About Lean Kitchen Franchise
Lean Kitchen is a health focused meal prep and fast casual restaurant franchise that has been franchising since 2018.
The brand offers a menu of nutritious, portion controlled meals designed for fitness enthusiasts, busy professionals, and anyone seeking convenient access to healthy eating.
Lean Kitchen locations serve both grab and go prepared meals and made to order options, catering to the growing demand for clean, protein rich food.
Lean Kitchen Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$151K
Average Investment
$297K
Maximum Investment
$442K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of your adjusted gross sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 3% of your adjusted gross sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $151,450 – $441,750 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $151K–$442K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of your adjusted gross sales) and marketing fee (3% of your adjusted gross sales (Marketing Fund Contribution)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee (see Note 1) | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Rent (one month) (see Note 2) | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Lease Security Deposit (see Note 2) | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Kitchen Equipment (see Note 3) | $45,000 | $100,000 |
| Buildout and Fixtures | $25,000 | $130,000 |
| Signage | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| Computer Systems | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Delivery Vehicle (see Note 4) | $0 | $70,000 |
| Insurance (3 months) | $300 | $1,500 |
| Utilities | $250 | $750 |
| Inventory | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $150 | $1,000 |
| Professional Fees (architect, lawyer, accountant, etc.) | $3,000 | $12,500 |
| Market Introduction Program | $500 | $5,000 |
| Pre-opening employee compensation | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Travel, lodging and meals for initial training | $3,750 | $7,500 |
| Additional funds (for first 3 months) (see Note 5) | $10,000 | $25,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $12,500 plus any broker fees and other out-of-pocket costs we incur |
| Renewal Fee | $12,500 |
| Technology Fee | Currently, $310 per month (Point of sale and loyalty software subscription) |
| Audit Fee | Our actual costs (Payable only if (1) we audit you because you have failed to submit required reports or other non-compliance, or (2) the audit concludes that you under-reported adjusted gross sales by more than 3% for any calendar month.) |
| Market Cooperative Contribution | As determined by the cooperative. Currently, none. |
| Replacement / Additional Training fee | Currently, $500 |
| Third party vendors | Pass-through of costs, plus reasonable administrative charge. Currently, none. |
| Non-compliance fee | $500 per instance, then $250 per week |
| Reimbursement | Amount that we spend on your behalf, plus 10% |
| Late fee | $100 plus interest on the unpaid amount at a rate equal to 18% per year (or, if such payment exceeds the maximum allowed by law, then interest at the highest rate allowed by law) |
| Insufficient funds fee | $30 (or, if such amount exceeds the maximum allowed by law, then the maximum allowed by law) |
| Costs of collection or enforcement | Our actual costs |
| Convention fee | As determined by us; currently, none. |
| Special support fee | Our then-current fee, plus our expenses. Currently, $600 per day. |
| Customer complaint resolution | Our expenses |
| Special inspection fee | Currently $600, plus our out-of-pocket costs |
| Non-compliance cure costs and fee | Our out-of-pocket costs and internal cost allocation, plus 10% |
| Temporary management fee | 10% of adjusted gross sales plus our expenses |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | The typical length of time between signing the franchise agreement and the opening of your business is six to eight months. |
| Classroom Training | 8 |
| On-the-Job Training | 44 |
| Training Location | St. Joseph, Missouri and Parkville, Missouri. |
| Additional Training | We have various training webinars and content for sales and operations training. We currently do not charge for such additional training programs. Lean Kitchen Enterprises may at any time require that the Principal Executive and/or any other employees complete training programs, in any format and in any location determined by Lean Kitchen Enterprises. Lean Kitchen Enterprises may charge a reasonable fee for any training programs. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | approximately 100,000 people or more, or a three-mile radius around your location (whichever is less) |
| Description | Your territory will usually be specified as radius around your location; however, we may use other boundaries (such as counties or other political boundaries, streets, geographical features, or trade area. If your business location is not known when you sign your franchise agreement, then we will state your location and territory in a “Location Acceptance Letter” when we approve your location. If we do not state your territory in writing before you open your business to the public, your territory will be deemed to be three miles. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years from the date of signing |
| Renewal Term | up to three additional 5-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | $12,500 |
| Renewal Conditions | To renew, you must give advance notice to us; be in compliance with all contractual obligations to us and third parties; have not defaulted more than twice under the franchise agreement; complied with all requirements of ethics and values; renovate to our then-current standards; sign then-current form of franchise agreement and related documents (including personal guaranty); pay renewal fee; sign general release (unless prohibited by applicable law). |
