How to Finance a Booster Juice Franchise: Multi-Unit Costs
By Chris Cornella
A Booster Juice franchise loan in the United States is a multi-unit financing project from day one. Booster Juice is not currently offering single-unit franchises in the U.S., so a buyer is planning, and financing, a small group of smoothie bars rather than one store.
This article explains what the brand’s U.S. franchising materials say about fees, store costs and capital requirements, how lenders are likely to look at a Canadian brand entering new American markets, and how buyers can structure financing for several build-outs on a development schedule.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Booster Juice; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures below come from the franchisor’s own U.S. franchising pages and can change; the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) controls. Loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, every loan is subject to approval, and nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Booster Juice Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchise fee: US$20,000 per store, according to the brand’s U.S. franchising page.
- Royalty: 6% of sales.
- Advertising and marketing fee: 2%.
- Store costs: typically US$350,000 to $500,000 per store, covering construction, equipment and signage, with the franchise fee included.
- Liquid capital: a minimum of US$150,000 in liquid cash per store.
- Net worth: in a range of US$500,000 to $1,000,000.
- Ownership model: multi-unit deals only in the U.S.; single-unit franchises are not currently offered.
- Franchise term: an initial 10 years, with an option to renew for an additional 5 years.
- System size: the company reports more than 470 locations, rooted in Canada.
- SBA Franchise Directory: Booster Juice is not listed, so conventional financing is the expected route unless that changes.
What Is Booster Juice?
Booster Juice describes itself as Canada’s original juice and smoothie bar. Founder Dale Wishewan opened the first location in Sherwood Park, Alberta, in 1999, and the company says it has grown to more than 470 locations, with stores in every province and territory across Canada. Its training and head office functions are based in Edmonton, Alberta.
The concept is a counter-service bar built around blended smoothies, with the brand citing over 30 smoothie options. Stores are compact, high-traffic units where speed at the counter matters more than seating.
A new U.S. growth push. The brand’s U.S. franchising page lists new opportunities in four regions, the East Coast, the Midwest, Florida and Texas, each marked “coming soon.” The company points to 25 years of franchising experience in Canada as the foundation for that expansion.
How lenders view the brand. A lender will see a long-established Canadian franchisor with a deep store base and a simple, equipment-light format. But U.S. unit history is limited, which puts extra weight on the buyer’s capital, experience and projections.
Booster Juice Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. The U.S. franchising page puts the franchise fee at US$20,000 per store, included in typical store costs. Item 5 of the FDD will show when each store’s fee is due under a development deal.
Real estate and build-out. Booster Juice stores are generally leased retail units, so buyers are not usually financing real estate. The major spend is leasehold improvements: plumbing for blending and washing stations, electrical capacity for multiple blenders and refrigeration, counters, finishes and the brand’s store design. For a deeper look at how these projects are funded, see our article on financing a restaurant build-out.
Equipment and signage. The franchisor’s store cost estimate covers equipment and signage along with construction. Expect commercial blenders, refrigeration, freezers, juicers, ice machines, point-of-sale systems and menu boards.
Opening costs and working capital. Plan separately for items often outside a build-out budget, such as pre-opening payroll, training travel to Edmonton, opening inventory, deposits, insurance and early operating reserves. The franchisor’s liquid capital requirement of US$150,000 per store is a useful signal of how much cash the brand expects owners to bring to each opening.
Total investment. The franchisor states that store costs typically range from US$350,000 to $500,000 per store. That is a per-store estimate; a multi-unit development should be budgeted store by store and timed to the opening schedule. The franchisor’s U.S. page groups the main costs into these categories:
- Franchise fee (US$20,000 per store, included in the estimate)
- Construction and leasehold improvements
- Equipment
- Signage
A Booster Juice franchise loan is sized from the current FDD’s Item 7 table, the authoritative breakdown including any additional funds, inventory and training expenses, so ask for it early.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty. The U.S. franchising page sets the sales royalty at 6%.
Advertising and marketing. Stores pay a 2% advertising and marketing fee, according to the same page. The brand’s Canadian materials describe a different marketing contribution, so read the U.S. FDD’s Item 6 for the rate that applies to your agreement.
Other fees. Technology, transfer, renewal and remodel obligations are not described on the U.S. page; Item 6 of the FDD will list them.
How lenders factor these costs in. Royalty and marketing fees come off the top line before rent, labor and product costs. Lenders subtract them from projected sales, then test whether remaining cash flow covers debt service with a cushion, store by store.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
Booster Juice’s U.S. franchising page sets out the following expectations:
- Liquid capital: a minimum of US$150,000 in liquid cash per store.
- Net worth: between US$500,000 and $1,000,000.
- Multi-unit commitment: only multi-unit deals are considered. The page cites a minimum of 3 to 6 locations in one section and a 5-store minimum to start in another, so confirm the exact commitment for your territory.
