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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, coffee, soups

Background

Founded: 1997 Franchising since: 1997
4100 Legendary Dr., #250
Destin, Florida 32541
Phone:
(888)292-2522


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 15 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 271 0 5 2
2008 260 0 5 1
2007 238 0 5 1
2006 204 0 6 1
2005 150 0 6 0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $249K-380K
Franchise fee: $20K
Ongoing royalty fee: 6%
Term of agreement: 20 years, renewable
Express/kiosk option available

Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No Yes
Accounts Receivable No Yes
Payroll No Yes

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $150K
Cash liquidity requirement: $80K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience

Operations
  • 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 - 20
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 1 week
  • At franchisee's location: 1 week
  • At existing store : 80 hours

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations
  • Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks
  • National media
  • Regional advertising

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#176 (2009); #384 (2008); #127 (2007); #200 (2006); #139 (2005);

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#78 (2007);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#137 (2009); #124 (2008); #112 (2007); #153 (2006); #109 (2005);