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Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on February 23, 2022
Investment range
$10,050 - $21,100
Revenue potential
$150,000 - $330,000 p.a.
Time to build
1 – 3 months
Profit potential
$45,000 - $100,000 p.a.
Industry trend
Growing
Commitment
Full-time
Key considerations to keep in mind when opening your smoothie business include these essential factors:
You May Also Wonder:
Can a smoothie business be profitable?
A smoothie business can be very profitable. Your gross profit margin on products can be as high as 70%, and after rent, overhead, and labor you should aim for a net profit margin of about 30%.
How can I make my smoothie business stand out?
The key is offering inventive and delicious flavor combinations. Check out which flavors are trending and put your own unique spin on them. Do some experimenting and learn from trial and error.
What is the most popular smoothie?
The most popular smoothie can vary depending on personal preferences and trends. However, some popular smoothie flavors include strawberry banana, tropical fruit blends (such as mango, pineapple, and coconut), and green smoothies (typically made with spinach or kale).
What is the best flavor of smoothie?
The best flavor of smoothie is subjective and can vary from person to person. It’s essential to offer a variety of flavors to cater to different tastes and preferences. Classic flavors like strawberry, mango, or mixed berry are often well-received. Experiment with unique combinations and seasonal ingredients to create new and exciting flavor profiles.
How can I differentiate my smoothie business from competitors in the market?
Focus on using high-quality, fresh ingredients to create flavorful and nutritious smoothies. Offer unique and innovative flavor combinations that stand out from traditional options. Incorporate superfoods or functional ingredients that provide health benefits, such as chia seeds, matcha, or spirulina. Provide customizable options for customers to create their own smoothie combinations.
How can I incorporate seasonal ingredients and flavors into my smoothie menu?
Keep track of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are locally available and incorporate them into your menu. Offer limited-time specials or seasonal smoothie combinations to create excitement and encourage customers to try new flavors. Experiment with holiday-inspired flavors, such as pumpkin spice in the fall or peppermint in the winter.
Starting a smoothie business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.
Trends in the smoothie industry include:
Challenges in the smoothie industry include:
Startup costs for a smoothie business range from $10,000 – $20,000. The largest expenses are for a deposit on a rental space, the preparation of the space, and equipment.
You could also start a food truck for around the same amount of money.
You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your smoothie business, including:
| Start-up Costs | Ballpark Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Setting up a business name and corporation | $150 - $200 | $175 |
| Business licenses and permits | $100 - $300 | $200 |
| Insurance | $100-$300 | $200 |
| Business cards and brochures | $200 - $300 | $250 |
| Website setup | $1,000 - $3,000 | $2,000 |
| Deposit on a rental space | $2,500 - $5,000 | $3,750 |
| Space preparation, equipment, and furniture | $5,000 - $10,000 | $7,500 |
| Initial inventory of ingredients | $1,000 - $2,000 | $1,500 |
| Total | $10,050 - $21,100 | $15,575 |
Smoothie prices range from $3 to $10 or more, so let’s say yours will average $6. Your profit margin, after rent, overhead, and ingredients, should be about 30%.
In your first year or two as you’re building your business, you could sell 70 smoothies a day, bringing in more than $150,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $45,000 in profit, assuming that 30% margin. As your brand gains recognition and people start coming back for more, sales could climb to 150 smoothies a day. With annual revenue of nearly $330,000, you’d make a tidy profit of close to $100,000.
There are a few barriers to entry for a smoothie business. Your biggest challenges will be:
Now that you know what’s involved in starting a smoothie business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.
Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.
Research smoothie businesses in your area to examine their products, price points, and what sells best, as well as customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a vegan smoothie bar.
You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as exotic fruits, or more veggie-heavy smoothies.
This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away.
You’ll need to develop a menu of items to offer. Look at what’s trending and come up with unique spins on those trends. In addition to fresh fruit juices, which most smoothie bars serve, here are some further suggestions:
You could also offer food items such as baked goods, power bars, organic snacks, and sandwich wraps.
The average price of a smoothie is about $6, assuming you use quality ingredients. Bowls are in about the same price range. Your ongoing costs will be for ingredients, rent, overhead, and labor. You should aim for a profit margin of about 30%.
Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.
Your target market will be health-conscious people, which is a broad category. You should spread out your marketing to include sites like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. You could also place flyers at local gyms, which you can find on Yelp or Google.
You might start out with a smoothie truck, but at some point you’ll likely need to rent out a space, preferably one with a lot of foot traffic. Find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist, Crexi, and Instant Offices.
When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:
Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:
Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these.
Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.
Here are the key components of a business plan:
If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.
Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.
Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!
Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to smoothie businesses.
If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.
Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your smoothie business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.
Here are the main options:
We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have.
Choose Your State
The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.
Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.
The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.
It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.
Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:
Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a smoothie business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. Later, if you’re poised to grow into a smoothie franchise business, you may be able to attract angel investors.
Starting a smoothie business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.
You may need the following, depending on the requirements in your area:
Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits.
You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more.
You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.
This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.
If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.
Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.
Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your smoothie business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.
Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.
Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.
Here are some types of insurance to consider:
As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.
Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.
You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Café Cartel, EffiaSoft, or GoFrugal, to manage your inventory, purchasing, costs, recipes, and waste management.
Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.
You can create your own website using website builders. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.
Customers are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.
Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:
Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your smoothie business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.
Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your smoothie business could be:
You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a smoothie business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been in smoothies for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections.
The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in smoothies. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership.
If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a smoothie business include:
At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.
Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.
Smoothies are healthy, delicious, and a smart choice anytime, which is why it’s a $2 billion industry. Starting your own smoothie business is a great way to help people lead healthier lives, and you’ll make good money at the same time. Someday you might even have franchises across the country.
You’ve now got all the business know-how you need, it’s time to step up, create your business plan and start building your smoothie empire!
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