How to Finance a 3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise: Hood-Free Build
By Chris Cornella
A 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan usually finances a small, hood-free café built in leased retail space: leasehold improvements, blenders and refrigeration, signage and enough cash to carry the first few months. Because there are no grills, fryers or cooking hoods, the build is simpler than a typical restaurant, but leasehold improvements still make up the largest share of the startup budget.
Below we cover what the franchisor’s materials and its 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) say about costs, what the SBA Franchise Directory listing means and how buyers can structure their financing.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by 3Natives Acai Cafe; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document and website can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchise fee: the franchisor’s website currently lists $35,000. The 2025 FDD, issued April 28, 2025, listed $39,500, with $29,500 for each additional franchise signed at the same time.
- Estimated initial investment: about $309,000 to $524,000 according to the franchisor’s website; the 2025 FDD’s Item 7 table totals $310,500 to $523,500 for a single café.
- Royalty: 6% of gross revenues.
- Marketing: 2% of gross revenues to the national marketing fund (the 2025 FDD allows an increase to up to 3%), plus local marketing.
- Café size: approximately 1,350 to 1,600 square feet seating 20 to 25 guests, per the 2025 FDD.
- System size: the company describes itself as having nearly 50 locations (2026).
- Term: 10 years, with renewal options for additional five-year terms.
- Franchisor financing: none offered directly, per the franchisor and Item 10 of the 2025 FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as “3Natives Acai Cafe” (code S3342), with two notes explained below.
What Is 3Natives Acai Cafe?
3Natives began as a 900-square-foot café that founder Anthony Bambino opened in Tequesta, Florida, in 2013. The menu centers on acai bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, wraps and salads. The franchisor, 3 Natives Franchising, LLC, is a Florida limited liability company headquartered in Tequesta, and according to the 2025 FDD it was formed and began offering franchises on June 22, 2015. The brand changed its name from 3Natives Acai & Juicery to 3Natives Acai Cafe in 2025.
The company says it has grown to nearly 50 locations in Florida and beyond. Its franchise materials describe a compact kitchen and dining setup, a low-labor workflow and a model built for takeout, delivery and catering as well as dine-in guests.
Why lenders view it the way they do. A hood-free café avoids some of the costliest parts of a restaurant build. But acai and smoothie shops sell lower-ticket items, so a lender reviewing a 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan focuses on traffic, visibility, labor and whether sales cover rent, royalties and debt service.
3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. The franchisor’s website lists a $35,000 franchise fee. The 2025 FDD set the fee at $39,500, due in full at signing and non-refundable, with $29,500 for each additional franchise signed at the same time. Because the two sources differ, confirm the fee in the FDD you actually receive.
Leasehold improvements. The 2025 FDD estimates $180,000 to $280,000 for leasehold improvements, the single largest line item. Landlord tenant-improvement allowances can reduce this cost, so lease negotiation directly affects how much you need to borrow. Our article on financing a restaurant build-out explains how lenders handle construction draws.
Equipment and signage. Furniture, fixtures and equipment, including point-of-sale hardware, run $30,000 to $100,000, and signs run $6,000 to $15,000.
Opening costs and working capital. The FDD includes grand opening advertising, training expenses, opening inventory and additional funds for the first three months.
Total investment. The 2025 FDD’s Item 7 table for a single café:
- Initial franchise fee: $39,500
- Leasehold improvements: $180,000 to $280,000
- Furniture, fixtures and equipment (including POS): $30,000 to $100,000
- Plans: $5,000 to $10,000
- Permits and licenses: $3,000 to $5,000
- Signs: $6,000 to $15,000
- Initial inventory and supplies: $5,000 to $7,000
- Grand opening advertising: $5,000
- Initial training expenses: $2,000 to $5,000
- Professional fees: $1,500 to $3,000
- Utility deposits: $500 to $2,000
- Lease deposits: $12,000 to $14,000
- Insurance and utility deposits: $1,000 to $3,000
- Additional funds (first three months): $20,000 to $35,000
- Total: $310,500 to $523,500
The franchisor’s current website lists the range as about $309,000 to $524,000. Build your loan request from the Item 7 table in the current FDD.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
- Royalty: 6% of gross revenues, due monthly.