| Transfer Fee | $12,500 plus any broker fees and other out-of-pocket costs we incur |
| Transfer Conditions | Pay transfer fee; buyer meets our standards; buyer is not a competitor of ours; buyer and its owners sign our then-current franchise agreement and related documents (including personal guaranty); you’ve made all payments to us and are in compliance with all contractual requirements; buyer completes training program; you sign a general release; (subject to state law); business complies with then-current system specifications (including remodel, if applicable). |
| Termination for Cause | Non-payment by you (10 days to cure); violate franchise agreement other than non-curable default (30 days to cure). Misrepresentation when applying to be a franchisee; knowingly submitting false information; bankruptcy; fail to open by specified deadline; lose possession of your location; violation of law; violation of confidentiality; violation of non-compete; violation of ethics and values; violation of transfer restrictions; cease operations; slander or libel of us; refusal to cooperate with our business inspection; fail two government inspections in 36 months; operate in a manner dangerous to health or safety (if not corrected within 48 hours); three defaults in 12 months; cross-termination; charge or conviction of, or plea to, a felony, or commit or be accused of an act that is reasonably likely to materially and unfavorably affect our brand; any other breach of franchise agreement which by its nature cannot be cured. |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for two years after termination or expiration |
| Non-Compete Details | Neither you, any owner of the business, or any spouse of an owner may have ownership interest in, lend money or provide financial assistance to, provide services to, or be employed by, any competitor. Post-term: within 25 miles of your former territory (or of your site selection area if no territory had been set) or of the territory of any other Lean Kitchen business operating on the date of termination or expiration. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | You must devote substantial time and attention (at least 15 to 20 hours per week) to your business. If the business is owned through a corporation or limited liability company, you must designate one owner as your “Principal Executive”. The Principal Executive must own at least 30% of the business and complete initial and post-opening training programs, and make reasonable efforts to attend all required meetings. You are not required to personally conduct “on-premises” supervision (that is, act as general manager) of your business, but it is recommended. |
| Required Suppliers | We have the right to require you to purchase or lease all goods, services, supplies, fixtures, equipment, inventory, computer hardware and software, real estate, or comparable items related to establishing or operating your business (1) either from us or our designee, or from suppliers approved by us, or (2) according to our specifications. Specific obligations include Real Estate, Insurance, Point-of-sale software and hardware, Advertising and Marketing, Kitchen Equipment, Food and Ingredients, Distributor(s), Packaging and Logo Items. |
| Supply Restrictions | You may have to buy or lease items from the franchisor or a limited group of suppliers the franchisor designates. These items may be more expensive than similar items you could buy on your own. We have the right to require you to purchase or lease all goods, services, supplies, fixtures, equipment, inventory, computer hardware and software, real estate, or comparable items related to establishing or operating your business (1) either from us or our designee, or from suppliers approved by us, or (2) according to our specifications. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | We currently do not derive revenue from the required purchases and leases by franchisees. However, the franchise agreement does not prohibit us from doing so. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease or obligations. |
Lean Kitchen Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$556K
Median Revenue
$497K
Revenue Range
$314K – $1.2M
Sample Size
16 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Lean Kitchen Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordLean Kitchen has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Lean Kitchen System Growth
Total Units
32
Franchised
30
Company-Owned
2
Lean Kitchen currently operates 30 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | 25 |
| 2022 | 9 | 2 | 32 |
| 2023 | 4 | 6 | 30 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 8
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$697K
Net Income
$-178,996
Total Assets
$49K
Audited by Omar Alnuaimi, CPA for year ending December 31, 2023.
Lean Kitchen Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Lean Kitchen franchise ranges from $151,450 to $441,750, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $40,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Lean Kitchen charges a royalty fee of 6% of your adjusted gross sales of gross sales, plus a 3% of your adjusted gross sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Lean Kitchen Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Lean Kitchen to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Lean Kitchen franchise owners report average revenue of $556K and median revenue of $497K. This is based on a sample of 16 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Lean Kitchen has been franchising since 2018. The FDD shows an investment range of $151,450-$441,750, a 6% of your adjusted gross sales royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $40,000 and the total investment ranges from $151,450 to $441,750 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Lean Kitchen and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Lean Kitchen or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com