Smoothie King^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2026

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What Is Smoothie King?

Smoothie King is a customer-driven franchise that sells a variety of premium, handcrafted smoothies and smoothie bowls, nutritional supplements blended from proprietary recipes, and select nutritional food items and retail merchandise. Units operate under Smoothie King's proprietary system and Trade Dress. Primary service channels include drive-thru service where applicable. Franchises are offered for both Traditional locations (typically strip centers, drive-thru sites, and other street-accessible commercial shopping centers) and Non-Traditional locations (including enclosed malls, food courts, arenas, convention centers, airports, health clubs, hospitals, university/college campuses, military bases, and grocery stores).

Smoothie King Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise's training and support is exceptionally strong-scoring 100 with free on-site assistance-reducing surprise costs for new owners, but the system also has 210 signed-but-not-open outlets (about 17% of 1,242 locations), an unusually large pipeline that may indicate rollout or support problems.

Pros

The training and support score is 100 (top quarter), indicating exceptionally strong training systems - on-site support is also provided with no additional charge, reducing surprise support costs.

The system size is 1,242 outlets with 1,200 franchised (top 5% for Food & Beverage), giving you sizable scale, brand recognition, and a large franchisee network to learn from.

The initial franchise fee is $15,000 (bottom 10% for Food & Beverage), and required cash reserves are low ($5,000) with Item 7 training minimum $0 - together these materially lower the upfront cash needed to start.

Cons

There are 42 company-owned locations (well above typical for Food & Beverage); this level of corporate ownership warrants asking the franchisor how it balances corporate vs. franchise growth and its commitment to the franchise model.

There are 210 signed-but-not-open outlets (about 17% of the system), an unusually high pipeline that may reflect delays in site approvals/build-outs or that the franchisor is selling faster than it can support openings.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

NORMAL

Part 1 (The Facts): Smoothie King - Former employees alleged certain stock options remained exercisable after departure, asserting breach of contract and related claims; the matter was resolved by settlement in October 2025, with Smoothie King repurchasing the options. Part 2 (The Advice): Review option grant and post-termination provisions, obtain plan and settlement copies, and consult franchise counsel on enforceability and disclosure.

Territory Protection

35/100

NORMAL

Smoothie King grants a site-specific protected territory around an approved Traditional location, based on market density and defined boundaries, while reserving non-exclusivity for Non-Traditional locations. Territory rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas; the franchisor retains the right to sell via e-commerce/alternative channels and to develop additional units nearby.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

Smoothie King provides a comprehensive 160-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two staff members for launch through headquarters-based and on-site instruction. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses while on-site support is provided at no additional cost.

Unit Growth Analysis

Smoothie King, now at 1,242 locations, has been adding roughly 190 units since 2022 and is growing at about 3.4% a year. At this scale and pace it reads as a sleepy giant-expect steady, established support and predictable cash flow, but limited territory upside, tougher access to prime markets, and the practical risk that you’re buying a stable business rather than a high-growth appreciation play.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Smoothie King Franchise?

Opening a Smoothie King franchise requires a total initial investment of $329,850 to $683,715, according to the 2026 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

$329,850

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$683,715

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$15,000

Real Estate$153,500

Equipment & Assets$126,350

Reserves$5,000

Training$0

Other$30,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$30,000

Real Estate$342,000

Equipment & Assets$212,965

Reserves$25,000

Training$6,000

Other$67,750

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 Smoothie King Franchise Owners Make?

Smoothie King franchise locations reported average gross sales of $662,015 and median gross sales of $627,210 in 2026, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$662,015

Median Gross Sales:

$627,210

High Gross Sales:

$2,278,731

Low Gross Sales:

$142,703

Sample Size:

1087

Percent Attaining Average:

43.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Most-recent-year average Net Sales (TOTAL/ALL) for franchised Units is $662,015 (FY ending Dec 29, 2025). System-wide aggregate Net Sales for franchised stores in 2025 are reported at $760,395,529. The per-Unit average therefore represents franchised-unit economics (not company-operated stores) and should be viewed versus the system-wide aggregate: a relatively high system sales total is driven by both unit growth (1,200 franchised Units in operation at year end) and per-unit performance dispersion.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial dispersion across Units. For the most recent 13-month reporting period the Total (ALL) range of Net Sales spans from $142,703 (low) to $2,278,731 (high). Top 10% average Net Sales is $1,101,563 versus Bottom 10% average Net Sales of $352,248; the median (Total ALL) is $627,210. Only 43% of Units met or exceeded the reported average Net Sales, which indicates the average is influenced by higher-performing Units and that many Units fall below that average.

Data Scope and Limitations: The Item 19 disclosures are unaudited and reflect franchised Units only (company-operated Units excluded). Units were included only if open for the consecutive 13-month reporting period (with specific exclusions for extended temporary closures, not using required POS, or not scheduled to be open daily). The sample for the most recent period is 1,087 Units; results should be interpreted with caution because figures are averages of reported Net Sales (not audited gross profit or net income), partial-year comparisons may be included, and the franchisor provided written substantiation on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smoothie King a good franchise to own?

Whether Smoothie King is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2026 FDD: Smoothie King operates 1242 locations, received a legal risk score of 94/100, 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 Smoothie King franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Smoothie King franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $329,850 to $683,715. Smoothie King disclosed average gross sales of $662,015 in 2026. 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 Smoothie King franchise?

Break-even timelines for Smoothie King franchises are not disclosed in the 2026 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 Smoothie King a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2026 FDD, Smoothie King operates 1200 franchised locations and 42 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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