How to Finance a Greens and Grains Franchise: Plant-Based Cafes
By Anthony Cornella
A Greens and Grains franchise loan funds a plant-based fast-casual restaurant from a family-founded South Jersey brand that serves vegan comfort food alongside bowls, wraps and smoothies. The system is small and regional, so lenders focus on your experience, your site and how well you understand the brand’s supply model.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Greens and Grains; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Have a franchise attorney and an accountant review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement before you commit.
Greens and Grains Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a plant-based fast-casual restaurant serving salads, bowls, wraps, pitas, sandwiches, smoothies and fresh juices, including vegan versions of classics such as cheesesteaks and gyros.
- Founders: husband-and-wife team Nicole and Lambros Psounos, who started the brand in Ventnor, New Jersey, in 2014.
- Footprint: restaurants in Atlantic, Monmouth, Camden and Cape May counties in New Jersey, a university campus location in Glassboro and a concession at a Philadelphia ballpark.
- Supply model: a central kitchen at the company’s Mays Landing headquarters prepares proprietary items for other locations.
- Fees and investment: the franchise fee, royalty, marketing fees and estimated initial investment appear in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD. We could not verify them from the franchisor’s own materials.
- Net worth and liquidity: not published in materials we could verify.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as “Greens and Grains” under code S8674, with three notes on real estate collateral (explained below).
What Is Greens and Grains?
Greens and Grains grew out of vegetarian cooking classes that Nicole Psounos taught from her Ventnor home. The couple then opened a small quick-service shop in Ventnor, and the brand reports that it began franchising in 2015, a year after it was founded.
The menu. The kitchen is built around house-made items: seitan for gyros and cheesesteaks, falafel, hummus, plant-based sauces, gluten-free mac and cheese, salads, bowls and wraps, plus smoothies and juices. The goal is food that appeals to vegans and to guests who simply want a healthier version of familiar dishes.
Locations and channels. The brand operates in shore communities, suburban shopping centers and food halls in South and Central Jersey. It has added a campus location in Glassboro, a ballpark concession in Philadelphia and a custom food truck for festivals, farmers markets and private events, and it has signaled interest in more sports, entertainment and higher-education venues.
The central kitchen. Corporate operations and the largest kitchen sit in Mays Landing, where proprietary items are prepared for other locations. For an owner, that can simplify prep and protect consistency, but it also makes the supply relationship an important part of your budget.
How lenders view the brand. Lenders like a fast-casual kitchen without heavy frying and a menu that serves lunch and dinner. They also know Greens and Grains is a small, regional system, so they weigh borrower experience, liquidity and location more heavily than brand history. See our article on financing an emerging franchise.
Greens and Grains Franchise Costs
Build every figure in your budget from the current FDD and local quotes.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 discloses the fee and any multi-unit terms. It is normally due at signing and paid from your equity or loan proceeds.
Lease and build-out. Locations lease storefronts in shopping centers, shore business districts and food halls. Build-out covers a service counter, a prep kitchen, refrigeration, plumbing, electrical work, seating and signage. Our page on restaurant build-out financing explains how construction is funded.
Equipment. Expect reach-in and walk-in refrigeration, a griddle or flat-top for cheesesteaks, ovens, prep tables, commercial blenders and a juicer for the drink menu, a point-of-sale system and smallwares.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory from the central kitchen and suppliers, training, payroll before opening, grand-opening marketing, insurance and deposits all need funding before sales settle.
Total investment. Item 7 presents a range. Line items to review include:
- Initial franchise fee
- Security deposit and pre-opening rent
- Leasehold improvements
- Kitchen and refrigeration equipment
- Blenders and juice equipment
- Furniture, fixtures and decor
- Signage
- Point-of-sale and online ordering technology
- Opening inventory
- Training expenses
- Grand-opening marketing
- Additional funds for the first months of operation
Make sure the line items match the stated total and the format you plan to open.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty and marketing. Item 6 lists the royalty, usually a percentage of sales, and any brand or local marketing contributions.
Product purchases. If you must buy proprietary items from the central kitchen or approved suppliers, Item 8 explains those requirements. Lenders treat those purchases as part of food cost.
How lenders factor these costs in. Lenders deduct royalty, marketing, food cost, labor and rent before testing whether cash flow covers loan payments. Shore locations should model a busy summer and slower winter, while campus locations follow the academic calendar. Show both the strong months and the slow ones.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not verify published net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements from materials published by the franchisor. Ask for them in writing early and compare them with your personal financial statement.
Expect an application, conversations with the founders, an FDD review, site approval and training before opening. Restaurant or food service experience, or a strong manager, strengthens both the franchisor’s review and your loan file.
Ways to Own a Greens and Grains
Opening a new location. A Greens and Grains franchise loan for a new restaurant is underwritten on projections. Explore our restaurant start-up financing.
Buying an existing location. Existing franchised restaurants occasionally change hands. A resale gives you actual sales history and an operating kitchen, but the franchisor must approve the transfer. Read our article on buying a franchise resale.
Venue and non-traditional sites. Campus, ballpark and food-hall locations have different leases, hours and seasonality than a street-front restaurant, and lenders will want to see the venue agreement.
