How to Finance a Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise: Café Build-Out
By Anthony Cornella
A Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise loan funds a juice and smoothie bar: a compact café built around blenders, cold-pressed juice, refrigeration and a busy morning-to-afternoon counter. Because the franchisor’s cost figures are not posted on pages we could verify, the franchise disclosure document should drive every number in your financing plan.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Main Squeeze Juice Co.; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document 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 disclosure document and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: juice and smoothie café serving cold-pressed juices, smoothies, bowls and other better-for-you menu items.
- Footprint: a brand headquartered in New Orleans with franchised cafés across Louisiana and Texas and in newer markets such as St. Louis and the Phoenix area.
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment range: not published on franchisor pages we could verify; use Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current franchise disclosure document (FDD).
- Net worth and liquidity: ask the franchisor for its current requirements.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S2705, with one note about the Lease Addendum when real estate secures the loan.
- Typical financing tools: SBA 7(a), conventional term loans, equipment financing and working capital lines.
What Is Main Squeeze Juice Co.?
Main Squeeze Juice Co. is a fast-casual juice bar brand focused on fresh, plant-forward food and drinks. Its menu centers on cold-pressed juices and blended smoothies, with bowls and other quick items that let a café serve breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack traffic. The brand is based in New Orleans and has grown through franchising, with many cafés in the Houston area and other Texas and Louisiana markets.
Juice bars usually occupy small in-line or end-cap spaces in neighborhood shopping centers, near gyms, offices and schools. Some cafés also sell bottled juice to go, which adds a retail element to the counter.
Why lenders view it the way they do. A small footprint and a limited kitchen keep build-out lighter than a full restaurant, which lenders like. On the other hand, juice and smoothie sales depend heavily on location, morning traffic and repeat customers, and produce costs can swing. Lenders lean on the buyer’s experience, the site and a realistic ramp-up plan.
Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise Costs
Because the franchisor’s own cost breakdown was not available to us, every dollar figure in a Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise loan request should come from the current FDD.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 states the initial franchise fee, when it is paid, whether it is refundable and any fee for developing multiple cafés.
Lease and build-out. A juice bar build-out usually includes plumbing for multiple sinks and floor drains, electrical circuits for blenders and juicers, walk-in or reach-in refrigeration, counters, finishes and signage. A second-generation café or restaurant space can reduce costs, while a raw shell usually costs more.
Equipment. Commercial blenders, a cold-press juicer, refrigeration, freezers, ice machines, prep tables, display coolers for bottled juice and point-of-sale systems.
Opening costs and working capital. Training, opening inventory of produce and packaging, grand opening marketing, deposits, licenses and an “additional funds” reserve for the first months.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD lists each category with a low and high estimate. When you review it, look for:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements
- Juicing, blending and refrigeration equipment
- Furniture, fixtures, signage and technology
- Opening inventory, packaging and grand opening marketing
- Training travel, deposits, licenses and permits
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Lenders size the loan against that total and expect the buyer to cover overruns from personal funds or a reserve.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any brand or marketing fund contribution, technology fees, transfer and renewal fees, and any refresh or remodel requirements. Ask whether online ordering, loyalty and delivery integrations are billed through the franchisor.
How lenders factor these costs in. Royalties and marketing fees are usually a percentage of gross sales, so they come out before rent, payroll, produce and loan payments. A lender’s projection deducts every Item 6 fee and then tests whether the remaining cash flow covers debt service with a cushion. Because fresh produce prices move, a projection that stress-tests food cost is more convincing.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not verify Main Squeeze’s minimum net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements from the franchisor’s own materials. Expect a juice bar franchisor to look for:
- Liquid funds to cover an equity injection and working capital
- Management, hospitality or customer-service experience
- A commitment to complete training and to be involved in the café
- A target market and an approved site
The process generally moves from inquiry to FDD review, discovery conversations, financial qualification and signing, followed by site selection, build-out and training.
Ways to Own a Main Squeeze Juice Co. Café
Opening a new café. The loan is based on the Item 7 budget, projections, your experience and collateral. See our restaurant start-up financing page for what lenders ask for.
Buying an existing café. With franchisor approval, a buyer can finance the purchase based on the café’s historical sales and tax returns. Our article on buying a franchise resale explains the transfer process.
Multi-unit development. Main Squeeze has grown partly through owners who operate several cafés in one metro area. Lenders typically fund one café at a time, using results from earlier units to support the next.
Financing Options for a Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. With the brand listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can cover the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital in a single loan.
SBA 504 loans. An SBA 504 loan fits when an owner buys real estate or makes a large long-lived equipment purchase. Most juice bars lease their space, so 504 financing applies mainly to owners who buy a building or commercial condo.
Conventional term loans. Owners with strong collateral, liquidity and an operating history may qualify for a conventional business loan, especially when adding a second or third café.
Equipment financing. Cold-press juicers, high-speed blenders, ice machines, display coolers and point-of-sale hardware can be financed separately to preserve cash. Learn more about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Juice bars buy fresh produce several times a week and may see sales shift with the seasons, school calendars and the New Year wellness rush. A line of credit helps cover payroll and produce during slower stretches. See our restaurant working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price of an existing café. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules can limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise agreements have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a brand to be listed before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to its franchisees. A listing does not approve any borrower; it clears the franchise relationship so the lender can focus on you and the deal. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
Main Squeeze Juice Co. is listed under code S2705 with this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Addendum may not be signed.
