The Swig franchise cost is $608,400 to $1,718,000 per store in the FDD issued May 7, 2025, the newest on file in Minnesota as of October 2026, and $766,400 to $1,876,000 for the 5-unit development minimum.
Key takeaways
- $608,400 to $1,718,000 is the single-store Item 7 estimate in the Swig Franchise Disclosure Document issued May 7, 2025, as amended October 16, 2025; $63,500 to $66,500 of it is paid to Swig Franchising, LLC or its affiliates (cover page).
- Up $600,000 at the high end since 2024: the April 19, 2024 Swig FDD printed $504,900 to $1,118,000, and real estate improvements alone moved from a $700,000 to a $1,200,000 ceiling (Item 7 in both documents).
- Ground-up builds drive the ceiling: Item 7 Note 3 prices new 800 to 900 square foot construction at $900,000 to $1,200,000 before land, against $335,000 to $525,000 for an end-cap with an existing drive-thru.
- 7% royalty, 3% marketing fund, $400 a month technology fee (Item 6, 2025 FDD); the marketing fund was 2% in the 2024 FDD.
- The website asks for more than the FDD: swig.com/franchising lists $2,500,000 liquid, 10 or more existing QSR or fast casual restaurants and a 10-store minimum; the FDD states no liquidity or net worth figure and sells single units.
- No 2026 Swig FDD in Minnesota: the state cancelled Swig’s registration on July 22, 2025 and withdrew its renewal application on March 17, 2026, so the May 2025 document is the latest one the public file holds.
| Measure (Swig FDD issued May 7, 2025) | Figure as printed | FDD item |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment, one store | $608,400 to $1,718,000 | Cover, Item 7 |
| Initial investment, 5-unit area development | $766,400 to $1,876,000 | Cover, Item 7 |
| Initial franchise fee | $39,500 | Item 5 |
| Royalty / marketing fund | 7% / 3% of Gross Sales | Item 6 |
| Technology fee | Currently $400 per month | Item 6 |
| Signing-to-opening estimate | 12 to 18 months | Item 11 |
| Territory | Usually a 2-mile radius, not exclusive | Item 12 |
| Term | 10 years | Item 17 |
| Outlets at Dec 31, 2024 | 89 (16 franchised, 73 company-owned) in Table 1 | Item 20 |
What does each line of Swig’s Item 7 cost, and do the totals add up?
Swig’s Item 7 has 15 lines, from the $39,500 franchise fee to $30,000 to $40,000 of additional funds for the first 3 months. Real estate improvements ($335,000 to $1,200,000) and equipment, furniture, fixtures, decor and supplies ($100,000 to $210,000) make up 71% of the low total and 82% of the high total. We added every line: the sums match the printed $608,400 and $1,718,000.
| Item 7 line (single store) | Low | High | Paid to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $39,500 | $39,500 | Swig | Item 7, Note 1 |
| Initial training travel, food, lodging (3 attendees) | $3,000 | $10,000 | Airlines, hotels, restaurants | Item 7, Note 2 |
| Additional trainees, optional (up to 2 at $2,500) | $0 | $5,000 | Swig and travel vendors | Item 7, Note 2 |
| Real estate improvements | $335,000 | $1,200,000 | Suppliers and contractors | Item 7, Note 3 |
| Site development fee, optional | $0 | $35,000 | Swig | Item 7, Note 4 |
| Rent: 3 months plus security deposit | $6,400 | $33,000 | Landlord | Item 7, Note 5 |
| Equipment, furniture, fixtures, decor, supplies | $100,000 | $210,000 | Suppliers | Item 7, Note 6 |
| Uniforms and tumblers | $4,000 | $7,000 | Swig or an affiliate | Item 7, Note 7 |
| POS system, computer hardware, software | $12,000 | $18,500 | Suppliers | Item 7, Note 8 |
| Signs (at least 3 exterior, 1 interior) | $25,000 | $35,000 | Suppliers | Item 7, Note 9 |
| Miscellaneous opening costs | $5,000 | $25,000 | Suppliers, agencies, utilities | Item 7, Note 10 |
| Opening inventory | $8,500 | $15,000 | Swig, affiliates, suppliers | Item 7, Note 11 |
| Grand opening assistance fee | $10,000 | $10,000 | Swig | Item 7, Note 12 |
| Grand opening marketing (incl. $10,000 fee to Swig) | $30,000 | $35,000 | Swig, affiliates, suppliers | Item 7, Note 13 |
| Additional funds, first 3 months | $30,000 | $40,000 | Suppliers, employees | Item 7, Note 14 |
| Total (printed; our sum matches) | $608,400 | $1,718,000 | Item 7 |
Two Swig-specific lines are easy to miss. The grand opening marketing line assumes 3 mandatory free giveaway days at about $5,000 each in drinks, cookies and labor, plus the $10,000 fee paid to Swig on opening day (Note 13). Note 14 also requires $25,000 kept in the operating account, or a $25,000 line of credit, at all times after opening.
