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Grain & Berry®

Food & Beverage Year: 2024
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What Is Grain & Berry?

Grain & Berry is a health-focused cafe franchise centered on acai, pitaya and spirulina fruit bowls, yogurt bowls, specialty toasts, smoothies, juices, flatbreads, quesadillas and coffee drinks. Revenue is generated primarily through the retail sale of those menu items and related products and services. Franchise locations operate from designated brick-and-mortar sites typically ranging from approximately 1,500 to 2,800 square feet, and the franchisor also authorizes Grain & Berry food trucks under a Food Truck Addendum.

Grain & Berry Franchise: Pros and Cons

A top-tier 100 training and support score (top quarter) suggests strong onboarding and hands-on operational help that lowers the startup learning curve, but the franchisor has 37 signed-but-not-open outlets and Item 7 fees of $99,000–$272,250, signaling a heavy pipeline and unusually high base costs.

Pros

The 100 training and support score is well above typical (top quarter), meaning you should receive strong onboarding and hands-on operational support that lowers the startup learning curve.
Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor-initiated enforcement are all well below typical for Food & Beverage, signaling a clean legal/regulatory record and less legacy compliance friction for operators.
Initial franchise fees are refundable (an uncommon feature - only ~14% of peers), which reduces your upfront financial risk compared with most food & beverage franchisors.

Cons

There are 37 signed-but-not-open outlets, an unusually high pipeline (top 10%); this often indicates the franchisor may be selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is experiencing site approvals/buildout delays.
Item 7 fees range from a $99,000 minimum to a $272,250 maximum, both figures well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 5%), which substantially raises the base cost to acquire franchise rights.

Territory Protection

43/100
NORMAL

Grain & Berry grants a site-specific protected market area-franchisor-defined by mapping and market density-providing on-site operating rights without exclusive territory; rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas, and the franchisor may develop nearby units and sell via e-commerce and alternative distribution channels.

Training & Support

100
Excellent

The brand provides an extensive 160-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four individuals for launch, incorporating on-site training to support operational readiness. The program includes on-site launch support focused on operational readiness; travel and lodging are the franchisee's responsibility, and additional on-site support services incur separate fees.

Franchisee Stability

51/100
NORMAL

Grain & Berry receives a Normal Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 7.41% sits above the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%), but below the high end of the industry range (around 10%). Out of 2 total exits, terminations and franchisor buybacks each accounted for 1, alongside no non-renewals and no ceased operations.

The equal presence of terminations and franchisor buybacks suggests the system both enforces standards and sometimes reclaims locations; this can mean operators struggled with the model or that the franchisor absorbs underperforming units. This is built on a compact track record (roughly 27 franchisees averaged across three years); continued retention as the system grows would solidify the picture. Prospective buyers should ask current and former operators about unit-level performance, onboarding and support, and how the franchisor handled each exit. For prospective franchisees, retention is in line with industry peers.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Grain & Berry Franchise?

Opening a Grain & Berry franchise requires a total initial investment of $307,500 to $896,250, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$307,500
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$896,250
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$99,000
Real Estate$157,500
Equipment & Assets$26,000
Reserves$19,000
Training$1,000
Other$5,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$272,250
Real Estate$389,500
Equipment & Assets$153,000
Reserves$65,000
Training$5,000
Other$11,500

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Grain & Berry Franchise Owners Make?

Grain & Berry franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,158,554 and median gross sales of $1,102,704 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:
$1,158,554
Median Gross Sales:
$1,102,704
High Gross Sales:
$1,785,353
Low Gross Sales:
$941,051
Sample Size:
13
Percent Attaining Average:
31.0%
Audit Status:
Unaudited
Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The 2023 dataset includes both franchised and company-owned outlets (company-owned are 2 of the 16 locations), so the reported averages primarily reflect franchise performance but include a small company-owned influence.
Performance Variability Analysis: There is noticeable spread in 2023 gross sales (low 941,051; high 1,785,353) with the median (1,102,704) slightly below the mean (1,158,554), indicating a right-skew driven by higher-performing locations.
Data Scope and Limitations: The figures are unaudited, based on POS and third-party delivery data, use only restaurants open the full fiscal year (sample size 13 for 2023), and do not include any expense or net income information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Grain & Berry a good franchise to own?

Whether Grain & Berry is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Grain & Berry operates 16 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Grain & Berry franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Grain & Berry franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $307,500 to $896,250. Grain & Berry disclosed average gross sales of $1,158,554 in 2024. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Grain & Berry franchise?

Break-even timelines for Grain & Berry franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Grain & Berry a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Grain & Berry operates 14 franchised locations and 2 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Interested in Grain & Berry?

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