SMOOTHIE KING FAQS
Learn More about Our Nationally Recognized Smoothie Franchise
Smoothie King embraces a connected franchise culture that focuses on helping consumers lead healthier lifestyles. We appreciate your interest in our brand and what we do for our communities. Our support team members have provided answers to commonly asked questions below and would be happy to address any additional questions you may have about our unique Smoothie franchise opportunity.
How long has Smoothie King been in business?
Smoothie King was founded in 1973 in New Orleans, Louisiana. By 1989, Smoothie King opened their first franchise location. Read more about the Smoothie King Story.
What are the qualifications to franchise a Smoothie King?
- Liquid Assets of $150,000
- Net Worth of $350,000
- Credit score of 700+
- Strong Business acumen
- Track record of success
The ideal candidate should have an entrepreneurial spirit, as well as sales, marketing, restaurant, and/or retail experience.
How much does it cost to open a typical Smoothie King location?
The estimated initial investment for an inline or end-cap store can be between $311,601–$638,465 (including a $30,000 franchise fee). The estimated initial investment for a freestanding drive-thru store can be between $762,400–$1,379,150. Your costs could be higher depending on a number of factors, including your location. Please refer to the Investment Page or Franchise Disclosure Document for additional details.
Do you offer in-house financing?
We do not have an in-house financing program, but we are currently registered with the SBA and have relationships with various finance vendors.
Is Smoothie King easy to operate?
Yes, the time-tested Smoothie King systems are clear and simple to follow.
Do you help me find a location?
Our real estate team members provide general site selection criteria and guidance in the selection of a suitable location for each market.
What types of locations fit into Smoothie King site criteria?
The ideal size range for a Smoothie King Franchise is generally 800-1,600 square feet. However, smaller or larger stores are an option. They’re usually located in neighborhood and community strip centers, power centers, shopping malls, universities, airports, and downtown business districts. The optimal area typically has a strong residential population, strong daytime employment, dynamic retail activity and proximity to fitness (gyms, large parks, etc). It also has good street visibility and presence as well as good ingress and egress. We also prefer a drive-thru when possible.
What demographics does Smoothie King look for?
Our target customer is a millennial who is between the ages of 16 and 35. Our focus is 55% skewed towards women. We are looking for starter families, baby boomers, and established Americans. We offer a premium product, so our guests need to have some ancillary income in order to frequent our locations on a regular basis. Therefore, we try to find locations among the average household incomes, or higher for a given market. We cannot exclude certain areas given the range of our guests overall and, therefore, we do not limit ourselves to a particular set of demographics across the board.
How much money can I make?
Since the actual results of individual franchises are based on factors that are not within the control of Smoothie King, we do not provide estimates of profits or revenues. However, after consulting with a Smoothie King Franchise Development Manager and reviewing the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), you will have the opportunity to contact our existing franchisees regarding their experiences. Review the Unit Performance page for some additional insight.
What are the ongoing fees paid to Smoothie King?
Franchisees pay an ongoing royalty fee of 6% of their store’s weekly sales. An additional 3% of your weekly sales will be paid into the Smoothie King National Advertising Fund. We also require that franchisees spend an additional 2% of weekly gross sales on local store marketing. Additionally, every location currently pays a technology contribution of $200 per month.
What is the best source for researching the Smoothie King Franchising Opportunity?
Each qualified candidate receives a copy of the Smoothie King Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which provides the following information and more: franchisor’s financial statements, copy of the franchise agreement, copy of the area development agreement, list of existing franchisees to contact, cost breakdowns, advertising fees, royalties, and initial franchise fees.
What type of training do you provide?
Five weeks of training are split up into three segments. Each franchisee receives one day of orientation (pre-store opening), 4 weeks of management training (at a corporate training facility) prior to opening, and five days of on-site training (three days prior to opening and two days after opening).
How many team members do I need at a Smoothie King location?
Smoothie King recommends 9-12 team members on staff, with 2-3 in the store at any given time.
What are the Smoothie King hours of operation?
Our hours of operation are 7a.m.-9p.m. Monday-Friday, 8a.m.-9p.m. on Saturday, and 10a.m.-8p.m. on Sunday.
