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PLAYA BOWLS
Playa Bowls franchises fast-casual shops that specialize in acai bowls, pitaya bowls, coconut bowls, mango bowls, oatmeal bowls, smoothies, juices, and other healthy menu items offered for on-premises dining, carryout, catering, and delivery. The business model includes single-unit franchises and multi-unit development agreements for operating shops in high-traffic retail locations, with optional ancillary food trucks, all adhering to the proprietary Playa Bowls system. It targets health-conscious consumers seeking nutritious, fresh bowl-based meals and beverages in competitive fast-casual markets.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2% ad fund + up to $450/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Data for 188 Operational Franchise Outlets for the 2024 Calendar Year, comprising 166 Traditional Outlets and 22 Seasonal Outlets. The 166 Traditional Outlets include sales from six mobile food trailers. The 22 Seasonal Outlets include sales from one food truck. New Franchise Outlets are not included.
* Calculated weighted average gross revenue: (166 Traditional Outlets × $1,288,433 + 22 Seasonal Outlets × $540,759) / 188 Total Outlets = $1,200,939. Median gross revenue, revenue top quartile, and revenue bottom quartile are taken from the data for 166 Traditional Outlets, as they represent the majority of the operational franchise outlets and no combined figures for all 188 outlets were provided.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $1,200,939
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Unlock financial performance dataPLAYA BOWLS Franchise Analysis
Fast-casual bowl shops like Playa Bowls are riding the wave of health trends, but does this superfood specialist deliver the financial punch to justify the leap? Item 19 lays bare revenue performance across mature units, while SBA loan records hint at real-world funding realities and default risks. What separates thriving Playa operators from the pack—scale it up or stay small?
Item 7 pegs total investment at $255,944-$1,037,794, covering buildout for high-traffic spots plus equipment for acai and smoothie prep—mid-range for fast-casual but scalable with multi-unit deals. Fees hit standard at 6% royalty plus 2% ad fund, tacked with up to $450/month tech surcharge, keeping ongoing costs predictable yet noticeable on high-volume days. Item 19 shines brightly: average gross revenue clocks $1,200,939, median $1,235,948 across franchised units, signaling strong top-line potential in a category where health bowls crush smoothies alone—though profitability hinges on labor and waste control in perishable ops.
System momentum screams expansion: from 188 franchised locations in 2023 to 261 in 2024 (+39%), backed by 115 projected new units and just 1 transfer, low litigation flags. With 29 corporate stores anchoring, 57 SBA loans averaging $359,323 reflect accessible financing but warrant default rate checks. For operators eyeing $800K+ AUVs, Playa's growth trajectory outperforms stagnant peers, but prime real estate hunts and delivery reliance demand sharp site selection—prime for multi-unit developers chasing the acai gold rush.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How PLAYA BOWLS Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 79% of Fast Casual franchises
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Fast Casual
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PLAYA BOWLS Current | $256K – $1.0M | $35K | 6.0% | 261 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $276K – $771K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,650 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $405K – $1.6M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,249 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M – $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K – $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 107 franchises | $529K – $1.2M | $39K | 5.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+10 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for PLAYA BOWLS franchisees (2020 – 2025)
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.
57 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
343 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
343 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a PLAYA BOWLS franchise ranges from $255,944 to $1,037,794. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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