Dolce Desserts

About Dolce Desserts

Dolce Desserts was founded by Kamila Khan in 2014, inspired by the welcoming cafés she encountered across Europe, particularly in Italy. The brand focuses on indulgent desserts, globally sourced ingredients and cafés designed to feel part of their local communities.

Based mainly in and around Birmingham, Dolce Desserts has grown to 13 reported UK sites, including an Express dark kitchen at Aston Seedbed Centre. A Wolverhampton location opened in January 2026. Its franchise proposition covers three described formats: a restaurant with up to 50 seats, a smaller café with 16-20 seats, and an Express outlet focused on takeaway and delivery. Franchisees are offered support with finding premises, funding requirements, design and build, staff training, launch preparations and ongoing operations. The brand advertises indicative return-on-investment periods by format, which should be independently assessed.

Why franchise with Dolce Desserts

• ✓Choose from restaurant, café and Express formats to match different premises and investment levels.
• ✓Build on a Midlands dessert brand established in 2014 with 12 reported UK trading locations.
• ✓Receive help with site searches, property acquisition, design, build and opening preparations.
• ✓Access initial staff and franchisee training alongside continued operational guidance after launch.
• ✓Offer a dessert café experience inspired by European hospitality and internationally sourced ingredients.
• ✓Explore smaller takeaway and delivery sites or larger cafés and restaurants with customer seating.

Investment breakdown

Minimum investment	£127,000
Management service fee	On request
Marketing contribution	On request
Agreement term	On request

What's expected of a franchisee

Property requirements

Dolce Desserts offers three described premises formats. Restaurants start at 1,500 sq ft and can seat up to 50 customers. Cafés start at 1,000 sq ft with around 16-20 seats. Express outlets start at 650 sq ft and focus on delivery, takeaway and grab-and-go orders, without a dine-in requirement. The brand supports site searches, acquisition, design and build. Exact frontage, extraction, utility and planning specifications are not disclosed.

Training and support

Dolce Desserts says it provides comprehensive initial and ongoing training for franchisees and their staff. Pre-opening assistance covers site search and acquisition, store design and build, funding requirements and launch preparations. Continued operational support is also included as part of the franchise proposition. The supplied information does not specify the duration of training, the frequency of field visits or whether support differs between restaurant, café and Express formats.

Operational requirements

Franchisees operate a dessert business under one of the brand’s described formats: a seated restaurant, a smaller café or an Express outlet for delivery and takeaway. Operators are responsible for day-to-day staffing, customer service, food preparation, stock control and maintaining brand standards. The company offers guidance on store setup and ongoing operations. The supplied information does not specify required opening hours, staffing ratios, equipment or delivery-platform arrangements.

Experience required

Dolce Desserts has not specified a mandatory level of previous hospitality or franchise experience. Prospective operators should be prepared to manage a customer-facing dessert business, recruit and train staff, oversee food quality and service, and follow the brand’s operating procedures. Applicants will also need to secure suitable premises and funding for their chosen format. Minimum liquid capital, net worth requirements and any owner-operator obligations have not been disclosed.

Territory availability