Fruitbae Franchise Cost in India: Franchise Model, ROI, Eligibility Criteria & Steps to Apply

Fruitbae (FruitBae / FRUITBAE) is a fast-casual / juice-and-dessert café chain based in Kerala, India. The brand is known for fruit-shots, fresh juices, shakes, smoothies, and dessert items, with emphasis on using no artificial additives. It has multiple outlets across Kerala and expansion plans into other Indian states.

Franchise / Business Model

• Type of model: Fruitbae operates via franchise / license model. Franchise owners run the outlet(s) but must follow brand standards (menu, ambience, service).
• Outlet types / sizes: The size depends on location (mall, high street, food court area etc.), but typical outlets are of moderate size (small café format). Exact square footage is not always disclosed in public sources.
• Company details: The franchising entity is Fruitbae Food Products Private Limited, registered in Kerala.

Investment & Franchise Cost

Based on publicly available sources, here is what is known about costs, expected returns etc.:

Component	Detail
Initial Investment	According to FranchiseIndia, the investment required for a Fruitbae unit is INR 56-88 lakhs depending on size (small / medium / large) of outlet (700, 1,200, or 1,600 sq ft).
Franchise / Brand Fee	Approx INR 9,00,000.
Royalty / Commission	Public info says 0% (i.e. no ongoing royalty) according to FranchiseIndia listing. However, always verify in actual agreement.
Payback period	The likely payback for capital is estimated at 1-2 years for a unit franchise.
Expected revenue / sales	Monthly sales of ₹17 lakhs+ per outlet are projected in some listings.
Territorial / exclusivity	Yes — exclusive territorial rights for unit franchisee are mentioned.

Thus, to start one Fruitbae outlet of moderate size, you are looking at roughly INR 56-88 lakhs outlay, plus the ~₹9 lakh brand fee. Additional working capital, rent, staffing, fit-out etc will add to this.

Eligibility Criteria

From public sources plus general best practices in franchise business, here are typical criteria you’ll need to satisfy:

1. Financial capacity
   You should have enough capital not only for the upfront investment, but working capital to cover operations till the outlet starts breaking even (rent, wages, utilities, raw materials etc.).
2. Location possession / site control
   Having access to a good location in high footfall areas (mall, high street, commercial complex) is essential. Fruitbae prefers locations that are visible, accessible, and correspond to its brand image.
3. Business / operational experience
   While prior food & beverage (F&B) experience may not always be mandatory, having experience in hospitality / retail helps. You may need to demonstrate ability to manage staff, operations, inventory etc.
4. Commitment to brand operations
   Strict adherence to the brand’s SOPs: quality of ingredients, service standards, design / décor, menu consistency, hygiene etc.
5. Legal compliance
   Necessary licenses (local food license, shops & establishment, GST registration etc.), permits, utilities, building permissions etc.
6. Other soft criteria
   Good reputation, reliability, willingness to invest time (especially early months), capacity to market locally etc.

Expected Return on Investment (ROI) & Profitability

Here’s what you should realistically expect, based on public disclosures and industry norms:

• Gross revenue: As per FranchiseIndia, projected monthly sales of ~₹17 lakhs+ for typical outlets.
• Payback period: 1-2 years is claimed for recouping capital, assuming good location, good management.
• Profit margins: Although exact margin numbers are not publicly disclosed, in F&B café/juice shop formats margins are typically under pressure from cost of fruits, utilities, labor, rent etc. Net margins (after all expenses, before tax) might be 10-20% in good months/locations. But this will vary widely by city and rent costs.
• Break-even timing: Likely within 12-24 months, but this depends heavily on footfall, rental cost, staffing costs, whether there are fixed costs & how quickly the outlet reaches revenue targets.

Steps to Apply for a Fruitbae Franchise

If you are interested, here are recommended steps:

1. Research thoroughly
   Read all publicly available data: brand brochure (if available), past outlet financials (if franchisor provides them), reviews from existing outlets, competitors in that area.
2. Contact the company
   Use the official contact to request the franchisee information kit / franchise agreement template / P&L statements.
3. Evaluate location
   Identify potential sites (mall, high street, food courts etc.), and get estimates of rent, lease terms, footfall etc. Submit site proposals to the franchisor for evaluation.
4. Prepare business plan
   Project revenue, expense, cash flow, staffing etc. Include down payments / investment + working capital requirement. This will help you assess risk and ROI.
5. Financing
   Ensure you have funds ready: own capital, or arrange debt / finance. Also consider seasonal / inventory costs, cost of raw materials.
6. Negotiate & sign agreement
   Go through the franchise agreement carefully. Negotiate territorial exclusivity, renewal terms, any royalty or ongoing fees, marketing fund, suppliers, possible changes, lease-flexibility etc.
7. Setup & training
   Franchisor will usually help with layout, supply chain, staff training, equipment sourcing etc. Ensure you adhere to design, food safety, process standards.
8. Launch & ongoing operations
   Plan launch marketing, promotions, possibly soft-opening. Maintain quality control, periodic audits, customer feedback. Monitor weekly / monthly P&Ls.

Risks and Things to Verify

• Hidden costs: Rent escalations, electricity & water costs, spoilage of fruit and perishables, breakage, waste.
• Supply chain reliability: Since fruits are perishable, supplier costs may fluctuate, stock spoilage risk is high. Ensure the franchisor has good supply chain support.
• Market saturation / competition: In beverage / dessert markets, competition is intense (other juice bars, cafés etc.). Your location matters a lot.
• Dependency on footfall: If your site is not well visible or trafficked, sales may suffer. Location is critical.
• Operational challenges: Staffing, food hygiene, inventory wastage etc. can erode margins.

Contact & Official Information

From public-company sources:

• Company name: Fruitbae Food Products Private Limited.
• Registered Office Address: 5th Floor, Chakolas Heights, Seaport Airport Road, Near Infopark South Gate, Chittethukara, Kakkanad, Ernakulam, Kerala 682037.
• Official / Registered Email: manaf@easysoftindia.com is listed as the registered email ID for Fruitbae Food Products Pvt Ltd.
• Website: fruitbae.com

You can write to that email to request the franchise information dossier—ask specifically for:

• Franchise application form
• Franchise agreement (draft)
• Sample financials / P&L from current outlets
• Details of site requirement (sq ft, layout, lease terms etc.)
• Support provided (in training, marketing, supplies)

Final Take / Expert View

If you are considering investing in a Fruitbae franchise, here’s what makes it promising, and what to watch out for:

Pros:

• Growing brand with presence in multiple centres and popularity among health-/fruit-juice conscious consumers.
• Strong positioning vs. purely dessert / milkshake joints because of fresh fruit-based offerings and lean towards “clean / natural”.
• Exclusive territorial rights are an advantage.
• Payback period (1-2 yr) is reasonable given mid to high investment, assuming success.

Challenges:

• Large initial outlay (50-80 lakhs + brand fee) is nontrivial; many investors will need financing.
• High fixed costs (rent, interiors, fixtures, staff) in good locations will cut margins.
• No royalty / commission is good if true, but double-check in contract; sometimes “zero royalty” might hide some other ongoing fees (marketing contribution etc.).
• Consistency in operations and supply chain is essential.