Why Planet Smoothie? New Franchise Owners Sound Off
Versatile footprints, great training, and a menu that appeals to the whole family are just some reasons why new franchise owners are choosing Planet Smoothie
Deciding to go into business for yourself is easy — the hard part comes when it’s time to look at concepts, explore financing, pick the best location, and dozens of other large and small challenges. It’s the same for new Planet Smoothie® owners, but they’re able to navigate the hurdles thanks to an easy to follow business model, flexibility in terms of size and space, great training and back-office systems and much more.
“We start a lot of conversations by saying, ‘If you can run a blender, you have mastered all the equipment at a Planet Smoothie,’” says John Wuycheck, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. “But more seriously, when we sit down with potential franchise owners and talk about the training and support they get, the operational expertise that will stand behind them, the flexibility they can have in terms of the size and location of their franchise, they are so relieved.”
Keeping the process manageable
When a first-time business owner is looking at franchise concepts, they easily become overwhelmed. There’s a lot to digest: up-front costs, real estate, hiring, inventory, and the list goes on. For Melanie Poley in Vermont, having a concept she was already aware of helped at first, and then everything just got easier as she worked through the steps toward opening her Planet Smoothie franchise.
“I kind of knew the ropes as far as operations went, and everyone on the corporate team really worked hard to make sure my questions were answered about everything else,” Melanie says. “The hardest part was finding a location, and they have been actively involved in that search as well, so it’s not just me out here doing it on my own.”
In some markets, such as Atlanta and Orlando, Area Developers are on hand to ease new franchise owners through as well. In Florida, owner and developer Jason Mann says he’s able to mentor new owners, something he enjoys alongside operating his own locations.
“Planet Smoothie draws in some really great people, and I like helping them,” Jason says. “I get a lot of satisfaction from that, and it’s another reason why it’s great to own and operate businesses in the Planet Smoothie family.”
Reputation for quality is everything
In addition to the streamlined processes of becoming operational, new Planet Smoothie franchise owners also say that the brand’s reputation for high-quality products help it stand out in the crowded smoothie retail space — and that was a deciding factor for them as well.
“My research showed me how strong the smoothie industry is, but being the first Planet Smoothie in town was scary,” says Jimil Patel, who operates in East Brainerd, a growing community near Chattanooga, Tenn. “But when I learned about the ingredients Planet Smoothie uses, the time and energy put into product R&D, and all the other ways they support franchise owners, I was very encouraged.”
“We do everything we can to support our franchise owners at every stage of their business,” adds John. “We work intensively with new owners to help them through those crucial weeks and months after opening, but we also have ongoing training and other ways to connect with every Planet Smoothie franchise owner and his or her team, so that we all continue to grow and evolve in a positive way.”
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, Planet Smoothie brand 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.
Learn more about Planet Smoothie and our new franchise owners here!
To learn more about Planet Smoothie franchise options, please visit the website. Read the latest news on the blog, and delve into the options for ownership on the research pages.