The $63,500 to $66,500 the cover page says goes to Swig or affiliates equals the $39,500 fee, $4,000 to $7,000 of uniforms and tumblers, and the two $10,000 opening fees. The optional $35,000 site development fee and $2,500 per extra trainee sit outside that cover figure, so a buyer who takes both pays Swig up to $106,500 at the high end (our arithmetic from Items 5 and 7).
Why does the high end reach $1,200,000 for real estate alone?
Note 3 to Item 7 splits real estate improvements by building type, and the $1,200,000 ceiling belongs to ground-up construction only. A new 800 to 900 square foot building is estimated at $900,000 to $1,200,000, excluding land, while remodeling an existing free-standing building ($335,000 to $700,000) or an end-cap with a drive-thru ($335,000 to $525,000) costs far less.
| Site type in Item 7 Note 3 | Size stated | Site and building cost | Store total if other lines run low to high (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing end-cap with drive-thru | 1,000 to 2,500 sq ft | $335,000 to $525,000 | $608,400 to $1,043,000 |
| Existing free-standing building | 800 to 2,500 sq ft | $335,000 to $700,000 | $608,400 to $1,218,000 |
| Ground-up new construction (land excluded) | 800 to 900 sq ft | $900,000 to $1,200,000 | $1,173,400 to $1,718,000 |
The last column swaps each site range into Item 7 while every other line stays at its printed low ($273,400) or high ($518,000). Land is not in any Item 7 figure. Note 5 puts a purchase at $110 to $450 per square foot if you buy instead of lease, and the lease estimate is $24 to $55 per square foot per year for 800 to 1,800 square feet.
Ground-up construction ($900,000 to $1,200,000 before land) sets the $1,718,000 Item 7 ceiling; end-caps top out at $525,000. Source: Swig FDD issued May 7, 2025, Item 7 Note 3.
How much did the Swig franchise cost rise from the April 2024 FDD?
Between the FDD issued April 19, 2024 and the one issued May 7, 2025, Swig raised the single-store estimate by $103,500 at the low end and $600,000 at the high end. Four Item 7 lines moved: real estate improvements, equipment, signs and additional funds. Item 6 changed too: the marketing fund went from 2% to 3%, and the successor fee from 20% to 50% of the then-current franchise fee.
| Line or term | FDD issued Apr 19, 2024 | FDD issued May 7, 2025 | Change (our arithmetic) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate improvements | $260,000 to $700,000 | $335,000 to $1,200,000 | +$75,000 / +$500,000 | Item 7 |
| Equipment, furniture, fixtures, decor, supplies | $78,500 to $115,000 | $100,000 to $210,000 | +$21,500 / +$95,000 | Item 7 |
| Signs | $18,000 to $25,000 | $25,000 to $35,000 | +$7,000 / +$10,000 | Item 7 |
| Additional funds, 3 months | $30,000 to $45,000 | $30,000 to $40,000 | $0 / minus $5,000 | Item 7 |
| Single-store total | $504,900 to $1,118,000 | $608,400 to $1,718,000 | +$103,500 / +$600,000 | Cover, Item 7 |
| 5-unit area development total | $640,400 to $1,253,500 | $766,400 to $1,876,000 | +$126,000 / +$622,500 | Cover, Item 7 |
| Development fee, 5 units | $175,000 ($35,000 per unit, all at signing) | $197,500 ($39,500 per unit, $118,500 at signing) | +$22,500 | Items 5 and 7 |
| Marketing fund | 2% of net sales | 3% of Gross Sales | +1 point | Item 6 |
| Successor franchise fee | 20% of then-current fee | 50% of then-current fee | +30 points | Item 6 |
| Interest on late payments | 18% | 1.5% per month | Restated | Item 6 |
| Opening fee due dates | Assistance at signing; marketing 60 days before opening | Both on opening date | Later cash outflow | Item 5 |
| Experience behind Item 7 | 6 years, over 40 units | 7 years, over 86 units | More history | Item 7, Note 14 |
The four line changes reconcile exactly: $75,000 plus $21,500 plus $7,000 equals the $103,500 low-end rise, and $500,000 plus $95,000 plus $10,000 minus $5,000 equals the $600,000 high-end rise. The 2025 FDD is also the first of the two to add the ground-up construction estimate, which is where the extra $500,000 of real estate headroom sits.
