Is Tropical Smoothie Cafe right for you?
Scale
1,650 franchised units at year-end 2025 with net system growth of 136 to 174 units annually over the prior three years.
Revenue Transparency
the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 net revenue averages and medians for 1,431 mature franchised locations, with 45 percent of units at or above the top-quartile benchmark.
Unit Economics
Total initial investment range of $275,500 to $770,500 per location; ongoing royalty of 6 percent and marketing contribution of 5 to 6 percent of gross sales.
About Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a fast-casual franchise concept offering handcrafted smoothies made with fresh fruit and vegetables, alongside specialty sandwiches, flatbreads, wraps, salads, bowls, and all-day breakfast, lunch, dinner, and kids menu items. Headquartered in Atlanta, the brand operates under TSC Franchisor, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TSC SPV Funding, LLC following a September 2024 securitization transaction. As of year-end 2025 the system included 1,651 locations, nearly all franchised.
Restaurants occupy 1,200 to 1,900 square foot end-cap or in-line spaces without drive-thru. Operations center on proprietary smoothie recipes, fresh ingredients, and a broad menu that supports traffic across all dayparts. Franchisees purchase approximately 90 percent of supplies from approved vendors under system standards and specifications.
TSC Franchisor, LLC is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of TSC SPV Funding, LLC (TSC Issuer), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TSC SPV Guarantor, LLC; the structure originates from a September 6, 2024 Securitization Transaction, with TSC (Tropical Smoothie Café, LLC) as an indirect parent and ultimate ties to investment funds managed by Blackstone affiliates via a June 2024 acquisition.
The business model
How a Tropical Smoothie Cafe territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Standard fee is $35,000 per unit. Qualified veterans pay $17,500. Additional units are $25,000 each.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty is 6 percent of gross sales. National marketing fund contribution is 5 to 6 percent of gross sales. Additional monthly technology and loyalty platform fees total approximately $316 per cafe.
Protected Area
Franchisees receive a one-half mile radius protected area around the approved site while in compliance. No exclusive territory is granted and the franchisor reserves rights to non-traditional channels and other brands.
Supply Chain
Approximately 90 percent of purchases must be made from approved or designated suppliers. The franchisor received $35.7 million in supplier rebates during the 2025 reporting period.
Site Profile
Typical locations are 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. Drive-thru adds $40,000 to $60,000 to the investment range. Leasehold improvements reflect average tenant improvement allowances.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$35,000
Total investment range
$275,500 to $770,500
Royalty
6.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
5.00% of gross revenue
Founded
2024
Headquarters
Atlanta, GA
Active US franchisees
60
Total US units
75
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Initial training program for the first restaurant, with additional training scaled to franchisee experience for subsequent units.
- +At least five days of on-site opening assistance from a franchisor representative for the first cafe.
- +Ongoing field support, consultation, quality control reviews, and access to operations manuals and recommended accounting and inventory software.
- +National marketing fund administration, product development programs, and approved supplier network support.
- +Periodic updates to operating procedures and access to the brand website for location listing and consumer marketing.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
Item 11 does not specify the exact number of training hours, the training location, or a detailed curriculum outline for the initial training program.
Multi-unit growth path
The the filed disclosures permits development of additional units at a reduced $25,000 franchise fee. Training and on-site opening support requirements decrease for subsequent locations. Multi-unit operators benefit from economies in supply purchasing and shared overhead, though the disclosure does not provide separate performance data for multi-unit owners. System growth has been driven primarily by single and multi-unit franchisees adding locations in existing and new markets.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
Veterans Discount
Qualified veterans receive a reduced initial franchise fee of $17,500 for both first and subsequent units.
Third-Party Lenders
Franchisees may seek conventional bank financing or SBA loans using the disclosed investment range of $275,500 to $770,500. The franchisor does not offer direct financing.
Tenant Improvement Allowances
Average landlord tenant improvement allowances of approximately $44,000 reduce net leasehold improvement costs.
Equipment Leasing
Franchisees may finance a portion of the $131,500 to $184,000 equipment package through third-party leasing programs.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with existing franchisees, and analyze the financial-performance disclosure revenue data.
Site Approval
Identify and submit 1,200 to 1,900 square foot end-cap or in-line locations within target markets.
Franchise Agreement
Sign agreement and pay $35,000 initial franchise fee plus grand opening contribution.
Build-Out
Complete leasehold improvements, equipment installation, signage, and initial inventory over 8 to 14 weeks.
Training
Attend initial training program followed by five days of on-site opening support.
Opening
Launch with required grand opening marketing program and begin operations.
Ongoing Support
Receive field visits, marketing fund programs, and operational consultation.
Match assessment
Are you a Tropical Smoothie Cafe match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise cost?
Total initial investment ranges from $275,500 to $770,500 according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. The standard franchise fee is $35,000.
What is the royalty fee for Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
The royalty is 6 percent of gross sales. Marketing fund contributions are 5 to 6 percent of gross sales.
Does Tropical Smoothie Cafe provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses historical net revenue averages, medians, and quartile data for 1,431 franchised locations open at least one full year in 2025. Expense information is not provided.
How many Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations are there?
As of year-end 2025 the system operated 1,651 locations, of which 1,650 were franchised.
What is the protected territory for a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise?
Franchisees receive a one-half mile radius protected area around the approved site. No exclusive territory is granted.
How long does it take to open a Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
From franchise agreement signing to opening typically spans 4 to 6 months depending on site selection, permitting, and construction timelines.
Does Tropical Smoothie Cafe offer veteran discounts?
Yes. Qualified veterans pay a reduced initial franchise fee of $17,500 for the first and subsequent units.
What is the average revenue of a Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
the financial-performance disclosure reports average and median net revenues for mature units. Forty-five percent of the 1,431 disclosed locations met or exceeded the top-quartile average in 2025. Individual results vary.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe vs Smoothie King franchise
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers a broader all-day menu including sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls in addition to smoothies. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and protected territory definitions differ. Prospective operators should compare the respective FDDs.
Are Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees multi-unit owners?
Many operators develop multiple units. The the filed disclosures provides a reduced franchise fee for additional locations and scaled training requirements, although separate performance data for multi-unit operators is not disclosed.
What training and support does Tropical Smoothie Cafe provide?
Initial training is required for the first unit. Five days of on-site opening assistance is provided for the first cafe. Ongoing field support, marketing programs, and supplier access continue thereafter.
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