Founders and Original Ownership
Crumbl Cookies was founded by cousins Sawyer Hoss and崔 Walker along with their friend Ryan Oakes in 2017 in Logan, Utah. The company remains privately held, with the founding team retaining significant equity and operational control over the brand and its cookie kiosk and retail model Forbes.
The original ownership group structured the business as a private company rather than a public corporation, meaning shares are not traded on any stock exchange. This private status limits public disclosure of exact ownership percentages, but reports consistently identify the founders as the primary equity holders and decision-makers behind the brand SEC EDGAR.
Current Ownership and Private Equity Involvement
Private Ownership and Growth Capital
As of the latest available information, Crumbl Cookies is still privately held, with no public listing on major stock exchanges. The company has raised growth capital from private investors and venture funds to support its rapid franchise expansion across the United States and international markets Forbes.
While exact ownership splits are not publicly disclosed, industry reports indicate that the founding team continues to hold a controlling interest, with external investors acquiring minority stakes to fuel expansion. The company's franchise model means that individual franchise owners also hold equity in their specific locations, but the corporate entity remains under the original ownership group's direction Forbes.
Franchise Structure and Ownership Model
How Franchise Ownership Works
Crumbl Cookies operates a franchise system where individual business owners pay fees and royalties to operate under the Crumbl brand. Each franchise location is independently owned and operated, meaning the ultimate ownership of any given cookie shop rests with the local franchisee rather than the central corporate entity Forbes.
The corporate ownership structure focuses on brand licensing, supply chain management, and cookie mix production, while franchisees handle day-to-day operations and local investment. This model has enabled rapid scaling, with hundreds of locations open across the U.S. and a growing international footprint, all under the centralized brand ownership of the founding group and its private investors Forbes.
Key Takeaways on Ownership
In summary, Crumbl Cookies is owned by its founders and a private group of investors, with no public equity or stock