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Project LeanNation

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Food & Beverage
Healthy

Project LeanNation

Project LeanNation Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Project LeanNation is a health-focused meal prep and nutrition franchise providing balanced, macro-friendly meals designed for fitness enthusiasts and busy professionals.

Founded in 2012 by Tim Dougherty in Rochester, New York, Project LeanNation (PLN) began as a modest endeavor to help friends achieve their health goals through nutritious, ready-to-eat meals.

This initiative quickly evolved into a comprehensive wellness franchise, and by 2019, PLN commenced franchising operations. Today, the company is headquartered in Brighton, New York, and boasts over 28 locations nationwide.

Project LeanNation offers a subscription-based model that provides customers with dietitian-approved, ready-to-eat meals. These meals are designed to cater to various dietary needs and preferences, including weight loss seekers, busy professionals, and fitness enthusiasts.

What sets Project LeanNation apart from competitors is its holistic approach to wellness. Unlike many meal prep services that operate solely online, PLN integrates physical storefronts where customers can pick up meals, consult with nutrition coaches, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.

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
Initial Franchise Fee for single location $60,000
Real Estate Rent – 1st Month $3,000 - $5,000
Security Deposit(s) $0 - $5,000
Leasehold Improvements $50,000 - $100,000
Real Estate Project Management Fee $10,000
Construction Project Management Fee $0 - $10,000
Furnishings, Fixtures, and Decorating $4,000 - $6,000
Signage $5,000 - $10,000
Training $1,000 - $2,000
Equipment and supplies acquired locally $47,000 - $67,000
Computer System/POS $2,000 - $3,000
Initial Inventory, supplies, packaging, uniforms and corporate identity materials $2,000 - $3,000
Initial inventory of products for resale $6,000 - $8,000
SBA fees and other financing costs $0 - $10,000
Additional Operating funds – 3 months $25,000
Professional Fees $4,000 - $10,000
Pre-Opening Marketing $15,000
Business Licenses $500 - $1,000
Insurance $3,000 - $4,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment $237,500 - $354,000
Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee for single location $60,000
Real Estate Rent – 1st Month $3,000 - $5,000
Security Deposit(s) $0 - $5,000
Leasehold Improvements $50,000 - $100,000
Real Estate Project Management Fee $10,000
Construction Project Management Fee $0 - $10,000
Furnishings, Fixtures, and Decorating $4,000 - $6,000
Signage $5,000 - $10,000
Training $1,000 - $2,000
Equipment and supplies acquired locally $47,000 - $67,000
Computer System/POS $2,000 - $3,000
Initial Inventory, supplies, packaging, uniforms and corporate identity materials $2,000 - $3,000
Initial inventory of products for resale $6,000 - $8,000
SBA fees and other financing costs $0 - $10,000
Additional Operating funds – 3 months $25,000
Professional Fees $4,000 - $10,000
Pre-Opening Marketing $15,000
Business Licenses $500 - $1,000
Insurance $3,000 - $4,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment $237,500 - $354,000

Project LeanNation

2025

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Project LeanNation offers a comprehensive training program to ensure franchisees are well-prepared to operate their business in alignment with the franchisor's standards. The training provided by the Franchisor includes the following programs:

  1. Initial Training Program: This consists of two portions—approximately two days at a designated facility (typically in Rochester, NY), and three days of on-site training at the franchisee’s location. This program covers operational setup, compliance, and day-to-day functioning of the franchise.
  2. Structured Courses via LMS:
    • Franchisee Onboard (1 hour)
    • Brand Definition (1 hour)
    • Leadership Training (4 hours)
    • Production Onboard (1 hour)
      These courses are delivered through a Learning Management System with staff support.
  3. In-Depth Training Segments:
    • Communications Strategy
    • Community Activation Process
    • Community Partner Blueprint
    • Community Re-Activation
    • PLN Storefront Training
      These modules are designed to prepare franchisees in marketing, community engagement, and in-store operations.

Territory Protection

Project LeanNation offers its franchisees a form of territory protection through a designated geographic area known as the "Designated Territory." This territory is generally defined to include up to 50,000 people within a roughly two-mile radius, though this may vary in dense urban areas.

As long as the franchisee is in compliance with the agreement, the franchisor will not open or license another Project LeanNation location within that territory. However, the franchisor does reserve broad rights that limit the exclusivity of this protection.

It may still operate or license other businesses, even those offering similar services, under different brand names within or near the Designated Territory. Additionally, franchisees are not permitted to actively solicit or advertise to customers outside of their assigned territory without written permission from the franchisor.

Competitors

Below are some of

Project LeanNation

key competitors in the

Healthy

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

28

New
+
300%
300%

$60,000

$238,000

$354,000

n.a.

$614,000

$xxx,xxx

49.9%

xx%

n.a.

23.4%

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Oakberry Store

Franchisees

?

+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$0 - $0

Sip Fresh

Sip Fresh is a beverage franchise offering handcrafted fruit-based juices, teas, and bowls, serving mall shoppers and health-conscious guests, and known for vibrant displays, interactive ordering, and freshly prepared drinks highlighting real fruit, bold flavors, and an engaging in-store experience.

Franchisees

?

1
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$234,000 - $421,000

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

Sauce on the Side

Sauce on the Side is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering hand-crafted calzones, salads and desserts, serving diners seeking quality and convenience, and known for fresh dough-made-in-house, strong off-premise sales channels and modern dine-in ambiance.

Franchisees

?

6
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$494,000 - $794,000

Salad House

Salad House is a health-focused café franchise offering build-your-own salads, wraps and smoothies, serving wellness-oriented diners and families, and known for fresh ingredients, customisation and fast-casual convenience.

Franchisees

?

18
+
157%
157%
Investment

?

$304,000 - $751,000

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