Saladworks
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Saladworks franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Saladworks leads the exploding fast-casual salad space in size, longevity, and sales! America’s original entrée salad destination opened in 1986, and today consumers can visit Saladworks in over 100 locations across the United States.
Headline figures
Saladworks quick facts
- Is Saladworks a franchise?
- Yes. Saladworks offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 83 franchised and 1 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 52).
- How much does it cost to open a Saladworks franchise?
- The Saladworks Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $529,000–$738,600 for total initial investment co-brand restaurant (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 23); $484,000–$677,800 for total initial investment single-brand saladworks restaurant (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 20). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Saladworks initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $105,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 14). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Saladworks charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 19). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $3 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 19). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- How many Saladworks locations are there?
- The FDD reports 84 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 52). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Saladworks a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: no reviewed Item 19 figures are on file here, so check the FDD's Item 19 directly; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $529,000 – $738,600 (Total initial investment Co-Brand Restaurant); $484,000 – $677,800 (Total initial investment single-brand Saladworks restaurant); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 has not been reviewed yet.
- 3Outlets declined by 7 in 2025, to 84 (systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Saladworks head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total initial investment single-brand Saladworks restaurantPDF p. 20$484,000 – $677,800
- Total initial investment Co-Brand RestaurantPDF p. 23$529,000 – $738,600
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty feeMain ongoing fee
38 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Saladworks has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year end of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 52
Net −15 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($484,000 – $738,600) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Does the current FDD include an Item 19 financial performance representation?
Reported units decreased from 91 to 84 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 14
- [2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 52
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | cash at end of 2025 period | $493,354 |
| 2024 | parent member deficit 2024 | -$924,730 |
| 2024 | parent net loss 2024 | -$3,114,915 |
| — | parent liabilities and member's equity | $43,984,522 |
| — | combined total assets | $16,778,373 |
| — | total current liabilities | $6,656,463 |
| — | member's equity | $10,121,910 |
| — | total revenue | $14,871,508 |
| — | net income | $2,442,585 |
| — | net cash provided operating activities | $295,872 |
| — | parent combined assets | $43,984,522 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
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Sammy’s SlidersHead-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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