- Marketing fee: 2% of gross revenues, which the 2025 FDD says may rise to up to 3%.
- Local marketing: the franchisor’s website says owners invest a minimum of 2% of gross revenues locally; the 2025 FDD listed 1%.
- Technology: a $150 monthly technology fee plus software license fees of $450 to $550 a month paid to vendors.
- Transfer fee: 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee, with a $19,750 minimum.
- Renewal fee: 25% of the then-current initial franchise fee, with a $9,875 minimum.
How lenders factor these in. The 6% royalty, the marketing fee and local marketing all come off the top of gross revenues before rent, food costs or payroll, and the marketing share can rise if the fund increases. Lenders subtract these percentage fees and the fixed monthly technology costs from projected revenue before calculating debt service coverage, so a realistic sales forecast matters more than the fee itself.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor says no restaurant experience is required and that it looks for financially qualified candidates who share its values of accountability, integrity and customer care. It does not publish a specific net worth or liquid capital minimum on its website, so ask for the current requirement during the discovery process and confirm it in the FDD.
The approval process. The franchisor outlines an eight-step path: initial inquiry, introductory call, application and review, FDD review, deeper research, Discovery Day at headquarters, approval and agreement, then training and grand opening.
Training and timeline. The 2025 FDD describes approximately ten days of hands-on initial training for the owner or operating principal and one other staff member. It says a café typically opens 9 to 12 months after signing and must open within twelve months unless an extension is granted, so financing needs to be lined up early.
Ways to Own a 3Natives Acai Cafe
A new café. Most owners open a new location, which means financing a build-out on projections rather than history. Our franchise start-up financing page explains how these loans are structured.
Buying an existing café. Resales let a lender underwrite actual sales and expenses. The buyer needs franchisor approval and pays a transfer fee. See our guide to buying a franchise resale, and learn about franchise restaurant acquisition loans.
Multiple cafés. The 2025 FDD describes a multi-unit development agreement with a $14,750 reservation fee per unit at signing and a $29,500 fee for each additional unit. The franchisor’s site features owners with two and four locations.
Financing Options for a 3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can finance a café’s leasehold improvements, equipment, franchise fee and working capital in one package, subject to lender approval.
SBA 504 loans. The 504 program is built for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets. Most 3Natives cafés operate in leased retail space, so 504 rarely fits unless the owner buys the building.
Conventional term loans. Owners with strong liquidity may prefer a conventional business loan.
Equipment financing. Commercial blenders, freezers, refrigeration, juicers, display cases and POS hardware can be financed separately. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital and lines of credit. Fruit and acai inventory, payroll and marketing need steady cash, and sales can vary with weather and seasonal traffic in tourist markets. Read about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price. A seller note must be acceptable to the senior lender, is typically subordinate to it, and may be limited by loan program rules.
SBA Loans for 3Natives Acai Cafe Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. 3Natives Acai Cafe is listed (code S3342), which means its franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
Note 1: lease addendum and real estate collateral. The directory states that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Addendum to Lease and Conditional Assignment of Lease may not be executed. In plain English, if the borrower owns the café property and pledges it as collateral, the franchisor’s lease addendum cannot be used for that location.
Note 2: Franchise Agreement only. The directory says applicants are eligible only if operating under the Franchise Agreement, not the Area Developer Agreement. An SBA loan can finance an individual café operated under its franchise agreement, but not development rights or reservation fees. Fund those from equity or other sources.
Application tips. A strong 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan package includes the current FDD, a proposed lease, build-out bids, equipment quotes and projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only and are not an offer.
How Lenders Evaluate a 3Natives Acai Cafe Deal
Personal credit. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and usually require guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want to see the equity injection plus reserves left over after opening.
Experience. Restaurant experience is not required, but lenders give credit for management or retail background.
