Smoothie King vs Juice It Up! Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Smoothie King vs Juice It Up! including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Smoothie King Franchise
Juice It Up! Franchise
Investment $269,550 - $845,985$214,375 - $390,475
Franchise Fee $30,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 6%6%
Advertising Fee 3%2%
Year Founded 19871995
Year Franchised 19881998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Smoothie King Franchise
Juice It Up! Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Juice It Up! Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Juice It Up! Franchise
    Training -

    Comprehensive Franchise Training Program consisting of an Orientation, Initial Franchise Training (pre-store start up), and “On The Job” Training, including a complete set of training manuals. On-The-Job Training: 100 hours Classroom Training: 36 hours

    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 9

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 - 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Smoothie King Franchise
    Juice It Up! Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Smoothie King

    When visits to various doctors did little to relieve the allergies Steve Kuhnau was suffering from, the nurse began reading up on nutrition, hoping a change in diet would help his symptoms. Once he began eating fresh foods and cutting fat out of his diet, Kuhnau started feeling better. His next task was to find a way to tackle the midday fatigue caused by hypoglycemia. Using his nursing expertise and the drink mixing experience he gained as a soda jerk in high school, Kuhnau began experimenting with high protein drinks. The resulting product combined fresh fruits, vitamins and other supplements and inspired the creation of Kuhnau's company, Smoothie King.
    Each Smoothie King store sells smoothies and a variety of vitamins, minerals, low fat snacks and nutritional supplements. Offering 40 percent off its initial franchise fee agreements for the first 40 agreements in 2013 IN St. Louis.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a traditional Smoothie King Business ranges from for an end-cap or in-line location, $269,550 to $545,035, and for a free-standing drive-thru location, $577,100 to $845,985. This includes $28,250 to $36,990 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    If you sign an Area Development Agreement, you also must pay the franchisor a development fee of $12,500 for each Smoothie King franchise you commit to develop after the first franchise. You must develop a minimum of 5 Smoothie King Businesses under the Area Development Agreement.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    ""  "Entrepreneur

    #14 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #19 in Franchise 500 for 2021.







    About Juice It Up!

    Juice It Up! smoothies got their begining on the California coastline, where surfers and other shoreline goers appreciated the new organic product shakes. The primary Juice It Up! store opened in 1995 in southern California. Juice It Up! smoothies incorporate up to five servings of natural product with complimentary nutritious supplements. Juice It Up! stores likewise offer naturally crushed juices, solid snacks and shakes. 

    Veteran Incentives  60% off first-store franchise fee; second-store franchise fee refunded if second unit opens within one year of first

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #76 on Franchise Rankings.com

    "Entrepreneur
    #413 in Franchise 500 for 2020.