1851

<div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">When you think smoothies&#8212;think <a href="http://www.smoothiekingfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=qa-with-smoothie-kings-vp-of-international-domestic-development-2768" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smoothie King</a>. With more than 700 locations worldwide&#8212;and growing&#8212;the smoothie brand is making a big name for itself in the market. That&#8217;s because passion and product quality are the driving forces behind the New Orleans-based brand&#8217;s expansion.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style="">After joining <a href="http://smoothieking.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=qa-with-smoothie-kings-vp-of-international-domestic-development-2768" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smoothie King</a> during Mardi Gras 2014, Dan Hannah, vice president of international &amp; domestic development, is responsible for developing the brand's presence across the globe. 1851 Franchise spoke with Hannah to find out how Smoothie King is positioning itself for growth and development by targeting the right people and locations for the brand.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><strong><em>1851 Franchise</em></strong>: What do you look for when considering franchisees and areas for development? What are the key components that make up a successful market and a successful franchisee?</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><strong>Dan Hannah</strong>: There are many traits that we look for when considering turning a prospect into a franchisee. First, the prospect must meet our financial requirements, which include having a minimum credit score of 700, a net-worth of $285,000 with $90,000 of that being liquid. They must meet this criterion so that we know they can financially afford to become a franchisee and secure the financing needed to get their stores open.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style="">Beyond that, passion for the brand and great work ethic are the major components that will allow a franchisee to be successful. Because our business model is fairly simple (and fun!), it is not required to have a background in restaurant services. Our two-week Management Training class that all new franchisees are required to participate in provides the training to manage and work within a Smoothie King store. However, we are looking for business minded prospects that are interested in developing and expanding the Smoothie King brand.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style="">When it comes to identifying if a market will be successful, we research the population and financial demographics of the area. Smoothie King is a premium product and the price of our smoothies reflect that, so we need to ensure that there are enough people in the area can afford it. Once we have those answers, we determine what other business drivers are in the area and what the culture of the market is and if those factors will support having Smoothie King stores in the area.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><strong><em>1851</em></strong>: What have been the biggest development challenges and biggest successes (in terms of market and growth strategy) surrounding your brand this year?</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><strong>DH</strong>: The largest challenge that we have seen this year is identifying key prospects to develop in new markets. Many of our largest markets are filling up with franchisees and new stores (this includes: Houston, St. Louis, Dallas, Charlotte, Atlanta). We have identified that the next big development areas are going to be Chicago and Denver, among some others. The challenge will be identifying prospects that are willing to go into these new areas with relatively no brand awareness and take on building the brand with us.</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><em><strong>1851</strong></em>: What are your targeted key growth markets?</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><span style=""><strong>DH</strong>: Cincinnati, Denver, Phoenix, Austin, Chicago, Orlando, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.</span></div><div><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong></div><div><span style=""><strong><em>1851</em></strong>: What do you think is the biggest reason for Smoothie King&#8217;s success?</span></div><div><strong>&nbsp;</strong></div><div><span style=""><strong>DH</strong>: We have the best smoothie product on the market when it comes to nutrition and flavor. We have the best tasting smoothie on the market and are continuously improving our ingredients to maintain the health aspect of the product. Our franchisees are passionate which translates to their team members, which allows them to provide incredible experiences for our guests. We also have some of the most passionate guests out there. Once someone tastes a Smoothie King smoothie, they are hooked for the long haul. In addition to that, we have a CEO who is development driven and will not rest until we are the top quick service retailer on the market. He and the VP team have acquired a great corporate staff that works relentlessly to make this company thrive.</span></div>

1851 Franchise

Smoothie King is bringing smoothies with a purpose worldwide.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Q&A with Smoothie King’s VP of International & Domestic Development

qa-with-smoothie-kings-vp-of-international-domestic-development

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci

Franchise Financial Reporting, Analytics and Business Intelligence | Qvinci — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

franchise-financial-reporting-analytics-and-business-intelligence-qvinci-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Q&A with Smoothie King’s VP of International & Domestic Development

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS