retail bakeries only generate about 15 percent of overall revenue (~$3.2bn 2015 sales) and thus leaving room for breakout brands to grow.
  • The model allows for smaller units as no baking occurs at the unit.
  • Opportunities for B2B business, coffee sales, other products, etc.

Franchise Threats

  • Profitability can be negatively impacted by the close location of like competitors (frozen dessert stores and artisanal dessert bakeries).
  • Depending on the location of the store, the cost of goods likely increases the further a store is from the central bakery in Florida.
  • Potential for macarons to not catch on with the American masses (partially mitigated by foreign tourists to Miami).


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How much is a Le Macaron Franchise?

Le Macaron Franchise cost ranges from $131,500 to $361,500 according to the 2019 FDD.

Traditional Patstry Shop or Permanent Kiosk
Cost Types Amount (in USD) When Due To Whom Payment is to Be Made
Low High
Franchise Fee 33,000 45,000 Upon signing FA Franchisor
Opening Assistance Fee 5,000 5,000 When you sign FA Franchisor
Lease Deposits, Utility Deposits, and Rent for 3 Months 15,000 30,000 As invoiced Lessor
Design and Architectual Fees 6,000 12,000 As invoiced Approved Architects
Leasehold Improvements 5,000 100,000 As invoiced Contractor
Furniture and Fixtures 15,000 25,000 As invoiced Suppliers
Equipment 17,000 50,000 As invoiced Suppliers
Exterior and Interior Signage and Graphics 1,000 8,000 As required by sign vendor Sign Vendor
Initial Macaron Inventory (plus other food and beverage products and initial supplies) 6,500 42,000 As invoiced LMFPC and Designated Suppliers
Liquor License Varies Varies As invoiced Gov Agencies, Lawyers, and Other 3rd Parties
Travel and Other Related Expenses While Training 1,000 1,500 As incurred Airlines, Hotels, and Restaurants
Grand Opening Marketing 3,000 4,000 As invoiced Suppliers
POS Software and Hardware 1,000 1,500 As invoiced Suppliers
Professional Services 1,000 2,500 As invoiced Accountants, Lawyers, Franchisor, Architect, ect
Insurance 1,500 3,500 As invoiced Insurance Broker
Gov Permits and Licenses 500 1,500 As incurred Gov Agencies
Additional Funds (3 months) 20,000 30,000 As Incurred Not Applicable


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Mobile Kiosk

Cost Types Amount (in USD) To Whom Payment is to Be Made
Low High
Franchise Fee 33,000 45,000 Franchisor
Opening Assistance Fee 5,000 5,000 Franchisor
Lease Deposits, Utility Deposits, and Rent for 3 Months 4,000 10,000 Lessor
Leasehold Improvements 200 1,500 Contractor
Kiosk and Equipment 30,000 36,000 Suppliers
Initial Macaron Inventory (plus other food and beverage products and initial supplies) 5,000 15,000 LMFPC and Designated Suppliers
Travel and Other Related Expenses While Training 1,000 1,500 Airlines, Hotels, and Restaurants
Grand Opening Marketing 1,000 1,000 Suppliers
POS Software and Hardware 800 1,000 Suppliers
Professional Services 1,000 2,500 Accountants, Lawyers, Franchisor, Architect, ect
Insurance 200 500 Insurance Broker
Gov Permits and Licenses 150 500 Gov Agencies
Additional Funds (3 months) 3,000 5,000 Not Applicable
Total $124,500 $84,350

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How Much does a Le Macaron Franchise make?

Shop Location Gross Sales (2015) Opening Month Franchise / Affiliate-Owned
Santurce, PR $234,463 ene-15 Franchise
Jensen Beach, FL $166,000 oct-14 Franchise
Tampa, FL (Citrus Park) $187,742 may-14 Franchise
Boca Raton, FL $414,190 abr-14 Franchise
Guaynabo, PR $280,319 mar-14 Franchise
Melbourne, FL $211,769 dic-13 Franchise
Naples, FL $277,697 abr-13 Franchise
Estero, FL $246,791 ene-13 Franchise
Tampa, FL (International Mall) $423,307 jul-12 Affiliate
Winter Park, FL $347,137 dic-11 Affiliate
Sarasota, FL $481,301 ago-09 Affiliate
Average $297,338
Items Wholesale Cost (Product Only)
Macaron $0.75
Chocolates $0.75
Gelato $1.20
Croissants (Plain) $0.65
Croissants (Choclate) $0.75
Coffee (NESPRESSO Brand) $0.60
Cappuccino $0.80
Water $0,10

FDD Disclosure: “The following charts include historical financial information, in the form of averages and medians, for the 24 LE MACARON FRENCH PASTRIES Pastry Shops that were open and operating during the full 2018 calendar year and which did not experience any full ownership transfers. Separate charts for shops owned by franchisees and shops owned by our affiliate entities include the high and low gross sales and the average and median gross sales. A combined chart that includes both franchised and affiliate-owned shops divides the 24 Pastry Shops into four, and the average and median Yearly Sales of each quarter, or quartile, are included in such chart.”

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