By Saksham Arora 99 Pancakes is one of India’s fastest-growing dessert café brands, known for its wide variety of pancakes, waffles, shakes, and desserts at affordable prices. Founded in 2017 in Mumbai, the brand quickly gained popularity among students, young professionals, and families. Its compact store formats, colorful menu, and delivery-friendly operations make it a popular choice for entrepreneurs looking to enter the dessert and QSR space with moderate investment. This article explains the 99 Pancakes franchise model, total investment cost, earnings potential, risks, and who this business is best suited for in 2026.
About the 99 Pancakes Brand
99 Pancakes operates in the dessert QSR segment, focusing on sweet pancakes, waffles, beverages, and add-ons. The brand’s core strength is menu variety combined with standardized recipes and quick preparation time. Most outlets are designed as kiosks or small takeaway stores rather than full cafés, which keeps setup and operating costs under control. Delivery platforms contribute significantly to sales, especially during evenings and weekends.
Is 99 Pancakes a Franchise Model?
Yes, 99 Pancakes follows a pure franchise-based expansion model. Franchise partners invest in the outlet and manage daily operations, while the brand provides recipes, training, branding guidelines, and supply chain support. Menu pricing, product quality, and store design are standardized to ensure a consistent customer experience across locations.
99 Pancakes Franchise Cost in India
99 Pancakes is considered a low to mid-investment dessert franchise.
The estimated total investment generally ranges between ₹12 lakh and ₹22 lakh, depending on city, outlet format, and rental cost. Mall kiosks and premium high-street locations usually fall on the higher side of this range.
Detailed Cost Breakdown
- Franchise Fee: ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh, one-time payment for brand usage, training, and onboarding.
- Outlet Setup & Interiors: ₹3.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh, including counters, kiosk fabrication, lighting, signage, and branding elements.
- Kitchen Equipment & Machinery: ₹2.5 lakh to ₹4.5 lakh, covering pancake makers, waffle machines, refrigerators, freezers, and prep tools.
- Initial Raw Material & Packaging: ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, including batter mixes, spreads, toppings, syrups, cups, and disposables.
- Licenses & Pre-Opening Expenses: ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, including FSSAI, GST, shop license, and launch promotions.
- Working Capital: ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh, for rent, staff salaries, utilities, and replenishment during the initial months.
Space and Location Requirement
99 Pancakes outlets are compact by design.
Typical space requirement ranges from 120 to 300 sq ft for kiosks and 300 to 500 sq ft for takeaway stores. Ideal locations include malls, food courts, high streets, near colleges, IT parks, cinemas, and dense residential neighborhoods. High footfall and dessert demand matter more than seating space.
Royalty and Ongoing Charges
The brand generally charges a royalty of around 6% to 8% of monthly gross sales. There may also be a small contribution toward national marketing or technology support. Raw material sourcing is often centralized or approved to maintain taste consistency.
Profit Margin and Earnings Potential
Dessert QSR brands benefit from high gross margins and impulse purchases.
Typical performance indicators include:
- Gross margin: 60% to 70%
- Net profit margin: 18% to 30% after expenses
A well-located 99 Pancakes outlet can generate monthly sales of ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh, resulting in monthly net profits of ₹70,000 to ₹2.5 lakh once stabilized. Break-even is commonly achieved within 12 to 18 months with consistent execution.
Support Provided by 99 Pancakes
Franchise partners receive end-to-end support including recipe and product training, equipment specifications, store layout guidance, vendor sourcing assistance, POS integration, marketing creatives, and periodic quality audits. This structured support helps first-time food entrepreneurs manage operations smoothly.
Who Should Invest in a 99 Pancakes Franchise?
This franchise is suitable for first-time entrepreneurs, small investors, salaried professionals transitioning into business, and family-run operations. It works best for hands-on owners who can manage peak hours, delivery orders, and local marketing actively.
Risks and Challenges
Key challenges include competition from local dessert outlets, dependence on footfall and delivery platforms, staff training for consistency, and demand being stronger during evenings and weekends. Location selection and cost control are critical to sustaining margins.
How to Apply for a 99 Pancakes Franchise
- Shortlist a high-footfall or delivery-friendly location
- Prepare investment capacity and space details
- Submit franchise inquiry and profile
- Location feasibility and approval
- Agreement signing
- Outlet fabrication and equipment installation
- Staff training and soft launch
- Full launch with brand support
Conclusion
99 Pancakes offers a modern, youth-focused dessert franchise with manageable investment and attractive margins. With a total investment of ₹12 lakh to ₹22 lakh, compact space requirements, and strong brand recall, it provides a realistic opportunity for entrepreneurs entering the dessert QSR segment. When backed by the right location and active management, a 99 Pancakes franchise can deliver steady returns and fast break-even in India in 2025.