Sweetgreen Franchise FDD, Profits & Costs (2025)
Sweetgreen is a fast-casual, health-focused restaurant chain founded in 2007 by three college students, Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet, and Nathaniel Ru. They opened their first location in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., with the mission of providing a convenient yet healthy alternative to traditional fast food.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Sweetgreen aims to be a transparent and honest brand, sourcing quality ingredients and focusing on sustainability. Currently, Sweetgreen operates over 140 locations across 13 states, offering a plant-forward menu that includes salads, grain bowls, and other fresh food options.
The company has a strong commitment to sustainability, with goals to be carbon neutral by 2027 and to promote regenerative agricultural practices.
Sweetgreen differentiates itself from competitors through its focus on real, unprocessed ingredients, local partnerships with suppliers, and efforts to minimize environmental impact.
Although the company is expanding, it is not currently franchising in the traditional sense, as it remains focused on scaling through its company-operated locations.
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Initial Investment
How much does it cost to start a Sweetgreen franchise? Sweetgreen does not offer franchise opportunities, as all of its locations are company-owned.
Therefore, it is not possible to start a Sweetgreen franchise, and there is no associated cost for franchising with the company.
For similar healthy food franchises, however, the initial investment is on average $420,000.
In comparison, for example, Clean Eatz requires an investment upfront of $358,000 up to $762,000 for a franchised location. Here are a few more competitors as a comparison:
Average Revenue (AUV)
How much revenue can you make with a Sweetgreen franchise? Since Sweetgreen does not franchise its stores and all locations are company-owned, Sweetgreen does not publish a Franchise Disclosure Document. Therefore, it does not disclose the average revenue of its stores.
However, a similar healthy food franchise makes on average $603,000 in revenue (AUV) per year. For example, a Clean Eatz franchised restaurant makes on average $1,083,000 in revenue per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Sweetgreen locations are there?
Sweetgreen operates over 140 company-owned locations across 13 states. The brand has not adopted a franchising model and instead focuses on corporate-owned expansion to maintain control over its food quality and customer experience.
What is the total investment required to open a Sweetgreen franchise?
Sweetgreen does not offer franchise opportunities and therefore, it is not possible to establish the initial investment to start a Sweetgreen franchise.
However, the total investment required to open a franchised store similar to the Sweetgreen franchise ranges from $22,000 to $1,469,000.
What are the ongoing fees for a Sweetgreen franchise?
Since Sweetgreen does not offer franchises and all stores are company-owned, the ongoing fees such as royalty fees or advertising fees associated with franchising the brand are not readily available.
Yet, similar healthy franchises in the industry charge an average of 6% in royalty fees and 6% in advertising fees (e.g. Clean Eatz).
What are the financial requirements to become a Sweetgreen franchisee?
Sweetgreen does not offer franchise opportunities and operates all its locations as company-owned stores. Therefore, there are no financial requirements or fees to become a Sweetgreen franchisee, as franchising is not part of their business model.
However, for retail store franchises similar to Sweetgreen, financial requirements can vary significantly. These may include:
- Net Worth: Most fast-casual franchises require a minimum net worth ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million. Some high-profile franchises may have higher requirements, often exceeding $2 million.
- Liquid Capital: The liquid capital required to start a franchise generally ranges from $200,000 to $500,000. This ensures the franchisee has the necessary cash reserves to cover initial expenses and ongoing operational costs before the business becomes profitable.
Keep in mind these figures are averages and can differ significantly based on the specific franchise, location, and other factors such as store size and development plans.
How much can a Sweetgreen franchise owner expect to earn?
Since Sweetgreen is entirely company-owned and does not operate as a franchise, there is no earning disclosure for a Sweetgreen franchise.
Now, assuming the average gross sales for a retail franchise similar to a Sweetgreen franchise of $603,000 per store. And assuming a 15% operating profit margin, $603,000 yearly revenue would result in about $90,450 operating profit per year.
Who owns Sweetgreen?
Sweetgreen is a publicly traded company, which means that its ownership is shared among shareholders who hold its stock.
As co-founders, Neman, Jammet, and Ru continue to play key leadership roles in the company, but the majority ownership is distributed across various public investors, institutional investors, and possibly company insiders who hold shares.
Disclaimer
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