- Training: a 2-week training session in Edmonton, Alberta, combining classroom and hands-on instruction.
The approval process. The franchisor’s path runs from application and a pre-qualification call through a two-stage interview, executive committee approval, a 14-day FDD disclosure period, signing, site selection and training.
Because liquidity is stated per store, expect lenders to look at cash across the whole development. Our article on how much franchise you can afford walks through that math.
Ways to Own a Booster Juice
A multi-unit development deal. This is the main path in the U.S. today. The franchisee commits to a set number of stores in a territory and opens them over a schedule. Financing usually comes in stages, with each store funded as it reaches lease signing and construction. Our page on area development agreement financing explains how lenders approach development schedules.
New store openings within the development. Each opening is a start-up. Lenders underwrite projections, the lease, the build-out budget and the operator’s experience rather than historical results. Read more about franchise start-up financing.
Buying an existing location. With the U.S. system at an early stage, resale opportunities are likely to be scarce for now. Any future transfer would need franchisor approval, and lenders would underwrite the store’s actual results. Our article on buying a franchise resale covers what to expect when that becomes an option.
Financing Options for a Booster Juice Franchise
Conventional term loans. Because the brand is not on the SBA Franchise Directory, the typical Booster Juice franchise loan is a conventional business loan covering a store’s build-out, equipment and opening costs. Lenders typically size the loan to projected cash flow and require personal guarantees and a security interest in business assets. For a multi-unit program, some borrowers arrange a separate loan for each store, while others negotiate a facility that funds stores as they open.
SBA 7(a) loans. The SBA 7(a) program is a common tool for franchise start-ups, but SBA lenders generally require the brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory. Unless Booster Juice is added, plan around conventional financing. See the SBA section below.
SBA 504 loans. The 504 program is built for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets. Booster Juice stores are typically leased in-line retail units, so a 504 structure rarely fits, and it would also depend on a directory listing.
Equipment financing. Blenders, juicers, refrigeration, freezers, ice machines, point-of-sale hardware and digital menu boards can often be financed or leased separately from the build-out loan. That can preserve cash for the next store’s opening. Learn more about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Smoothie sales can swing with the seasons and with foot traffic around schools, gyms and shopping centers. A line of credit can help smooth slower months, fund pre-opening payroll for a new store and absorb the timing gaps that come with opening several units close together. See our restaurant working capital options.
Seller financing on future resales. If an existing U.S. store comes up for sale later, part of the price may be carried by the seller. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and some programs limit its use.
SBA Loans for Booster Juice Franchisees
SBA lending to franchisees runs through the SBA Franchise Directory, a list of brands whose agreements have been reviewed for eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a listing, which clears the franchise relationship but does not approve any borrower.
Booster Juice is not on the SBA Franchise Directory. In plain terms, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are generally not available for a Booster Juice store as things stand. That is not a judgment about the brand, but it means buyers should plan on conventional term loans, equipment financing and lines of credit.
Directory status can change, so confirm it with your lender before you apply. If the brand is added, the SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
How Lenders Evaluate a Booster Juice Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement for each significant owner.
Net worth and liquidity. The franchisor’s US$150,000 per-store liquidity floor is a starting point. Lenders will also want to see reserves remaining after each store’s equity contribution, because a development plan stretches cash over several openings.
Industry and management experience. Food service, retail or multi-unit management experience is especially important for a development deal. Lenders want to know who runs each store day to day.
Business plan and projections. Projections should be store-specific: the site’s traffic drivers, a ramp-up period after opening, the 6% royalty and 2% marketing fee, rent, labor scheduling around peak hours and fruit and dairy costs. Because U.S. unit history is limited, lenders may lean harder on conservative assumptions.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal, transfer and default provisions, and they look closely at the development agreement’s opening schedule and what happens if a store opens late. Item 19 will show whether the franchisor makes any financial performance representations for U.S. or other stores, and Item 10 will show whether it offers any financing. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains which items matter most.
Site and lease. Each store’s lease is central to its loan. Lenders review rent, the lease term against the 10-year franchise term, renewal options, co-tenancy and exclusivity clauses and any landlord improvement allowance.
Equipment and Store Build-Out
A smoothie bar packs a lot of equipment into a small footprint. Blenders see heavy daily use, so projections should budget for replacement cycles and service contracts, and shorter-lived items suit equipment financing terms matched to their lifespan.
Lenders also check that construction bids match the franchisor’s store design and that the contractor’s schedule fits the development agreement’s opening dates.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
In the U.S., every owner is a multi-unit owner by design, so each Booster Juice franchise loan is one piece of a larger development plan.
Stage the capital. Rather than borrowing for every store at once, most developers finance the first store, prove the operating model, then use that store’s results to support financing for the next. Lenders tend to be more comfortable once an operating unit is producing statements.
