Franchise Opportunities

International Franchising

There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide in which Guests create personalized furry friends through our uniquely hands-on experiential retail model. We have more than 300 company-owned stores in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland and franchise operations in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Franchise Operations

Build-A-Bear typically grants exclusive area development rights for territories that generally represent an entire country or group of countries. We offer a powerful brand with a proven and successful retail model to qualifying franchise partners. Franchisees receive comprehensive training and ongoing support from an experienced and multi-disciplined management team including operations, merchandising, marketing and technology.

Find a Build-A-Bear Workshop

For a list of current national and international locations, please visit Store Locator.

Our Franchise Operations

Build-A-Bear offers exclusive area development rights for countries other than the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom, where our Build-A-Bear Workshop stores are company owned and operated.

What Our Franchise Program Offers

Through our program, franchisees are set up for success with a powerful brand behind a successful and proven retail concept. In addition, our program offers:

A proprietary operating system;
Comprehensive training in all aspects of the Build-A-Bear Workshop business;
Access to the buying power of more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop locations around the world;
Product development support;
Store design, equipment and fixtures.

In addition, Build-A-Bear offers franchisees ongoing support from a team experienced in operations, information technology, marketing and merchandising.

Franchise Requirements

Franchisees are responsible for owning and operating all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores as we do not permit sub-franchising within a territory. The ideal candidate will have:

A strong background in retail or franchising;
Extensive knowledge of the local real estate market;
A commitment to developing the Build-A-Bear brand locally;
The financial resources to commit to developing a business (capital requirements vary by country but the minimum capital requirement is approximately $5 million - $12 million (USD);
Residence in the territory (required).

Existing warehouse, logistics and other infrastructure capabilities are a plus for our franchisees.

Eligible territories will have the potential for development of at least 15 stores in order for a candidate to be considered. It is possible to combine regional countries into a single territory, provided there is a good cultural and business fit.