Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise
Tropical Smoothie Cafe serves made-to-order smoothies along with wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches, quesadillas and bowls. The food menu gives cafes lunch and dinner traffic as well as smoothie sales. At the end of 2025 there were 1,651 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in the US, 1,650 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $276K–$771K
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 1,651+453 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2012
- Franchisor based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Time to open
- About 12 months after signing
- Agreement length
- 15 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From TSC Franchisor, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise costs
Opening a single Tropical Smoothie Cafe costs an estimated $275,500 to $770,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: TSC Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 27
Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000, for a first cafe ($25,000 for each additional cafe, $17,500 for qualified veterans). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: TSC Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 17
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | A national marketing fee of 5% of gross sales (can rise to 6%), paid weekly. |
Source: TSC Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 18
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Tropical Smoothie Cafe publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports net revenue for 1,431 franchised cafes open at least a full year in 2025, by sales band. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: TSC Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 63
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,371 (+174) | 1 | 6 |
| 2024 | 1,514 (+143) | 1 | 19 |
| 2025 | 1,650 (+136) | 1 | 34 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: TSC Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 67
How Tropical Smoothie Cafe compares
Of the 5 smoothie franchises on this site, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the 3rd cheapest to open and the largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Tropical Smoothie Cafe | Typical smoothie |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $276K | $276K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 1.4% | 3.7% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +37.8% | +16.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 4 of 5 |
Typical is the median across the 5 brands in smoothie franchises.
Other smoothie franchises
Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Tropical Smoothie Cafe?
About 12 months after signing, according to Tropical Smoothie Cafe's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Tropical Smoothie Cafe help with financing?
No. Tropical Smoothie Cafe does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Tropical Smoothie Cafe grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Tropical Smoothie Cafe can open nearby.
How long is a Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise agreement?
The initial term is 15 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Tropical Smoothie Cafe growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 512 franchised locations opened and 59 closed or left, a net change of +37.8%. About 1.4% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 3.7% typical for smoothie franchises.
How does Tropical Smoothie Cafe compare with other smoothie franchises?
Of the 5 smoothie franchises here, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the 3rd cheapest to open (low end $276K against a $276K median) and the largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Tropical Smoothie Cafe say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports net revenue for 1,431 franchised cafes open at least a full year in 2025, by sales band. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Tropical Smoothie Cafe based?
TSC Franchisor, LLC is based in Atlanta, Georgia and the brand has sold franchises since 2012.