We’ve made the process of becoming a Franchise Owner incredibly smooth(ie).

Seven Steps to starting a smoothie business

Step 1: Pre-Qualification
A Tropical Smoothie Cafe (TSC) Franchise Development Representative will contact you to discuss critical areas associated with becoming a Franchise Owner and to answer any initial questions you may have.
Step 2: Franchise Application
Our franchise application is a brief 4-page document, completed by you, that helps us get to know you, your business background and experience, financial capabilities, goals and interests, management style, etc. There is no cost associated with submitting your application and it is non-binding. It simply allows us to learn a little more about you!
Step 3: Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Review/Business Planning Tools Provided
By law, every franchisor must deliver to its prospective Franchise Owner a copy of its FDD to ensure that the Franchise Owner prospect has all the pertinent information about our company, business model and every aspect of our business relationship with our Franchise Owner. We will also provide you with business planning tools to continue your due diligence.
Step 4: Program Review
Once we have all required documentation on file, your Franchise Development Director will schedule a time with you to do a Virtual Brochure Presentation which will give you more detailed information on franchisee support, real estate procedures, design and construction process/assistance, and local and national marketing programs.
Step 5: Discovery Day (optional)

You are welcome to come to our Support Center in Atlanta, GA to meet the team in person. If this is of interest to you, your Director of Franchise Development can help you coordinate the details.
Step 6: Franchise Committee Approval
Once our Franchise Leadership Team has approved your application and we have all of the legally required documentation from you, we will draw up your franchise agreements.
Step 7: Open Your Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Congratulations! You’re ready to open your smoothie business.
Ready to start the process? Click now!

Tropical Smoothie Cafe pictures - interior and sandwiches

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Tropical Smoothie Cafe been in business?

Tropical Smoothie Cafe was founded in 1997 and we opened our first franchise location in Tallahassee, FL in 1998.

Is it easy to operate?

Yes. Unlike many fast food restaurant franchises, there are no grills, deep fryers, hooding systems or ovens to worry about. Instead, we focus on fresh food that is cleaned and prepared each day.

What are the general operation hours of a Tropical Smoothie Cafe location?

Our Cafes are open from 7am-9pm.

How much does it cost to open a Tropical Smoothie Cafe?

On average, the overall investment cost range is $222,095 to $569,335.

How many locations do you have?

We have over 650 locations in 44 states.

How fast is Tropical Smoothie Cafe growing?

We currently have 650+ locations. Our goal is to reach 1,500 Cafes by 2025.

Do you help me find a location?

Yes. We provide you with a recommendation for the ideal area based on our real estate model. Additionally, we have an in-house Real Estate Team and a network of local brokers that will assist you in performing a real estate site search.

What type of demographics do you look for?

An ideal location will have a population of at least 50,000 with 20,000 to 30,000 traffic count in the immediate area, high home value and an average household income of $50,000+.

How much money can I make?

In 2017, the top 50% of our Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchises had average gross sales of $873,254.*

What type of square footage do you look for?

Typically, our Cafes are between 1,200 to 1,600 square feet.

How many employees do I need at the Cafe?

Our Cafes usually employ 12-15 part-time employees.

What is the franchise fee?

The franchise fee is $30,000 for the first unit, $20,000 for every additional unit, and $15,000 for qualified veterans.

What do I get with the franchise fee?

This fee covers your training, plans for building out the Cafe, access to our systems, technology, operational support and more.

How long do the franchise agreements last?

Franchise agreements last for 15 years.

What are the royalty fees?

Each Cafe pays 6% toward royalty fees, 3% toward national marketing, and 2% towards local store marketing based on gross sales.

What type of training do you provide?

We believe in setting up our franchisees for success. We provide the following training: four-week training program, consisting of two weeks in a nearby Cafe, one week in a classroom setting at our Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia and one week onsite for your Grand Opening.

Get started on the path to becoming a Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Owner.

Hopefully, we have made you hungry to learn more. Please complete the form, and a member of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Franchise Development Team will contact you. We look forward to getting to know you better.