How many CANTEEN franchise locations are there?

As of the 2026 FDD, CANTEEN has 100 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1996.

Can you get an SBA loan for a CANTEEN franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for CANTEEN franchises. Historical data shows 13 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for CANTEEN franchisees, with an average loan amount of $941,508. The historical default rate is 7.7%.

Is CANTEEN a good franchise to buy?

CANTEEN shows several positive indicators: transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

CANTEEN

FDD Year:

Canteen franchises authorize operators to distribute food, beverages, and other consumer items through vending services, food services, office coffee services, combined services, and/or secured delivery services, often in automated or unattended market environments. The business primarily serves business and industry, institutional, and recreational locations, with franchisees typically converting existing vending or food service operations into the Canteen system. The model grants protected territories for standard agreements, targeting experienced operators in a competitive food service and vending market.

100

Locations

$9K–$44K

Investment

Since 1996

Franchising

ServicesCharlotte, NCCompass Group USA, Inc.www.canteen.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$3,250

Item 5 of FDD

Initial Investment Range

$9,150 – $44,300

Low: $9,150High: $44,300

Item 7 of FDD

Royalty Rate

5.25%

of gross sales

Brand Fund

N/A

Item 6 of FDD

Fixed Monthly Fees

$10 – $100

Item 6 of FDD

Up to 5.25% royalty (3.25% if compliant with standards) + $10/user/mo MyCompass website access

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

Data Based On: Data compiled from the performance of 93 Canteen franchises during the Financial Performance Period (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025). Excluded were 5 new franchises, 13 exited franchises, and 2 franchises with mixed revenue/rebate information.

Extracted Item 19 Section

How CANTEEN Compares

Key Insights

One of the lowest investment costs in Specialty Food (ranked #2 of 14)
#3 largest franchise system in Specialty Food
Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Specialty Food

Franchise	Investment	Fee	Royalty	Locations
CANTEEN Current	$9K – $44K	$3K	5.3%	100
EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS	$214K – $587K	$30K	5.0%	680
HONEYBAKED HAM AND THE HONEYBAKED HAM AND CAFE CO.	$514K – $830K	$20K	6.0%	212
The Spice & Tea Exchange	$299K – $532K	$39K	7.0%	93
GRAZE CRAZE	$167K – $326K	$50K	6.0%	89
DOC POPCORN	$175K – $414K	$15K	6.0%	79
Specialty Food Average 14 franchises	$254K – $522K	$31K	6.1%	–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 14 Specialty Food franchises by location count.

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for CANTEEN franchisees (2011 – 2020)

Total Loans

Average Loan

$941,508

Total Volume

$12.2M

Default Rate

7.7%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

Franchisee Contacts

108 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

Name	Address	Phone	Email	SBA Loan
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active

108 Contacts Available

Unlock all CANTEEN franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0

No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations

Non-Renewals

Reacquired

Ceased Ops

Transfers

Sold to Franchisees

Projected New

Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a CANTEEN franchise ranges from $9,150 to $44,300. This includes a franchise fee of $3,250. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.3% of gross sales.