Established
2012
Franchise Units
40
Minimum Investment
$450,000
Franchise Fee
$35,000
Total Investment Range
$850,000
Home Based
No
Description
Salad Station is a modern fast-casual restaurant franchise built to meet the rising demand for fresh, healthy, and customizable dining options across the United States. The brand offers guests a flexible, convenient way to enjoy high-quality salads, warm bowls, proteins, and house-made dressings in a clean, welcoming environment designed for speed and efficiency.
What sets Salad Station apart is its ability to combine health-focused food with mass-market appeal. Instead of positioning itself as a niche wellness brand, Salad Station delivers everyday affordability, generous portions, and customization that fits a wide range of dietary preferences. Customers can build meals that match their lifestyle, whether they are looking for a light lunch, a protein-packed bowl, or a family-friendly option.
From an investor perspective, Salad Station occupies a strong position within the fast-casual segment, benefiting from long-term consumer trends toward clean eating, transparency, and convenience. The concept is intentionally designed to support repeat visits, strong lunch traffic, and off-premise sales, making it well-suited for today’s evolving restaurant landscape in the USA.
Background
Established Year: 2012
Salad Station was founded with the goal of reimagining the traditional salad bar for a fast-casual audience. The concept originated in Louisiana and quickly gained attention for offering fresh ingredients, portion control, and customization in a modern, efficient format.
Founder:
The brand was founded by Scott Taylor, who identified an opportunity to bring healthy dining into a scalable franchise model without sacrificing speed or accessibility.
Brand Journey & Company History:
What started as a single restaurant evolved into a franchise system as demand grew. Over time, Salad Station refined its operating systems, store layout, and menu design to ensure consistency and profitability for franchise owners. The brand has focused on controlled expansion, operational discipline, and long-term sustainability.
Franchise Active Units:
Salad Station currently operates 40+ active locations, including both franchised and company-owned units across the United States.
Ownership & Market Presence:
The brand operates within the fast-casual healthy dining and salad restaurant industry, one of the fastest-growing categories in U.S. foodservice. Locations are typically positioned in high-traffic retail corridors, lifestyle centers, office districts, and suburban growth markets.
Support Training
Salad Station offers a comprehensive franchise support system designed to guide owners from initial onboarding through long-term operations.
Pre-Launch Support:
Franchisees receive assistance with site selection guidance, lease review support, restaurant layout planning, equipment specifications, and construction coordination. Standardized build-out guidelines help control development costs and timelines.
Training Program:
The franchise provides structured training covering food preparation standards, operational systems, inventory control, customer service, staffing, POS usage, and food safety compliance. Training includes classroom instruction and hands-on in-store experience.
Operational Support:
Ongoing operational support includes performance coaching, system updates, menu improvements, vendor coordination, and best-practice sharing across the franchise network.
Marketing Support:
Franchisees benefit from brand positioning strategies, digital marketing guidance, social media frameworks, and local store marketing playbooks. Support includes grand-opening promotions and ongoing marketing initiatives.
Ongoing Assistance:
Continuous support is delivered through operations manuals, franchisee communication channels, and regular performance reviews to help drive consistency and profitability.
Ideal Candidate
Salad Station is best suited for entrepreneurs who value structured systems, healthy living concepts, and community-focused businesses.
Ideal franchisees may include:
-
First-time franchise owners seeking a proven model
-
Multi-unit operators expanding within fast-casual or QSR segments
-
Investors with restaurant, retail, or hospitality backgrounds
-
Owner-operators looking for a hands-on business
While restaurant experience is beneficial, it is not required. Successful franchisees are typically strong leaders with sound financial capacity, operational discipline, and a commitment to delivering consistent guest experiences. Preferred locations include suburban growth areas, office corridors, college towns, and high-visibility retail markets across the USA.
Financial Detail
| Investment Component | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $180,000 – $350,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $120,000 – $220,000 |
| Signage & Branding | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Technology & POS Systems | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Initial Inventory & Supplies | $12,000 – $25,000 |
| Pre-Opening & Training Expenses | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Working Capital (3–6 Months) | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| Total Estimated Investment | $450,000 – $850,000 |
