A salad bar is a buffet-style table or counter at a restaurant or food market on which assorted salad components are provided for customers to assemble their own salad plates. A good number of salad bars provide assorted fruits, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, assorted raw, sliced vegetables (such as cucumbers, carrots, celery, olives and green or red bell peppers), dried bread croutons, bacon bits, shredded cheese, and various types of salad dressing.
A close watch of happenings in this industry shows that the salad bar industry has been sustained by increased consumer spending, which was driven by higher disposable income and greater confidence in the economic outlook. Demand for fruit salad has increased at a faster rate than most segments of the food service sector, as consumers increasingly seek convenience at an affordable price.
Major operators are expected to expand their menus in the nearest future to increase sales and profit margins. This expansion includes more offerings of nontraditional, high – margin menu items, such as boiled eggs, cottage cheese, cold pasta salads, tortilla chips, bread rolls, soup, fresh cut fruit slices, breakfast items and wraps.
Having said that, if you choose to buy a salad business franchise, here are some of the best salad business franchises you can buy in the United States of America;
9 Best Salad Franchise Opportunities and Their Cost
1. Saladworks
Saladworks, the nation’s first and largest fresh – tossed salad franchise concept operates 100+ franchise locations across the US with more than 50 stores in development. The company was founded in Cherry Hill, N.J. in 1986 and began franchising in 2001.
Saladworks locations offer guilt free, gourmet menu of flavorful salads averaging less than 300 calories with signature dressings, as well as complimentary menu items geared toward on-the-go consumers seeking a healthy lifestyle.
Owning a Saladworks franchise means you can have a piece of the enormous quick serve restaurant industry serving fresh, healthy food. The cost of a Saladworks franchise includes a $35,000 initial franchise fee, liquid assets of $100,000, and a net worth of $350,000.
Extensive training and ongoing support are included to provide franchise owners with all the information and knowledge necessary to be a successful business owner. Saladworks has relationships with third – party sources which offer financing to cover startup costs, equipment, and inventory.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $163,724 – $452,292
- Net – worth Requirement: $350,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $100,000
- Ongoing Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000 – $35,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 3%
- Veteran Incentives: 50% off franchise fee
2. Souper Salad
Souper Salad is one of the leading soup and salad buffet restaurants in the United States of America that was founded in 1978 and began franchising in 2009, about 11 years ago. Souper Salad has her corporate head office at 2811 McKinney Ave., #354 Dallas, TX 75204 under the leadership of Dan Hernandez who is the current CEO of the company.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $593,650 – $873,200
- Net – worth Requirement: $500,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $250,000
- Ongoing Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000 – $30,000
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 1%
- Veteran Incentives: 50% off franchise fee
3. Vitality Bowls
Vitality Bowls was founded in 2011 and they began franchising in 2014, about 6 years ago. Vitality Bowls currently has 68 franchise units in operation. Vitality Bowls is an 750 – 1,500 sq. ft. Superfood Café focused on delivering top quality organic Açaí, Acerola, Pitaya and Graviola Bowls, smoothies, fresh juices, soups, salads, and panini.
The achievements of the franchise model are generally achieved via a strong level of support from a corporate office. Vitality Bowls, provide support in identifying the right location, helping you construct the perfect café, extensive initial training and then of course, ongoing support to ensure you have every opportunity to succeed.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investment: from $170,100
- Royalty Fees: 6%
4. Blimpie Subs & Salads
With the help of two friends and $2,500 in borrowed start-up capital, Anthony Conza opened the first Blimpie Subs & Salads location in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1964. From that first store, Blimpie grew into an international chain with restaurants in malls, shopping centers, convenience stores, colleges, sports arenas, hospitals and sports arenas. Each location serves a variety of hot and cold subs, wraps, salads and soups.
Blimpie is now owned by Kahala, franchisor of Cereality, Cold Stone Creamery, Frullati Café & Bakery, Great Steak & Potato, Johnnie’s, Nrgize, Ranch 1, Rollerz, Samurai Sam’s, Surf City Squeeze and TacoTime. Blimpie Subs & Salads has relationships with third – party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, and inventory.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $74,780 – $422,200
- Net – worth Requirement: $250,000
- Liquid Cash Requirement: $106,000
- Ongoing Initial Franchise Fee: $11,900 – $19,900
- Ongoing Royalty Fee: 6%
- Ad Royalty Fee: 4%
- Veteran Incentives: 20% off franchise fee
5. Green Leaf’s Beyond Great Salads
Green Leaf’s restaurant locations are franchised by Villa Enterprises, a restaurant franchising corporation with more than 40 years operational knowledge and expertise in the best practices and procedures for opening and sustaining a profitable food service business.