Financing Options for a Greens and Grains Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can fund the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, inventory and working capital, subject to approval.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy the building, the 504 program can finance owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment, and the directory notes on real estate collateral apply.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong credit and collateral may qualify for a conventional business loan.
Equipment financing. Refrigeration, cooking equipment, blenders and juicers can be financed or leased separately. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Shore and campus locations need cash to staff up before busy periods and to cover slow ones. Our restaurant working capital options help bridge those gaps.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules may limit their terms.
SBA Loans for Greens and Grains Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. Each loan is still judged on the borrower and the deal.
The listing and its notes. Greens and Grains appears under code S8674 with three notes:
- Lease documents. When the real estate where the business is located secures the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Consent and Agreement of Landlord and Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be executed. Those documents normally let the franchisor step into a leased location; if you own and pledge the property, they should not be signed.
- Lien position. The lender must obtain the correct lien position on all collateral under the SBA’s standard operating procedures.
- No franchisor filings on the property. The franchisor may not file anything against real estate that serves as SBA collateral.
In practice, these notes matter most when you buy the building. Your lender and franchise attorney will confirm the right documents.
Program size. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
Application tips. Prepare the FDD, a letter of intent or lease, quotes, a personal financial statement, tax returns, a resume and monthly projections. Estimate payments with our SBA loan calculator.
How Lenders Evaluate a Greens and Grains Deal
Credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and your personal financial statement, and owners typically sign personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. A Greens and Grains franchise loan requires an equity injection plus reserves after closing, especially for a seasonal site.
Experience. Restaurant management experience helps. First-time owners should show who will run the kitchen and manage labor.
Business plan and projections. Build sales from transactions and average ticket by daypart, and model catering and delivery separately. Explain how your trade area responds to a plant-based menu.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17 and 19, including whether the FDD contains financial performance representations.
Site and lease. Foot traffic, parking, nearby gyms, offices and campuses, lease term and rent all matter.
For resales. Expect to provide the seller’s tax returns, sales reports and profit-and-loss statements.
The Central Kitchen and Supply Planning
Because proprietary items are prepared in Mays Landing, ask how often deliveries arrive, how pricing is set, what happens if you open far from the central kitchen and whether any items are made on site. Those answers affect your food cost, labor and storage needs, which in turn shape the refrigeration you finance and the working capital you hold. Lenders will read the supply terms in the FDD and expect your projections to reflect them.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
A second Greens and Grains is underwritten largely on the first one’s results, your remaining liquidity and your management bench. Pairing a year-round suburban restaurant with a seasonal shore or campus site can balance cash flow. Read more about how the FDD shapes franchise financing before signing any development commitment.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner near a college. A former fitness manager opens near a university. An SBA 7(a) loan covers build-out, equipment and working capital, with projections that dip in summer.
A couple buying an existing shore location. Buyers purchase a franchised restaurant with sales history. Their lender underwrites the seller’s records and sizes a reserve for the off-season.
An operator who owns the building. A restaurant owner buys a small building for a new location. Under the directory notes, the landlord consent and collateral assignment are not signed, and the franchisor may not file against the property.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Projecting peak-season sales for every month.
- Ignoring central kitchen pricing and delivery costs.
- Leaving royalty and marketing fees out of debt service.
- Signing a lease before loan approval.
- Skipping a venue agreement review for non-traditional sites.
Learn more from our article on restaurant loan mistakes.
Next Steps to Finance Your Greens and Grains Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Focus on Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17 and 19.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Have an attorney and accountant review the agreement and supply terms.
Step 3: Confirm the financial requirements. Get the franchisor’s net worth and liquidity requirements in writing.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist. Match the loan to your plan before choosing a site.
Step 5: Secure a site and build projections. Model each month, including slow seasons.
Step 6: Apply and close. Coordinate closing with the franchise agreement and lease.
Greens and Grains Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Greens and Grains franchise cost?
Item 7 of the current FDD gives the estimated range. Costs depend on size, site condition and local construction prices.
What is the Greens and Grains franchise fee?
Item 5 lists it. We could not verify the current amount from the franchisor’s own materials.
What royalty does Greens and Grains charge?
Item 6 lists the royalty and marketing contributions, which lenders deduct before measuring debt service coverage.
Is Greens and Grains eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. It is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8674, subject to lender approval and the directory notes.
Do I need to be vegan to own one?
No personal dietary requirement appears in materials we reviewed, but you should be comfortable selling a fully plant-based menu.
Can I finance equipment separately?
Yes. Kitchen equipment can be part of an SBA 7(a) loan or financed with a separate equipment loan or lease.
Can I buy an existing Greens and Grains?
Yes, if one is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. Lenders underwrite resales on historical financials.
Can a first-time owner qualify?
Yes, with solid credit, enough cash and a credible management plan.
Does Greens and Grains offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses any franchisor financing. Plan on outside financing unless it says otherwise.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 lists the term, renewal and transfer conditions. Your loan term should fit within it.
Final Thoughts
A Greens and Grains franchise loan funds a distinctive plant-based restaurant in a small, founder-led system. Budget from the current FDD, understand the central kitchen terms, plan for seasonality and follow the SBA directory notes if you buy real estate.
US Professional Funding helps restaurant owners finance new locations, equipment and growth. Explore our franchise financing options and our restaurant financing solutions to plan your Greens and Grains opening.
