How do I find a juice or smoothie bar for sale?

A juice or smoothie bar is easy to overlook in a search because it seldom has its own category. It may be a kiosk, a counter in a gym, a mall unit or a small storefront. The search works best when you try several labels and know early whether you want a franchise unit or an independent shop.

Search the nearby categories

Try juice bar, smoothie bar, health food, cafe and food service on listing sites and broker pages. Save the searches. If you work with a broker, describe the format you want, such as a mall kiosk or a street-front shop. Be careful not to confuse these with bars that serve alcohol, which are a different kind of business with different licensing questions.

Franchise units

Many juice and smoothie brands are franchised. Ask the brand’s franchise team which units are being resold, and read how to find a business to buy to learn about brands. A resale may need the franchisor’s approval under the franchise agreement, so ask what the approval steps are before you spend money on advisers.

Gyms, malls and other host locations

Some bars operate inside a gym, a mall or a clinic. In that setting, the host may control the space and the foot traffic. Ask who the landlord is, how the arrangement works and whether it can be transferred to a new owner. A good listing for a business like this will say so; if it does not, ask.

• Search juice, smoothie, cafe, health food and food service.
• Ask franchisors about units for resale.
• Find out whether the space depends on a host business.
• Ask the owner why they are selling.

After you shortlist one

Once a listing fits, the juice bar checklist shows what to ask about equipment, supply and sales. Keep your first questions simple, and ask for the details only for the shops that meet your criteria.