Key Numbers
34
Total units open
8
Units opened last year
3
Units closed last year
2 terminated + 1 ceased operations
5
Net unit growth
Project LeanNation Franchise
Franchised by Project Lean Nation Franchising, Inc. · FDD 2026
Food & Beverage FDD 2026 Founded 2020 · 6+ yrs Item 19 disclosed
Data extracted from Project Lean Nation Franchising, Inc.'s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, filed under FTC Rule 16 CFR 436. How we analyze FDDs →
Initial investment
$260K - $397K
Franchise fee
$60K
Median unit revenue
$517k
System size
33 (+8)
The Verdict
Quick Verdict · who it fits
Project LeanNation fits first-time franchise buyers looking for an emerging food & beverage concept.
✓ Strengths
- ✓Discloses Item 19 financial performance
- ✓Grants exclusive territory protection
Key FDD Facts
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$260K - $397K
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$60K
Royalty (Item 6)
7% + 2% ad
Item 19 median rev
$517k all franchised units
System size (Item 20)
33 +8
Agreement term
10 yrs
Years in business
6+ yrs
Company-owned units
1
Item 3 litigation
1 suit
Model Project LeanNation's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
Data extracted from the 2026 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
What you'd pay the franchisor
Drag to your projected annual sales. Royalty 7% + ad fund 2% on gross sales.
PROJECTED ANNUAL SALES$520,000
$100k$2M
Royalty (7%)
—
Ad fund (2%)
—
Total / year
—
▪ Of-sales fees only · excludes rent, labor, COGS, and one-time costs · for illustration
Get the Complete Project Lean Nation FDD Analysis
Everything a franchise attorney would review — powered by AI, emailed when it's ready.
Choose your option
What's inside
Franchise Overview
Costs & Fees Breakdown
Your Obligations
Franchisor Obligations
Financial Statements
Contracts Summary
Unit Economics
Network Health
Litigation Risk
Earnings Analysis
Financial Fit Analysis
Buyer Verdict
Highlighted sections are written around your situation — we'll ask four quick questions right after checkout. See a real sample
Secure Stripe checkoutEmailed + dashboard accessPDF download included
Research, not legal advice. Use this report alongside professional legal and financial review before signing any franchise agreement.
Are you a franchisor?
Own this brand? See how buyers rank you against competitors. Researching it as a rival? Get the competitor dossier.
Competitive intelligence for franchisors →Executive Summary
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
AI Due Diligence Findings PREMIUM
What our analysis flagged across the 2026 filing.
5
Risks to review
4
Strengths identified
5
Questions to ask
Industry Benchmarks
How Project LeanNation ranks against 749 Food & Beverage peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
35th pct · of 749 peers
Franchise fee
95th pct · of 749 peers
System size
54th pct · of 749 peers
Food & Beverage industry averages
Avg investment
$589K - $1.4M
Avg franchise fee
$37K
Avg system size
261
Franchises analyzed
749
How Project LeanNation stacks up
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project LeanNation | Disclosed | $60K | $260K - $397K | 7% | 33 |
| Chocolate Bash Similar price | None | $25K | $213K - $395K | 6% | 15 |
| Doctor's Associates Biggest system | None | $15K | $227K - $630K | 8% | 18,773 |
| Vintage Hospitality Group Top-rated in category | Disclosed | $50K | $3.5M - $6.4M | 5.5% | 33 |
Not sure Project LeanNation is the one?
Answer five questions and get matched against 2,000+ analyzed FDDs — including every Food & Beverage brand we cover. Free, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Project LeanNation franchise cost?
Project LeanNation requires a $60,000 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $260,150–$396,650, per the most recent FDD on file.
Who owns Project LeanNation?
Project LeanNation is franchised by Project Lean Nation Franchising, Inc., the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the franchisor's corporate history, parents, and predecessors.
Does Project LeanNation disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
Yes. Project LeanNation discloses Item 19 financial performance representations with reported revenue around $517,392. See the financials sub-page for the full distribution.
What ongoing fees does Project LeanNation charge?
Franchisees pay a royalty of 7% of Gross Sales and an advertising fund contribution of 2% of gross sales per month on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.
How many Project LeanNation locations are there?
As of their 2026 FDD, Project LeanNation has 33 total locations, with 8 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
Does Project LeanNation grant exclusive territory?
Yes. Project LeanNation grants franchisees an exclusive territory under Item 12 of the FDD. Note that exclusive territories often carve out online sales, alternative distribution channels, and non-traditional venues — review the full Item 12 language before signing.
What are the renewal and exit terms?
Per the FDD, Project LeanNation discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years, a renewal fee of $15,000, a transfer fee of $15,000. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.
Franchise research guides
Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Recommended reading
Brand Analysis
Is Chipotle a Franchise? Why All 4,000+ US Locations Are Corporate
Chipotle reported 4,186 company-operated restaurants and 15 international licensed restaurants as of June 30, 2026. None are franchised, there is no FDD, and there is nothing to apply for. Qdoba is the franchised version of the same order line, and its 12/25 FDD puts a traditional restaurant at $548,100 to $1,294,000.
Brand AnalysisIs Cracker Barrel a Franchise? No. It Never Has Been
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. reported 656 company-operated stores in 43 states as of January 30, 2026, and the brand has never sold a franchise. Huddle House and Another Broken Egg cover the same daypart with filed FDDs, at $555,375 to $1,715,275 and $792,500 to $1,804,000.
Brand AnalysisIs Häagen-Dazs a Franchise? Yes, and the Brand Has Three Owners
The Häagen-Dazs Shoppe Company franchises the ice cream shops on a $30,000 fee and a 4% royalty, with a 2026 Item 7 range of $213,329 to $591,579. The trademark belongs to a different company, and the ice cream you are required to buy comes from a third.
Get franchise information FREE
Interested in Project Lean Nation Franchising, Inc.?
Request information directly from the franchisor — free, takes a minute.
Ready to make an informed decision?
Join prospective franchisees who use VetMyFranchise to evaluate opportunities before they sign.