Business plan and projections. Projections should reflect the 6% royalty, the marketing fees, technology costs, rent, labor and a realistic ramp-up period. The FDD’s opening timeline should drive the pre-opening budget.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal, transfer and territory sections. The 2025 FDD says owners receive a protected territory but not an exclusive territory. Our guide on how lenders read an FDD explains what matters most. Review Item 19 to see whether the current FDD includes financial performance representations.
Site and lease. Lenders review lease length, rent and renewal options.
Historical financials for resales. Expect to provide several years of profit and loss statements and tax returns.
Equipment and Build-Out Considerations
The 2025 FDD’s equipment range is wide, so get vendor quotes early. The hood-free kitchen removes ventilation costs that drive many restaurant budgets, but blenders and freezers run constantly and need replacement planning.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Under the 2025 FDD’s multi-unit development agreement, developers pay a reservation fee per unit at signing and the balance of each unit’s franchise fee when its franchise agreement is signed. Reservation fees are paid up front, before any café opens, so they come from the developer’s own capital.
Lenders usually finance each café separately, and the first café’s results shape the next 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan. Read more about multi-unit franchise financing.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner opening a new café. A former corporate manager negotiates a tenant-improvement allowance and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for build-out, equipment and working capital.
A buyer acquiring an existing café. A buyer purchases a café from a franchisee who is relocating. The lender underwrites the café’s actual sales, and the seller carries a small subordinated note.
An owner adding a second location. An owner with one café signs for a second. The lender considers both cafés’ cash flow, and reservation fees are paid from savings.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Relying on the website range without reading the current FDD’s Item 7 table
- Underestimating leasehold improvements, the largest cost
- Trying to finance development rights with an SBA loan
- Leaving too little working capital for the ramp-up period
- Ignoring seasonal traffic swings when building projections
- Signing a lease before financing is approved
For more pitfalls, see the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your 3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Confirm the financial requirements. Ask the franchisor for its current net worth and liquidity guidance.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist. Learn how large a 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan you can support before committing to a site.
Step 4: Secure a site and negotiate the lease. Push for tenant-improvement allowances and a lease term that matches the loan.
Step 5: Gather bids and build projections. Collect contractor and equipment quotes.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit the loan package and coordinate closing with the franchisor’s approval and construction schedule.
3Natives Acai Cafe Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a 3Natives Acai Cafe?
The franchisor’s website lists about $309,000 to $524,000. The 2025 FDD’s Item 7 table totals $310,500 to $523,500 for a single café.
What is the 3Natives franchise fee?
The franchisor’s website lists $35,000. The 2025 FDD listed $39,500, with $29,500 for additional franchises signed at the same time. Confirm in the current FDD.
What royalty does 3Natives charge?
The royalty is 6% of gross revenues, plus a 2% marketing fee and local marketing.
How much liquid capital or net worth do I need?
The franchisor does not publish a specific minimum on its website. Ask during discovery, and plan for the equity injection plus reserves your lender requires.
Is 3Natives Acai Cafe eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. It is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S3342, with notes about the lease addendum and the Area Developer Agreement.
Can I finance equipment separately?
Yes. Blenders, freezers, refrigeration and POS hardware can be financed through equipment loans or leases.
Can I buy an existing 3Natives café?
Yes, with franchisor approval. Lenders underwrite the café’s historical financials, and a transfer fee applies.
Can a first-time owner get a 3Natives Acai Cafe franchise loan?
Yes. The franchisor does not require restaurant experience, and lenders weigh management background, liquidity and the business plan.
Does 3Natives offer financing?
No. The franchisor says it does not provide direct financing, though it may refer financing sources case by case.
How long is the franchise term?
The initial term is 10 years, with renewal options for additional five-year terms.
Final Thoughts
A 3Natives café is a simpler build than a full-service restaurant, but leasehold improvements, working capital and the ramp-up period still decide whether the loan works. Read the current FDD, negotiate the lease carefully and keep the SBA directory notes in mind.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
