1851

Fifteen years ago when longtime Wichita resident Neil Bhakta&nbsp;was 23, he was ahead of the curve.&nbsp;He blended his passion for health and business into ownership of a Smoothie King location. Being lactose intolerant, Bhakta not only wanted to own a business he was personally passionate about, but also one that offered alternative products that others with similar health restraints could benefit from.&nbsp;

1851 had a chance to catch up with Bhakta to learn more about his background and path to <a href="http://www.smoothiekingfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-voices-neil-bhakta-of-smoothie-king-7522" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smoothie King</a> ownership.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I grew up in the Wichita downtown area and received my bachelors in business administration with an emphasis in management information systems from the University of Kansas. After college, I began working as a database programmer.&nbsp;Eventually, I realized I wanted more flexibility and at the age of 23 I became the youngest franchisee with Smoothie King.&nbsp;Now, 15 years later, my team and I have four locations.

Why did you choose to become a franchisee with Smoothie King?

I was always interested in nutrition and fitness during college. After doing some research on the industry I decided to pay Smoothie King a visit.&nbsp;I wanted to side with a company that had the best product in the industry with a defined vision.&nbsp;Smoothie King is a privately held company and that was important to me.&nbsp; I didn&rsquo;t want to be a part of something that was more about the money versus the passion.&nbsp;Our founder, Steve Kuhnau, epitomized that.&nbsp;I learned about the brand during a visit to Tennessee and saw my first Smoothie King on the University of Tennessee campus.

Where did you get most of your advice and&nbsp;do most of your research? 
The combination of my education and fatherly advice taught me how to read numbers.&nbsp;After going through public financial information of Smoothie King and trying their product I thought it was a perfect combination to be a part of.

What were your perceptions of franchising before starting the process?&nbsp; 
Didn&rsquo;t care.&nbsp;They had a product I loved and distribution channels laid out to do business.&nbsp; I was 23 in my parent&rsquo;s basement.&nbsp;It was time to live on the ground floor somewhere.

What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise? 
Since we introduced Smoothie King to Kansas, getting the word out about a new concept was a little challenging. With a dedicated team, we have been able to establish a presence in the community and have gained the trust of consumers in each community. &nbsp;&nbsp;

What&rsquo;s next for you and your business? Do you have any development/expansion plans with the brand? &nbsp;

We have a development agreement to bring Smoothie King to Derby and Maize, Kansas&nbsp;in the near future.

In addition, my fourth location is going to be very special for my wife, team, and I. It will be in the historic 1887 train station at Rock Island Depot. While designing the logistics of our fourth location, my wife and I also decided to accompany this new business with a two story swanky Indian restaurant in the heart of the new Union Station District.

Franchisee Voices: Neil Bhakta of Smoothie King

1851 Franchise

Neil Bhakta became the youngest Smoothie King franchisee at age 23 and now owns four locations in Kansas fifteen years later.

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

franchisee-voices-neil-bhakta-of-smoothie-king

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

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 Development Website Builder

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

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Photo of a large group of people standing in a circle, placing hands together in center

Franchise Opportunities for Minorities: Expanding the Franchise Network

franchise-opportunities-for-minorities

Missy Maio - Gong Cha - Top Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Missy Maio — Vice President of Marketing and Global Partnerships, Gong Cha

franchise-marketing-leader-missy-maio-gong-cha

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee Voices: Neil Bhakta of Smoothie King

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS