Smoothie King franchise research

Investment by format

Format-specific estimates only. Do not combine one format's minimum with another format's maximum.

Investment sourceFDD p.24 ↗

Franchise fees and ongoing costs

Franchise fee

$15,000 to $30,000 · Extracted Item 5 scalar range, not a universal minimum or maximum; formats, eligibility, discounts and waivers require original-filing review.

Royalty

6% · Operating Fee: greater of $500 per calendar month or 6% of monthly Gross Sales, paid by EFT

Marketing contribution

3% (basis not captured; see original filing)

Technology fee

$200 per month (Technology Fee), due the 23rd of each month

Other fees

Software and Security Fee $290-$350 per month; National Marketing Fee may be raised up to 5% of Gross Sales on 60 days' notice; Remodel: up to $25,000 in materials during 5th year

Working capital (FDD Item 7)

Additional Funds - 3 Months: $5,000-$25,000 (end-cap/in-line); $15,000-$25,000 (free-standing drive-thru)

Fees sourceFDD p.23 ↗

Working capital is drawn from Item 7. The Investment source below locates the investment section, not an independently verified working-capital scalar.

Investment sourceFDD p.24 ↗

Franchise fee sourceFDD · page not captured ↗

Financial performance: Item 19

Item 19 captured

Yes

Metric / basis

Average and median annual Net Sales of franchised units, broken into top/bottom 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% segments; plus year-over-year same-store net sales change and system-wide franchised sales history

Reporting period

12 months (13-month open period) Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 29, 2025

Sample

1,087 franchised units (of 1,116 franchised units open the full period; 1,200 franchised units at year end); excludes company-owned units

Reported average

$662,015

Reported median

$627,210

Owner income is not captured. Gross sales and EBITDA are not owner pay. Results depend on the disclosed metric, sample and period; consult the full filing.

Item 19 performance sourceFDD p.62 ↗

Unit growth: Item 20

Reporting year

2025

Scope

franchised outlets

Starting outlets

1149

Year-end outlets

1200

Net change

+51

Derivation

ending minus starting outlets

Openings

81

Terminations

Not captured

Non-renewals

Not captured

Other closures

Not captured

Reacquisitions

Not captured

Transfers

Not captured

Transfers are not closures. Net change is ending minus starting outlets for the stated scope and year, or complete openings less terminations, non-renewals, other closures and reacquisitions. Missing inputs stay unknown.

Unit growth sourceFDD p.79 ↗

SBA loan history

Loan activity

147 approvals

Activity window

FY2021-FY2026 YTD; snapshot 2026-06-30

Median SBA loan

$452,600

Median loan window

FY2023-FY2026 YTD through 2026-06-30

Median loan sample

79 loans

Historical charge-off share

3.26%

Cohort

7(a) FY2010-2019 approvals

Numerator / denominator

7 / 215

Formula

CHGOFF / (PIF + CHGOFF + EXEMPT) × 100

This is a historical loan-level share, not a franchise failure probability or location survival rate. Loan size is not total investment. Other loan statuses are excluded from the seasoned denominator. Activity combines 7(a) and 504 approvals, excluding canceled and not-funded records; this is not a rolling five-year count. FY2024-25 franchise tags are sparse after directory suspension; fewer tagged loans do not establish brand decline. Recent charge-off cohorts are immature.

SBA loans sourceSBA data · Jun 30, 2026 ↗

Median loan amounts are financing context, not startup cost. The median window is separate from the seasoned charge-off cohort.

Median SBA loan sourceSBA data · Jun 30, 2026 ↗

Questions before you invest

How much does Smoothie King franchise cost?

End-cap or in-line location: $329,850 to $683,715; Free-standing drive-thru location: $639,950 to $1,278,900 These are format-specific estimates, not a guaranteed cash requirement. Franchise fee: $15,000 to $30,000 · Extracted Item 5 scalar range, not a universal minimum or maximum; formats, eligibility, discounts and waivers require original-filing review..

Investment sourceFDD p.24 ↗

Franchise fee sourceFDD · page not captured ↗

How much do Smoothie King owners make?

Owner income is not captured. Gross sales and EBITDA are not owner pay. Item 19 metric: Average and median annual Net Sales of franchised units, broken into top/bottom 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% segments; plus year-over-year same-store net sales change and system-wide franchised sales history. Sample: 1,087 franchised units (of 1,116 franchised units open the full period; 1,200 franchised units at year end); excludes company-owned units. Period: 12 months (13-month open period) Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 29, 2025.

Item 19 performance sourceFDD p.62 ↗

What's the SBA charge-off rate for Smoothie King?

3.26%; numerator / denominator: 7 / 215. Historical 7(a) FY2010-2019 approvals; CHGOFF / (PIF + CHGOFF + EXEMPT) × 100, snapshot 2026-06-30. This is not a franchise failure probability. Median SBA loan: $452,600; window: FY2023-FY2026 YTD through 2026-06-30; sample: 79 loans. Median financing is not total investment.

SBA loans sourceSBA data · Jun 30, 2026 ↗

Median SBA loan sourceSBA data · Jun 30, 2026 ↗