Nautical Bowls Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Nautical Bowls serves acai and superfood bowls, offering healthy and delicious meal options with fresh ingredients.

Nautical Bowls is a vibrant and rapidly growing franchise that specializes in offering a diverse range of nutritious and delicious acai bowls and smoothie bowls. Founded in 2017 in Minnesota, Nautical Bowls was established with a vision to provide health-conscious consumers with high-quality, fresh, and customizable bowl options.

Headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, the franchise has quickly made a name for itself in the fast-casual dining sector. The company began franchising in 2020, marking its expansion from a single location to a broader network of franchises across the United States.

Nautical Bowls differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on a unique blend of premium, locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to sustainability. Their menu features a variety of options that cater to different dietary preferences, including vegan and gluten-free choices, setting them apart in a crowded market.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount Low Amount High
Initial Franchise Fee $39,500 $39,500
Lease Security Deposit $3,000 $20,000
Rent $2,000 $7,000
Architect and Permitting Fees $12,500 $20,000
Water, Sewer, and Municipality Impact Fees $0 $20,000
Leasehold Improvements $103,000 $203,000
Signage $6,000 $14,000
Fixtures, Furniture, and Equipment $32,000 $40,000
POS System $1,000 $2,500
Back Office Computer Hardware and Software $1,000 $1,000
Smallwares, Uniforms, and Initial Supplies $2,750 $3,250
Utility Deposits $500 $600
Professional Services $2,500 $5,000
Initial Inventory $7,500 $8,000
Insurance $2,000 $3,000
Training Expenses $1,000 $2,500
Grand Opening Advertising $1,000 $5,000
Additional Funds – Three months $5,000 $15,000
Total $222,250 $409,350
Type of Expenditure Amount Low Amount High
Initial Franchise Fee $39,500 $39,500
Lease Security Deposit $3,000 $20,000
Rent $2,000 $7,000
Architect and Permitting Fees $12,500 $20,000
Water, Sewer, and Municipality Impact Fees $0 $20,000
Leasehold Improvements $103,000 $203,000
Signage $6,000 $14,000
Fixtures, Furniture, and Equipment $32,000 $40,000
POS System $1,000 $2,500
Back Office Computer Hardware and Software $1,000 $1,000
Smallwares, Uniforms, and Initial Supplies $2,750 $3,250
Utility Deposits $500 $600
Professional Services $2,500 $5,000
Initial Inventory $7,500 $8,000
Insurance $2,000 $3,000
Training Expenses $1,000 $2,500
Grand Opening Advertising $1,000 $5,000
Additional Funds – Three months $5,000 $15,000
Total $222,250 $409,350

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

Nautical Bowls Franchise provides comprehensive training designed to ensure franchisees are well-prepared to successfully operate their locations. The training program includes:

  1. Initial Training: Franchisees receive hands-on training at Nautical Bowls' headquarters or a designated training facility. This includes instruction on daily operations, food preparation techniques, and customer service standards.
  2. Operational Support: Training covers the operational aspects of running a Nautical Bowls franchise, including inventory management, equipment use, and quality control procedures.
  3. Marketing and Sales: Franchisees are trained on marketing strategies and sales techniques to effectively promote their franchise and attract customers. This includes guidance on local marketing campaigns and leveraging social media.
  4. Ongoing Support: Nautical Bowls offers ongoing support through regular updates, refresher courses, and access to a network of fellow franchisees. This ensures that franchisees stay current with industry trends and operational best practices.

Territory Protection

Nautical Bowls franchise offers territory protection to its franchisees. This means that once a franchisee is awarded a territory, no other Nautical Bowls franchise can be established within that area, ensuring a level of exclusivity and reducing market competition among franchisees.

This approach helps franchisees build and maintain a strong local presence without the concern of nearby competing locations.

The territory protection is designed to support franchisees in achieving long-term success by providing a dedicated market area where they can focus their marketing efforts and build a loyal customer base.

Competitors

Below are some of

Nautical Bowls

key competitors in the

Healthy

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
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Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

62

New
+
1450%
1450%

$39,500

$222,000

$409,000

n.a.

$440,000

$xxx,xxx

68.0%

xx%

n.a.

18.1%

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Taim Mediterranean Kitchen

Franchisees

?

+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$0 - $0

Oakberry Store

Franchisees

?

+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$0 - $0

Dirt Juicery

Franchisees

?

+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$0 - $0

Sip Fresh

Franchisees

?

+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$0 - $0

Bowl Boss Acai

Bowl Boss Açaí is a health-food-café franchise offering customizable acai bowls, smoothies and wellness snacks, serving health-conscious consumers and casual café guests, and known for premium ingredients, modern décor and strong franchise scalability.

Franchisees

?

5
+
400%
400%
Investment

?

$107,000 - $559,000

Tru Bowl Superfood Bar

Tru Bowl Superfood Bar is a health-food café franchise offering açaí bowls, juices and customizable wellness meals, serving health-conscious consumers and casual café guests, and known for modern branding, efficient service and appealing studio-style footprint.

Franchisees

?

13
+
333%
333%
Investment

?

$205,000 - $332,000