Match the schedule to cash. A development agreement sets dates for openings. Before signing, compare the schedule with realistic timelines for lease negotiation, permits and construction, and with how much liquidity you will have at each step.
Real-World Scenarios
A restaurant operator entering a new territory. An owner with several quick-service units in Texas signs a multi-unit agreement for a new region. The owner finances the first store’s build-out with a conventional term loan, leases the blender and refrigeration package, and keeps a line of credit for pre-opening payroll.
Two partners building in a Florida market. Two partners with retail management backgrounds combine their liquidity to meet the per-store requirement. Their lender funds each store as its lease is signed, using a Booster Juice franchise loan structured around the opening schedule.
An existing franchisee of another concept adding a smoothie brand. A multi-brand operator already has lender relationships and consolidated statements. The lender underwrites the new Booster Juice stores alongside the existing portfolio’s cash flow, focusing on management depth for an additional brand.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming SBA financing is available for a brand not on the SBA Franchise Directory
- Budgeting liquidity for one store when the commitment is several
- Signing a development schedule that outruns lease, permit and construction timelines
- Relying on Canadian system figures instead of the U.S. FDD’s Item 5, 6 and 7 disclosures
- Leaving pre-opening payroll, training travel and opening inventory out of the budget
- Underestimating seasonality in smoothie sales when modeling debt service
- Signing a lease shorter than the franchise term without renewal options
For more pitfalls that apply across food service, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Booster Juice Franchise
Step 1: Confirm you meet the requirements. Check your net worth against the franchisor’s range and your liquid capital against the US$150,000 minimum for each store you plan to open.
Step 2: Apply and complete the franchisor’s interviews. Submit the application, complete pre-qualification and the two-stage interview, and obtain executive committee approval.
Step 3: Review the FDD with advisors. Use the 14-day disclosure period to study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17 and 19, the franchise agreement and the development agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist early. Learn how conventional lenders will size each store’s loan and stage a development. Our conventional loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only and are not an offer or approval.
Step 5: Build store-level projections. Prepare a projection for each planned location using real lease terms, the 6% royalty, the 2% marketing fee and conservative ramp-up assumptions.
Step 6: Secure the first site and financing. Submit the loan request with your personal financial statement, tax returns, projections, lease and franchise documents, and keep lender timelines aligned with the franchisor’s site approval.
Step 7: Close, build and train. Complete the 2-week training in Edmonton, finish construction, arrange working capital and use the first store’s results to support financing for the next one.
Booster Juice Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Booster Juice franchise in the U.S.?
The franchisor’s U.S. page says store costs typically range from US$350,000 to $500,000 per store, covering construction, equipment and signage, with the US$20,000 franchise fee included. Because only multi-unit deals are offered, total capital depends on how many stores you commit to.
What is the Booster Juice franchise fee?
US$20,000 per store, according to the brand’s U.S. franchising page. Check Item 5 of the current FDD for timing and any development fees.
What royalty and marketing fees does Booster Juice charge?
The U.S. page lists a 6% sales royalty and a 2% advertising and marketing fee. Item 6 of the FDD lists all other ongoing fees.
How much liquid capital and net worth do I need?
The franchisor calls for a minimum of US$150,000 in liquid cash per store and a net worth between US$500,000 and $1,000,000.
Can I open just one Booster Juice in the U.S.?
Not currently. The franchisor says it is not offering single-unit franchises in the U.S. and will consider only multi-unit deals.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Booster Juice franchise?
Booster Juice is not listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, and SBA lenders generally require a listing, so SBA financing is generally not available right now. Conventional loans are the expected route. Confirm current directory status with your lender.
Does Booster Juice offer financing?
The franchisor’s U.S. page does not describe any financing program. Review Item 10 of the current FDD for the franchisor’s financing disclosures.
Can I finance the equipment separately?
Often, yes. Equipment can typically be financed or leased apart from the build-out loan, subject to approval.
Can a first-time business owner get a Booster Juice franchise loan?
It is possible, but a multi-unit commitment raises the bar. Lenders will look closely at management experience, liquidity across the full development and the team that will run each store.
How long is the Booster Juice franchise term?
The franchisor’s U.S. page lists an initial term of 10 years, with an option to renew for an additional 5 years.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Review Item 19 of the current U.S. FDD to see whether the franchisor makes financial performance representations. Lenders will rely on your own conservative projections in any case.
Final Thoughts
Booster Juice brings a long Canadian track record to a U.S. expansion that is just getting under way, and its multi-unit-only model means financing has to be planned across a development rather than a single store. Buyers who stage their capital, budget liquidity per store and approach conventional lenders early put themselves in the best position to open on schedule.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, equipment, working capital and expansion. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