The real estate improvements ceiling rose $500,000, to $1,200,000, and equipment rose $95,000, to $210,000, between the April 2024 and May 2025 Swig FDDs. Source: both FDDs, Item 7.
Why online Swig cost figures disagree
Most Swig cost pages copy one FDD year without dating it, so readers see three different totals. The table sets five claims from pages we opened in October 2026 beside the two Minnesota-filed FDDs. Competitor pages are described, not named, under our editorial policy.
| What a ranking page says | What the filed FDD says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A listing citing a “2026 FDD summary”: $559,300 to $1,981,000 | No 2026 Swig FDD is on file in Minnesota; the May 7, 2025 FDD prints $608,400 to $1,718,000 | CARDS search, Oct 2026; 2025 FDD cover |
| A listing based on the 2024 FDD: $504,900 to $1,118,000 and a 2% brand fund | Correct for the April 19, 2024 FDD; the 2025 FDD raised both, to $608,400 to $1,718,000 and 3% | Item 6 and Item 7, both FDDs |
| A Q&A page dated Sep 28, 2026: franchise fee about $50,000; liquid capital $175,000 to $300,000 | Initial fee $39,500; Swig’s own website asks for $2,500,000 liquid | Item 5; swig.com/franchising |
| A soda shop list dated Aug 1, 2025: $350,000 to $865,000, 6% royalty, 2% marketing, $150,000 liquid, $500,000 net worth | Neither FDD prints those totals; royalty is 7% in both; 2% marketing matches only the 2024 FDD; neither FDD states a liquidity or net worth figure | Items 6 and 7, both FDDs |
| A listing showing 0 franchised and 59 company-owned units | 2 franchised and 57 company-owned at end of 2023; 16 franchised and 73 company-owned at end of 2024 | Item 20, Table 1, 2025 FDD |
Does Swig’s website ask for more than the FDD does?
Yes, by a wide margin. The FDD sells a single store and a 5-unit area development, and nowhere states a net worth or liquidity floor. The franchising page at swig.com, last updated August 13, 2026 per its sitemap, asks for $2,500,000 liquid, ownership of 10 or more QSR or fast casual franchise restaurants, and a minimum of 10 Swig locations built at 2 to 3 a year.
| Requirement | Swig FDD issued May 7, 2025 | swig.com/franchising (accessed Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum number of stores | 1 (franchise agreement); 5 under an area development agreement (Items 1 and 5) | 10 Swig locations, 2 to 3 new stores per year |
| Liquid assets | Not stated | $2,500,000 liquid for this investment |
| Net worth | Not stated | Not stated |
| Operating experience | Not required; operating principal must own at least 25% and finish training (Items 11 and 15) | Currently own and operate 10 or more QSR or fast casual franchise restaurants in the market |
| Review standard | Not stated | 4-star plus online reviews and positive franchisor references |
| Financing | Swig offers none (Item 10) | Strong banking relations and ability to secure financing |
The worked example below sets the website’s $2,500,000 liquidity line against the FDD’s printed totals and against a 10-store plan. The 10-store row is our arithmetic: Item 5’s printed 10-unit development fee of $395,000 plus ten times the first-unit cost net of the fee ($568,900 to $1,678,500), which Item 7 Note 15 says to expect for each unit.
| Path | Capital per the FDD | Paid to Swig at signing | Compared with $2,500,000 liquid | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 store | $608,400 to $1,718,000 | $39,500 | Below at both ends | Items 5 and 7 |
| 5-unit development, first store open | $766,400 to $1,876,000 | $118,500 | Below at both ends | Item 7, ADA table |
| 10-unit development, all 10 open | $6,084,000 to $17,180,000 (our arithmetic) | $217,250 | Above at both ends; spread over the build schedule | Items 5 and 7 |
A 10-store developer would not fund all ten stores at once: Item 7 Note 15 expects units to open “over time according to the development schedule.” The $2,500,000 figure therefore reads as a seed amount for the first stores plus bank capacity, which matches the website’s second line about the “ability to secure financing.”
What does a Swig area development agreement cost, payment by payment?