Villa Enterprises puts its more than four decades of successful franchising experience to work for the benefit of franchisees, assisting with all facets of the process, including site selection, lease negotiation, restaurant design, equipment ordering, and three weeks of intensive hands – on training at Villa University, the company’s national training facility, where franchisees and their managers are trained in all aspects of running a Green Leaf’s Beyond Great Salads.
Green Leaf’s Beyond Great Salads was founded in 1976 and has grown to more than a dozen locations. Green Leaf’s is among the family of restaurants owned by Villa Enterprises, an international restaurant franchising and development corporation. Villa Enterprises started in 1964 as a single pizza store in Manhattan, and has since grown to more than 330 restaurant locations.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000
- Total Investment: $284,500 to $444,000
- Working Capital: $25,000 to $50,000
- Royalty Fee: 5.0%
6. Soul Origin
Soul Origin is one of the fastest growing QSR franchise brands in Australia. Soul Origin offers a wide range of healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch options. Made from the freshest ingredients –everything is assembled fresh in – store daily. The stores offer wraps, sandwiches, salads and olive oil paninis available in countless varieties ensuring customers always find something that will satisfy their appetite.
The brand has employed expertly trained award – winning national trainer baristas to ensure that each store has ongoing, specialized coffee training to stay ahead of game. Soul Origin has seen continuous increases in coffee sales year on year and the brand has developed a reputation for being a leader in the QSR market for a quality cup of coffee.
The team at Soul Origin are challenging people to re-think the way they have always thought about fast food; it doesn’t need to be unhealthy. Soul Origin is leading from the front by delivery fresh, nutritious and healthy options that are also convenient for customers on the go.
Financial Requirements
- Initial Investment: $280,000 – $350,000 + GST
7. Chop Stop Salad
Chop Stop is the fast – growing, low – cost, chopped salad concept with nine years of sales history and tremendous regional brand recognition throughout Southern California. When you chop a salad so fine you can eat it with a spoon, you get a flavor explosion in every bite — and a legion of customers addicted to your food! A Chop Stop salad franchise can be your ticket to both business ownership and a healthier lifestyle.
Capitalize on the growing consumer desire for convenient, health – oriented restaurant options. By offering a unique menu of customizable chopped salads and other fresh items, your customers will enjoy creating a different delicious meal every day. And you’ll enjoy a healthy business model, heightened by Chop Stop’s broad consumer appeal and lightning fast service times.
Financial Requirements
- Total investment from $315K to $599K.
- Initial franchise fee is $30K.
- Royalty fee is 5%
- Advertising fee – 2.5%
- Veterans can receive up to a $10,000 discount off the initial franchise fee
8. Dream Salad
The Big Salad is more than just a salad franchise restaurant. They believe that food brings people together, and serving made-to-order salads, sandwiches and soups that people love unites them. The owners are passionate about providing a memorable dining experience that turns customers into raving fans. They do this by awarding franchises to candidates who love people and embrace the idea of bringing them together to enjoy healthy, wholesome food.
Financial Requirements
- Franchise Fee: $35,000 to $35,000
- Design & Project Management: $6,500 to $10,500
- Leasehold Improvements*: $100,000 to $180,000
- Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment: $55,500 to $103,500
- Technology & Point of Sale: $3,500 to $5,500
- Signage and Grand Opening Advertising: $4,700 to $10,000
- Initial Inventory: $4,500 to $10,000
- Other Opening Costs: $5,550 to $14,500
- Working Capital – 3 Months: $15,000 to $20,000
- Total Estimated Cost: $230,250 to $389,000
9. Green Is Better
Green is Better is one of the fastest mushrooming fast food company over the globe. Even with an international presence, they’re not done growing. Since 2006, and every single day, more than 40,000 customers create their own healthy salads with tons of fresh ingredients. If you are interested in buying Green is Better franchise, you can contact them via their website.