Emerald City Smoothie franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Emerald City Smoothie franchise fee is $15,000 and the total initial investment ranges from $75,250 to $149,200, with about $20,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Emerald City Smoothie FDD.
What are the Emerald City Smoothie franchise fees and investment?
The Emerald City Smoothie franchise requires a franchise fee of $15,000 and a total initial investment of $75,250 to $149,200. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $15,000 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $75,250 to $149,200 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $20,000 |
| US locations | Not reported |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant (Smoothie) |
| Headquarters | Bellevue, Washington |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Franchising since | 2005 |
How does the Emerald City Smoothie investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Emerald City Smoothie's minimum investment of $75,250 is at or below the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 1124 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $15,000 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
What should you verify in the Emerald City Smoothie FDD?
Verify six parts of the Emerald City Smoothie Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether Emerald City Smoothie discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to Emerald City Smoothie?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Emerald City Smoothie:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Lviv Croissants | $20,000 | $74,700 to $104,500 |
| Fish & Chips | $50,000 | $74,650 to $134,900 |
| Omari Sushi | $3,750 | $75,850 to $524,300 |
| Milk Jar Cookies | $50,000 | $74,615 to $304,950 |
| Superior Food Safety | $50,000 | $74,023 to $100,906 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Emerald City Smoothie franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Emerald City Smoothie franchise ranges from $75,250 to $149,200, including a franchise fee of $15,000, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a Emerald City Smoothie franchise?
Emerald City Smoothie lists a minimum of about $20,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Emerald City Smoothie locations are there?
A current US unit count for Emerald City Smoothie is not reported in our data. Item 20 of the FDD lists the number of franchised and company-owned outlets.
How long has Emerald City Smoothie been franchising?
Emerald City Smoothie started offering franchises in 2005 after the company was founded in 1996.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Emerald City Smoothie and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Emerald City Smoothie. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.