Texas is one of the most compelling franchise markets in the country right now. The Lone Star State has added over 2 million residents since 2020, with growth concentrated in four major metros: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. Each of these markets is large enough to support independent multi-unit franchise development on its own. In addition, no state income tax, a business-friendly regulatory environment, and a young, family-oriented population make Texas a natural target for food and beverage franchise operators looking for room to grow.
For entrepreneurs specifically researching ice cream and frozen treat franchise opportunities in Texas, the market picture is strong. Warm weather extends the outdoor dining and treat-seeking season well beyond what northern markets see. High-traffic suburban corridors in the DFW Metroplex, Houston’s sprawling family neighborhoods, and the dense residential growth around Austin and San Antonio all create the kind of foot traffic that frozen dessert concepts depend on.
For the right owner, local communities across Texas can create a perfect atmosphere for franchise growth. This guide covers what to look for in a frozen treat franchise and how to evaluate the options. We’ll also dig into why Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is actively expanding into Texas markets (and how you can join this incredible franchise model).
Key Takeaways
- Texas adds hundreds of thousands of residents each year, concentrating growth across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin: four metros each large enough to support independent multi-unit franchise development.
- Texas’s warm climate extends the operating window well beyond what northern markets allow. Austin can see as many as 209 hot days, almost three times the number of a northern city like Minneapolis. Drive-thru locations in particular can run year-round, and they averaged 38% higher gross sales than standard shops in 2025.1
- Dairy-heavy concepts absorb the full force of ingredient inflation. Ice cream prices have climbed more than 35% since 2019. Rita’s sidesteps most of that pressure. Combined food, paper, and fuel surcharge costs averaged 17.3% of gross sales system-wide in 2025 (food alone: 14.8%), well below the 28-35% typical of traditional restaurant franchises.2 2
- Rita’s is actively expanding into Texas with over 600 locations, 40-plus years of operating history, and a support infrastructure that gives new owners a head start in markets where the brand is still building its presence.3
- Startup investment ranges from $295,233 to $915,536 depending on format and site, with a minimum of $150,000 in liquid capital and $400,000 net worth required.4
Why Texas Is a Strong Market for Frozen Treat Franchises
The fundamentals that drive frozen dessert sales, such as a warm climate, young families, high foot traffic in residential corridors describe Texas to a tee:
- The DFW Metroplex now exceeds eight million residents.
- Houston’s metro is home to nearly 7.9 million people.
- San Antonio’s metro sits near 2.8 million and continues to add residents every year.
- Austin’s rapid growth has created dense suburban communities in Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Pflugerville that are built around exactly the kind of neighborhood retail environment where a frozen dessert concept thrives.
Warmer average temperatures also mean a longer operating window than most states. Texas cities see far more warm-weather days than the rest of the country, with Gulf Coast and Central Texas metros seeing well over twice the warm-weather days of northern markets like Cleveland and Minneapolis.
While many Rita’s locations in northern markets operate seasonally from March through October, Texas markets can support extended or year-round operations, particularly locations with a drive-thru format.
What should potential owners look for in a Texas ice cream franchise?
Choosing a franchise with established brands can help business owners get up and running faster than if they do everything on their own.
Not all frozen treat concepts are built the same way, and that distinction matters more in an environment where ice cream prices have climbed more than 35% since 2019, driven by surges in dairy, cocoa, egg, labor, and energy costs. Before committing to any concept, prospective franchise owners in Texas should evaluate a few key variables, including the cost of ingredients and brand support. Staffing complexity is key, too; if the brand doesn’t provide resources or the concept demands too much in labor, it may not succeed. Prospective franchisees should work with a franchisor who offers strong benefits, including supplier relationships and strong brand recognition.
Product model and ingredient economics
Dairy-heavy concepts face ongoing margin pressure from volatile ingredient costs. Concepts that rely primarily on non-dairy or low-cost ingredients, such as Italian Ice, carry structurally lower food costs. That is no minor distinction. In fact, the system-wide average for combined food, paper, and fuel surcharge costs was 17.3% of gross sales in 2025. Food costs alone averaged 14.8%.2
Low operational complexity
Texas’s competitive labor market rewards concepts that can train staff quickly and run lean. Concepts with no cooking, no commercial kitchen equipment, and simple prep requirements have a structural staffing advantage. Most Rita’s locations run with one to five team members per shift, and employees can typically be trained in one or two shifts.5
Format flexibility
Texas markets vary significantly, from dense urban corridors in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood to high-growth suburban retail strips in Frisco or Katy. A concept that offers multiple footprints, from walk-up shops to drive-thru configurations, gives operators more ways to match the format to the site.
Brand longevity and system support
A newer concept may offer lower entry costs, but an established system with over 600 locations, 40-plus years of operating history, and a developed training and support system reduces the uncertainty that comes with building a customer base from scratch.3
Key Texas Cities for Frozen Treat Franchise Investment
Dallas-Fort Worth
The DFW Metroplex is the largest metro in Texas and one of the largest franchise markets in the country. Its suburban corridors, including Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Southlake, and Grapevine, are home to dense concentrations of families with disposable income and strong appetite for community-oriented food concepts. The area’s ongoing residential construction in outlying suburbs continues to create new retail trade areas that are actively being targeted by franchise operators.
