Franchise Comparator

Playa Bowls vs Tropical Smoothie Cafe: franchise cost side by side

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the cheaper of the two to open, from $275,500; Playa Bowls starts at $281,960.

Every figure comes from the brand's FDD, the disclosure file it must hand you before you sign.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is the cheaper to open, from $275,500.

Playa Bowls starts at $281,960, the lowest cost to open given in each FDD.

From each FDDPlaya Bowls logoPlaya BowlsTropical Smoothie Cafe logoTropical Smoothie Cafe
Total cost to open$281,960 to $1,055,594$275,500 to $770,500
Upfront fee$35,000$35,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)6% of monthly gross sales6% of gross sales
Marketing fund2% of gross sales5% of gross sales
Published sales$1,117,488 a year (average of 223 locations, 2025)$978,298 a year (average of 1,431 locations, 2025)
Outlets342 franchised, 30 company1,650 franchised, 1 company
Year filed20262026

Not sure which brands to pick? Get help choosing or browse the full table.

Read the full figures on the Playa Bowls franchise page and the Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise page, or read how to compare franchise costs.

Every brand's fee, royalty and Item 7 range is also in one table you can download: the franchise fee comparison.

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