Zoup! Restaurants Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Zoup! Restaurants is a soup-focused restaurant chain that offers a rotating selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches made with high-quality ingredients and bold flavors.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

-44%

Franchise fee

$35,000

Investment

$498,000 - $713,000

Revenue (AUV)

$576,000

5.4%

Zoup! is a fast-casual restaurant franchise renowned for its award-winning soups, along with made-to-order salads and sandwiches. Established in 1998 in Southfield, Michigan, Zoup! was founded by former spice merchants who recognized a gap in the market for high-quality, comforting soups.

The first Zoup! restaurant opened its doors in 1998, and the brand began franchising in 2003 with its inaugural franchise location in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Zoup!’s menu features 12 always-rotating soup varieties daily, each served with a hunk of freshly baked bread. The offerings cater to a wide range of dietary needs, with choices that are vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, spicy, or low-fat.

What sets Zoup! apart from competitors is its “Everything Matters” philosophy—a commitment to excellence that touches every aspect of the brand, from recipe development to customer service.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Zoup! Restaurants franchise is $498,000 - $713,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance 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	$35,000
Architectural Plan Review	$0 - $1,000
Architect Fees	$13,500 - $15,500
Permits & License Fee	$1,500 - $5,000
Leasehold Improvements	$220,500 – $330,000
Equipment	$125,000 - $143,000
Furniture	$5,000 - $15,000
Millwork	$11,000 - $15,000
Smallwares	$9,000 - $20,000
Exterior Signage	$7,000 - $14,000
Interior Signage and Graphics	$4,300 – $9,500
Technology Systems	$25,000 - $32,000
Grand Opening Marketing	$15,000
Uniforms, Menu Materials, Office Supplies	$2,000 - $4,500
Travel & Living Expenses While Training	$0 - $7,500
Opening Inventory	$7,500 - $12,000
Insurance	$1,500 - $3,500
Additional Funds – 3 months	$15,000 - $35,000
TOTAL	$497,800 - $712,500

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000
Architectural Plan Review	$0 - $1,000
Architect Fees	$13,500 - $15,500
Permits & License Fee	$1,500 - $5,000
Leasehold Improvements	$220,500 – $330,000
Equipment	$125,000 - $143,000
Furniture	$5,000 - $15,000
Millwork	$11,000 - $15,000
Smallwares	$9,000 - $20,000
Exterior Signage	$7,000 - $14,000
Interior Signage and Graphics	$4,300 – $9,500
Technology Systems	$25,000 - $32,000
Grand Opening Marketing	$15,000
Uniforms, Menu Materials, Office Supplies	$2,000 - $4,500
Travel & Living Expenses While Training	$0 - $7,500
Opening Inventory	$7,500 - $12,000
Insurance	$1,500 - $3,500
Additional Funds – 3 months	$15,000 - $35,000
TOTAL	$497,800 - $712,500

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Zoup! Restaurants's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Zoup! Restaurants had 36 total units in 2025, of which 35 were franchised-owned and 1 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Zoup! Restaurants

key competitors in the

Healthy

sector.

Franchise

Upgrade

New

-44%

6.00%

$498,000

$713,000

$576,000

n.a.

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh

Over $500K

New

6.00%

$512,000

$805,000

$601,000

n.a.

Jazen Tea

$50K - $100K

New

4.00%

$73,000

$390,000

n.a.

Snowfruit

Under $25K

973

New

n.a.

5% to 20%

$22,000

$169,000

n.a.

Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt

$200K - $500K

New

5.00%

$225,000

$457,000

$644,000

n.a.

Nature's Table

$50K - $100K

New

-11%

5.00%

$62,000

$464,000

n.a.

Everbowl

$100K - $200K

New

52%

6.00%

$189,000

$371,000

$431,000

n.a.

Training

Zoup! Franchising provides a comprehensive training program for franchisees and their management personnel to ensure successful operation of their restaurant. The types of training offered by the Franchisor include:

Initial Training Program: This mandatory training is about four weeks long and includes both classroom and practical sessions. Topics covered include financial controls, bookkeeping, food preparation, operations, marketing, sanitation, and quality standards. A 2-day sanitation certification course by the National Restaurant Association is also required. The training is held at a designated site and is free of charge for up to three management personnel, but travel and living expenses are the franchisee’s responsibility.
On-the-Job Training: Out of the four-week training, about two weeks are hands-on training conducted in Southfield, Michigan, covering all operational aspects including POS systems, guest service, and supply chain management. Additional training may take place at the franchisee's restaurant or another designated location.
Franchise Orientation Seminar: Conducted either in person at the headquarters or via webinar, this seminar provides an overview of the franchise system, site selection, and buildout criteria.
Refresher Training Programs: Periodically, Zoup! may require previously trained franchisees or their management to attend refresher sessions. These are intended to keep operators up-to-date with evolving practices and may be held at the Franchisor’s headquarters or another location. Franchisees bear the cost of attendance.

Territory Protection

Zoup! Franchising provides franchisees with a protected territory linked to their approved location, but this protection is not exclusive. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or brands under the franchisor's control.

The franchisor retains the right to operate or license restaurants within a franchisee’s territory in specific “captive locations” like malls or airports. The size and scope of the territory are set at Zoup!’s discretion and are not guaranteed to prevent all competition.