A 5-unit Swig area development carries a $197,500 development fee, $39,500 per unit. Under the 2025 FDD you pay $118,500 when you sign: the full $39,500 for unit 1 plus half of the fee, $19,750, for each of units 2 to 5. The remaining $79,000 is paid in $19,750 installments as each later franchise agreement is signed.
- Sign the area development agreement and the unit 1 franchise agreement: $118,500 to Swig ($39,500 plus 4 x $19,750) (Items 5 and 7).
- Sign the franchise agreement for each of units 2 to 5: $19,750 each, $79,000 in total (Item 5).
- Sign each lease after Swig approves the site; silence for 60 days counts as disapproval. The optional $35,000 site development fee is due at lease signing (Items 5 and 11).
- Finish initial training in Utah, about 15 to 20 days, at least 4 weeks before opening (Item 11).
- Open each unit and pay the $10,000 assistance fee and the $10,000 grand opening marketing fee that day; opening assistance is mandatory for the first 3 units (Items 5 and 7).
Item 5 prints a 10-unit example: a $395,000 total development fee, a $217,250 deposit ($39,500 plus 9 x $19,750) and $177,750 paid later in $19,750 installments. Item 5 also discloses that in 2024 some area developers paid initial fees of $30,000 to $39,000 per franchise, and some spread fees over 2 years at 40%, 30% and 30%. Missed deadlines can end the development rights and forfeit fees paid for undeveloped units (Item 12). How Swig’s half-upfront fee split compares with other multi-unit programs is shown in our research on area development fees and schedules.
Which Swig fees continue after opening?
Every Swig store pays a 7% royalty and a 3% marketing fund contribution on Gross Sales, plus a technology fee that Item 6 lists as “currently, $400 per month.” Gift card sales are excluded from Gross Sales when sold but included when redeemed. Online ordering and delivery orders carry a fee of currently 15% of the order price, usually deducted by the third-party platform.
| Item 6 fee | Amount as printed | When due | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 7% of Gross Sales | Monthly, weekly or daily, by EFT | Item 6 |
| Marketing fund | 3% of Gross Sales | With royalties | Items 6 and 11 |
| Technology fee | Currently $400 per month | Monthly | Item 6 |
| Online ordering and delivery | Currently 15% of the order price | As incurred | Item 6 |
| Conference or seminar | Currently $250 to $1,000 per person | At registration | Item 6 |
| Additional in-person training | $300 per day, per person | On billing | Item 6 |
| Transfer fee / transferee training | $20,000 / $10,000 | At approved transfer | Item 6 |
| Relocation assistance | $35,000 | On relocation | Item 6 |
| Interim management | 15% of Gross Sales | If Swig operates after an uncured default | Item 6 |
| System non-compliance fines | $250, $500, then $750 per violation | As incurred | Item 6 |
Fees marked with Note 6 in Item 6 may rise each year by the Consumer Price Index, cumulatively. Item 11 shows how the marketing fund was spent in the last fiscal year: 13% production, 40% media placement and 47% administrative expenses, and Swig’s affiliate-owned stores do not contribute. Our advertising fund research sets those splits against Item 11 data from 259 FDDs.
Item 8 adds the purchasing rules. Swig or an affiliate is the only approved supplier of the Swig Technology Suite and of uniforms and tumblers, and an approved supplier of flavors and syrups. Required purchases make up an estimated 85% to 95% of what you buy, both to open and to operate.
| Item 8 disclosure | Figure or rule |
|---|---|
| Swig or affiliate is the only approved supplier | Swig Technology Suite; uniforms and tumblers |
| Swig or affiliate is an approved supplier | Flavors and syrups; marketing |
| Swig revenue from franchisee purchases, last fiscal year | $176,109, or 8.3% of total revenues of $2,121,006 |
| Supplier rebates | Per-gallon cash rebates from Dr. Pepper, Coke and Pepsi bag-in-box suppliers; Swig currently passes 75% of rebates on required purchases to franchisees |
| Insurance minimums | General liability $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate; cyber $1,000,000 |
| Mandatory charitable promotions | Save The Cups fundraising every October; a “Share the Love” local charity program |
The 75% rebate pass-through is unusual enough to ask about in writing, and our supplier rebate research shows how other franchisors disclose the same Item 8 line.
Why is the May 2025 FDD still the newest Swig filing in Minnesota?