What the note means. A franchisor’s lease addendum typically gives it rights in the café’s lease, such as the right to take over the lease in certain situations. When the owner’s real estate secures the SBA-guaranteed loan, those rights could conflict with the lender’s lien, so the addendum is not used for that loan. If you lease the space and no real estate is pledged, the note generally does not affect your deal. Confirm the details with your lender.
SBA application tips. Prepare the FDD and franchise agreement, a personal financial statement, tax returns, a résumé, a lease proposal, contractor and equipment quotes, and a business plan. Our article on writing a franchise business plan for an SBA loan walks through the projections. The SBA loan calculator provides early payment estimates for planning only; they are not an offer or approval.
How Lenders Evaluate a Main Squeeze Juice Co. Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and existing debts, and usually require a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. You will need documented cash for the equity injection and reserves after closing.
Industry and management experience. Food service, retail or team management experience strengthens a request, especially if you plan to run the café yourself.
Business plan and projections. Model daypart traffic, average ticket, produce cost, labor during peak hours and every fee in Item 6. Include a ramp-up period rather than assuming mature sales from day one.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal and transfer provisions, territory rights and the franchisor’s financial statements. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document covers what they check.
Site and lease. Lenders want a lease term, with renewals, that covers the loan, plus visibility, parking and nearby traffic generators.
Historical financials for resales. For an existing café, expect to provide several years of profit and loss statements, sales reports and tax returns.
Juice Bar Equipment and Food Safety
Equipment is a meaningful share of a juice bar’s cost. A cold-press juicer and high-speed blenders handle most of the menu, supported by reach-in and walk-in refrigeration, freezers for frozen fruit, ice machines, prep sinks, display coolers and a point-of-sale system. Because cold-pressed juice is a perishable product, refrigeration, cleaning routines and local health department requirements matter as much as the menu. Financing the equipment package over its useful life can free up cash for opening inventory and marketing.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Juice bars with small footprints suit owners who want to build a cluster of cafés in one metro area and share managers, marketing and produce deliveries. When financing a second or third café, lenders look at the first café’s actual results, combined debt and management depth. Keep any development schedule realistic. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how lenders handle growth.
Real-World Scenarios
A fitness professional opening a first café. A gym manager signs for a café near a busy fitness center. An SBA 7(a) loan covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital, with personal savings as the equity injection.
An owner adding a second café. An owner with a stable first café finances a second location with a conventional term loan plus equipment financing, using the first café’s tax returns to support the request.
A buyer taking over an existing café. A buyer purchases a café from a franchisee who is relocating. The lender underwrites historical sales, and the seller carries a small subordinate note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Building a budget from online estimates instead of the current Item 7
- Underestimating plumbing, drains and electrical work for juicing equipment
- Ignoring produce cost swings and waste in the projections
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
- Opening with too little working capital for slower seasons
For more pitfalls, read about the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 19 and 20 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Confirm the franchisor’s requirements. Ask about net worth, liquidity, experience and any development expectations.
Step 3: Talk with existing franchisees. Ask about build-out costs, ramp-up and seasonality.
Step 4: Size your Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise loan. Speak with a financing specialist about how much you can borrow and the equity you will need.
Step 5: Secure a site. Get a lease proposal and contractor bids so the loan request reflects real costs.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your loan package, coordinate approvals with the franchisor and schedule training and opening.
Main Squeeze Juice Co. Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise cost?
Item 7 of the current FDD lists the estimated total investment with each cost category. The franchisor’s figures were not available on pages we could verify.
What is the Main Squeeze franchise fee?
Item 5 of the FDD states the initial franchise fee and when it is paid.
How much liquid capital do I need?
Ask the franchisor for its current requirement. Lenders will also expect an equity injection and post-closing reserves.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S2705, so SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are available to qualified borrowers, subject to lender approval.
What does the SBA directory note mean?
If the café’s real estate secures the SBA-guaranteed loan, the franchisor’s Lease Addendum is not signed. For leased cafés with no real estate collateral, the note generally does not apply.
Can I finance juicers and blenders separately?
Yes. Equipment financing or leasing can cover juicers, blenders, refrigeration and point-of-sale systems apart from the main loan.
Can I buy an existing Main Squeeze café?
Yes, with franchisor approval. The purchase can be financed based on the café’s historical financials.
Can a first-time business owner get financing?
Yes, if the franchisor approves you and you have adequate credit and liquidity. Management experience and the franchisor’s training help.
Does Main Squeeze offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses any franchisor financing. Most franchisees arrange their own loans.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Check Item 19 of the current FDD to see whether the franchisor makes financial performance representations.
Final Thoughts
A Main Squeeze Juice Co. franchise loan is built on a small café, a strong site and an equipment-heavy menu. With the brand on the SBA Franchise Directory, a first café can be financed through SBA 7(a), with equipment and conventional loans supporting growth.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment, working capital and refinancing. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
