Planet Smoothie Business Opportunities in Orlando
Blue skies, warm weather and a Planet Smoothie in Orlando
The sunny skies of Florida are a delightful draw for visitors year-round. The state is also home to a growing population, especially in the Orlando market. That means amazing business opportunities in Orlando to serve both tourists drawn in to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and the many other attractions the area offers, as well as the wintertime and year-round residents.
One such opportunity? A Planet Smoothie™ franchise. Just look at how well the brand has performed for Area Developer Jason Mann, who bought his first Planet Smoothie franchise in Orlando in 1999 — when there were just three stores in the area. Now there are close to 30. As Area Developer, Mann has guided most of that growth — and it’s not finished. We recently interviewed him about what makes Planet Smoothie a strong business opportunity in Orlando and surrounding areas. Here’s what he said:
Why Planet Smoothie is a Top Orlando Business Opportunity
What’s it like to own a Planet Smoothie?
When I was looking for a business to start in Florida, Planet Smoothie was an easy choice. Demand for smoothies was growing, and it was a very simple business concept to operate, especially for someone who didn’t have restaurant experience. I was a sales manager before starting my first location. I liked that you didn’t need a large inventory, startup costs were very reasonable, and you didn’t need to have many employees to get started.
As an owner, you need to make yourself a big part of the community. We’re always looking to build relationships with community organizations. Of course, these days, Planet Smoothie is very well known in Florida, but you need to be someone who enjoys marketing and meeting people in gyms and schools and letting them know what you offer. We have name recognition, but the best franchisees become the mayor of the village around their store.
Is it hard to find employees?
One of the nice things about the simplicity of the concept is the fact that it’s very easy to train people. This is a great job for enthusiastic young adults. Planet Smoothie provides recipes that are excellent and easy to follow. Our training tools help team members learn to deliver a great guest experience, which sets them up for successful careers.
What is the growth potential?
Well, I have three stores now! We have almost 30 in Orlando, and our newest franchise owners are off to a great start. That’s one reason I’m confident about our expansion plans. Our brand just keeps getting stronger.
As far as the industry, it’s huge. People know they need to eat better, and they are looking for ways to do it. Our smoothies can provide a full meal replacement or a healthy snack, depending on what people are looking for. And the range of items we offer allows us to serve all kinds of customers — from people who are looking for low-calorie items to people who want something a little more decadent. Even the decadent items are nutritionally better than what you’ll find elsewhere, because Planet Smoothie puts so much effort into creating great-tasting recipes that have as few calories and as little sugar as possible.
How hard is it to run multiple locations?
We have training and tools to help you, and I help all franchisees in Central Florida, which I wouldn’t be able to do on top of my own three stores if the systems weren’t excellent. What’s nice is that Planet Smoothie has mapped out both business models — what does it take to be a successful single-store owner, and what does it take to run multiple stores. It’s really all about the type of business you want to own and how much you want to grow.
How do you support franchisees?
As an area developer, I am a coach and an information broker, moving data back and forth among franchisees as they need support. I am a standards manager, which means I make sure standards are consistent throughout the territory. This helps continue to make the brand strong and ensure that resale value is strong. I also help identify future locations and help with training.
I assist however I can. Sometimes I’m a glorified maintenance man. I could be counseling a franchisee or general manager or changing out a light bulb. We also have support from the Kahala Brands™, where that team has decades of experience supporting franchisees.
Where do you think a Planet Smoothie should go?
There are so many great places that fit our demographic profile and still don’t have a Planet Smoothie. Downtown Orlando could support another Planet Smoothie. The Florida Mall, Kissimmee, Celebration, UCF, Clermont, Ocala, Lakeland, Daytona, Smyrna, Ormond Beach…there are a lot of great areas that are wide open for the right franchise partner.
Ready to own a Planet Smoothie?
Planet Smoothie is a smoothie franchise that sets itself apart by offering great-tasting smoothies that use healthier, natural ingredients. In a side-by-side comparison, our smoothies generally have less sugar and fewer calories — a big competitive advantage as Americans actively seek out healthier options. Planet Smoothie is led by a veteran franchise team and dedicated brand support team as part of the Kahala Brands™ family.
To learn more about Planet Smoothie franchise options, please visit our research pages here. If you’re ready to start a conversation with our franchise team, fill out our form here. We look forward to hearing from you!