Houston
Houston is one of the most diverse major metros in the United States, with a large and growing family population across suburban communities like Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, and Katy. Its economy is supported by energy, healthcare, logistics, and international trade. That provides a stable consumer base. For a frozen treat concept, Houston’s heat also extends the effective operating season meaningfully.
San Antonio
San Antonio’s combination of a large military presence at Joint Base San Antonio, a significant tourism economy anchored by the River Walk and the Alamo, and a fast-growing residential base makes it a strong candidate for community-oriented frozen dessert concepts. The city’s relatively affordable commercial real estate compared to Austin and Dallas also creates favorable conditions for franchise buildout economics.
Austin
Austin’s rapid population growth and younger demographic skew have made it one of the most competitive food and beverage markets in the state. Round Rock and Cedar Park, in particular, have seen significant family residential development that creates strong suburban trade areas for frozen treat concepts. Austin’s consumer base tends to prioritize value and quality, both of which align with Rita’s positioning.
Rita’s Italian Ice in Texas: What the Opportunity Looks Like
Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is the largest Italian ice concept in the country, with over 600 locations across more than 30 states.3 Texas represents a significant and largely untapped growth opportunity for the brand, which has been actively expanding its footprint into new markets.
Rita’s menu is built on two products: Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. Every item on the menu is some variation of those two things. That focused menu structure produces a simple, manageable operation with no cooking, minimal equipment complexity, and a staff training model that works well in markets where labor availability can be competitive.
Average gross sales for top-tier Rita’s shops reached $558,103 in the 2025 season. Middle-tier shops averaged $345,566 and bottom-tier shops averaged $220,095.6 These are reported gross sales figures from franchisee point-of-sale data and do not reflect operating expenses, rent, royalties, or other costs. Individual results vary, and prospective franchisees should review the full FDD before drawing any conclusions about their own potential performance.
Drive-thru format locations showed a notable gap: the 33 drive-thru shops included in the 2025 data sample averaged $508,897 in gross sales, compared to $366,957 for non-drive-thru locations, a 39% difference.1 For Texas operators evaluating high-traffic suburban sites where drive-thru infrastructure is commonly available, that format consideration is worth factoring into site selection decisions.
The total estimated initial investment for a standard Rita’s shop without a drive-thru ranges from $295,233 to $712,542. A standard shop with a drive-thru runs from $436,858 to $915,536. Those ranges reflect real variables including local lease markets, site conditions, and buildout requirements.4 The initial franchise fee ranges from $15,000 to $35,000, included within those totals, depending how many units you initially sign up to development (Shop #1 $35,000, #2 $20,000 & #3 $15,000).7
Financial qualifications require a minimum of $150,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of at least $400,000.
Training, Support, and Getting Started
New Rita’s franchisees complete training through Cool University, Rita’s dedicated training program covering operations, product preparation, customer service, and local marketing. Hands-on training at an operating location is built into the curriculum alongside classroom components. Ongoing coaching and business development support continues long after opening.
Rita’s also requires a minimum new shop marketing expenditure of $12,000 in the pre-opening period.4 That investment supports local launch activities designed to drive early awareness in the market.
For Texas entrepreneurs who want to explore which markets have available territory, the Rita’s Italian Ice franchise opportunities page is the right starting point. The franchise development team can walk you through territory availability, the discovery process, and what opening a Rita’s in a specific Texas market would involve.
Texas Frozen Treat Franchise Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rita’s Italian Ice available as a franchise in Texas?
Rita’s is actively expanding into Texas and has open territories across the state.
How much does it cost to open a frozen treat franchise in Texas?
A standard shop without a drive-thru carries a total estimated initial investment of $295,233 to $712,542.4 A drive-thru configuration runs from $436,858 to $915,536.4 Local lease rates, site conditions, and buildout requirements all affect where a specific project lands within those ranges. In addition, royalty fees of 6.5% of estimated sales on RIta’s-Mix Items and/or 6.5% of Gross Sales may apply.8
What financial qualifications does Rita’s require?
Rita’s requires a minimum of $150,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of at least $400,000. Many franchisees finance a portion of their startup costs through third-party lenders to preserve working capital for operations.
Do frozen treat franchises perform well in Texas year-round?
Texas’s climate gives operators a longer season than most northern markets allow. Drive-thru locations support year-round operation even in markets where walk-up shops traditionally run a seasonal calendar, and the 2025 FDD data shows drive-thru shops outperforming standard locations by 38% in gross sales.1
What sets Rita’s apart from other ice cream franchises in Texas?
Rita’s builds its core product of Italian Ice from water, sugar, and real fruit rather than dairy. That ingredient profile keeps food costs low and sidesteps the dairy and cocoa price volatility that has pushed ice cream prices up more than 35% since 2019. The two-product menu also eliminates cooking, reduces equipment complexity, and makes staff training fast. This is a real advantage in competitive labor markets like Dallas and Houston.
This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. Financial performance figures referenced above are sourced from Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, dated January 30, 2026. Investment figures are sourced from the same document. Some outlets have sold this amount. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you will sell as much. Prospective franchisees should review the FDD carefully and consult with independent legal and financial advisors before making any investment decision.
1: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 19, Table 3.
2: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 19, Table 4.
3: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 20.
4: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 7.
5: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 11.
6: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 19, Table 1.
7: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 5.
8: Rita’s Franchise Company, LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 6.
