Playa Bowls franchise
Playa Bowls serves acai, pitaya and coconut bowls topped with fruit and granola, along with smoothies and juices, in a beach-themed shop. The brand started on the Jersey Shore. At the end of 2025 there were 372 Playa Bowls locations in the US, 342 franchised and 30 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $282K–$1.06M
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 372+206 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2016
- Franchisor based in
- Belmar, New Jersey
- Time to open
- Must open within 12 months of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Playa Bowls franchise costs
Opening one Playa Bowls shop costs an estimated $281,960 to $1,055,594. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC, 2026 filing, page 21
Playa Bowls franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000, per shop, plus a $10,000 pre-opening training fee and up to $15,000 for grand opening marketing. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC, 2026 filing, page 13
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 2% of gross sales to the national marketing fund (up to 4%), plus 1% on local marketing. |
Source: Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC, 2026 filing, page 14
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Playa Bowls publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports historical results for franchised and company shops. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC, 2026 filing, page 55
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 188 (+52) | 28 | 1 |
| 2024 | 262 (+74) | 29 | 0 |
| 2025 | 342 (+80) | 30 | 5 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC, 2026 filing, page 60
How Playa Bowls compares
Of the 5 smoothie franchises on this site, Playa Bowls is the 4th cheapest to open and the 3rd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Playa Bowls | Typical smoothie |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $282K | $276K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 0.9% | 3.7% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +151.5% | +16.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 4 of 5 |
Typical is the median across the 5 brands in smoothie franchises.
Other smoothie franchises
Playa Bowls franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Playa Bowls?
Must open within 12 months of signing, according to Playa Bowls's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Playa Bowls help with financing?
No. Playa Bowls does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Playa Bowls franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Playa Bowls grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Playa Bowls can open nearby.
How long is a Playa Bowls franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Playa Bowls growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 212 franchised locations opened and 6 closed or left, a net change of +151.5%. About 0.9% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 3.7% typical for smoothie franchises.
How does Playa Bowls compare with other smoothie franchises?
Of the 5 smoothie franchises here, Playa Bowls is the 4th cheapest to open (low end $282K against a $276K median) and the 3rd largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Playa Bowls say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports historical results for franchised and company shops. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Playa Bowls based?
Playa Bowls Franchisor LLC is based in Belmar, New Jersey and the brand has sold franchises since 2016.