Minnesota’s CARDS database holds no Swig filing after March 17, 2026. The Department of Commerce cancelled Swig’s registration on July 22, 2025 for failing to file an annual report and fee under Minn. Stat. 80C.08. A renewal application with the May 2025 FDD, received November 10, 2025, drew two deficiency notices and was withdrawn after 120 days without activity under Minn. Stat. 80C.05, subd. 4.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2024 | FDD issued: $504,900 to $1,118,000 | 2024 FDD cover |
| May 7, 2025 | FDD issued: $608,400 to $1,718,000 | 2025 FDD cover |
| Jul 22, 2025 | Minnesota cancels registration: no annual report and fee | Order of Cancellation, file 11143 |
| Oct 16, 2025 | May 2025 FDD amended | 2025 FDD cover |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Renewal application received with the 2025 FDD | CARDS submission 35042-202511 |
| Nov 13, 2025 | Deficiency notice: 5 items, incl. Item 6 fee formula | Deficiency notice |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Second deficiency notice: workers’ comp proof | Deficiency notice |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Order of Withdrawal: no activity for 120 days | Order of Withdrawal |
The November 13, 2025 notice matters for cost. It asked Swig to disclose in Item 6 “the formula or range or the maximum amount of any increase” for fees charged at a then-current rate, naming the Technology Fee, the Conference or Seminar Fee and Online Ordering and Delivery. It also asked for a “Supplier control” risk on the cover page. The withdrawn application never became effective, so the 2025 FDD carries neither change.
A cancelled Minnesota registration does not by itself say anything about other states; registration rules by state are summarized in our franchise registration states research. Ask Swig for its current FDD, its issuance date, and the states where it is registered or exempt before you sign anything.
Where do Swig’s Item 19, 20 and 21 disclosures disagree?
Item 19 exists: it covers 56 affiliate-owned and 2 franchised traditional stores open through all of 2024, with Gross Sales for all 58 and cost and store-level margin lines for the 56 affiliate stores. Item 20 shows 89 outlets at the end of 2024. Item 21 holds audited statements for Swig Franchising, LLC through December 31, 2024, plus unaudited figures to August 31, 2025.
Under this site’s editorial rules we do not reproduce Item 19 numbers; read them in Item 19 of the FDD itself. Our Item 19 research explains what these tables include and leave out, such as the 20 affiliate and 17 franchised stores Swig excluded because they did not operate all year.
| Count at Dec 31, 2024 | Figure | Where printed |
|---|---|---|
| Franchised outlets | 16 | Item 20, Table 1 |
| Franchised outlets | 18 (2 at start, 16 opened, 0 closed) | Item 20, Table 3 |
| Stores operated by franchisees | 19 | Item 19 introduction |
| Company-owned outlets | 73 (57 at start, 19 opened, 2 closed, 1 sold) | Item 20, Tables 1 and 4 |
| Traditional stores run by affiliates | 76, plus 4 non-traditional | Item 1 and Item 19 introduction |
| Franchise agreements signed, store not open | 5 | Item 20, Table 5 |
| Projected openings, next fiscal year | 41 franchised, 17 company-owned | Item 20, Table 5 |
| Terminations, non-renewals, transfers 2022 to 2024 | 0 | Item 20, Tables 2 and 3 |
The franchised count reads 16, 18 or 19 depending on the table, and the company count 73 or 76. Item 20 Table 3 lists 16 franchised openings in 2024 across 10 states, from Idaho (3) and Texas (3) to Florida, Georgia and Nevada (1 each). Ask Swig in writing which count is right, and use the Exhibit C franchisee list to call owners.
Item 21 headline: Swig Franchising, LLC reported 2024 total operating revenue of $2,121,006 and net income of $470,605, after a 2023 net loss of $845,794, with member’s interests of negative $165,189 at December 31, 2024. Non-current deferred revenue was $8,015,946; the notes to Exhibit B say franchise fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the 10-year franchise term. The unaudited August 31, 2025 balance sheet shows members’ equity of $906,197.
How long does a Swig take to open, and what must the owner do?
Item 11 estimates 12 to 18 months from signing to opening, yet the franchise agreement requires a single store to open within 12 months unless it sits under an area development agreement. You must open within 30 days after construction ends and give Swig 3 months’ written notice. The operating principal must own at least 25% and complete training in Utah.
| Obligation | What the 2025 FDD says | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Opening deadline | 12 months from the franchise agreement, unless under an ADA | Item 11 |
| Training | About 15 to 20 days in Utah; 101 to 124 classroom hours and 29 to 39 on-the-job hours | Item 11 |
| Hours | Open 7 days per week at hours Swig sets | Item 15 |
| Owner presence | On-premises supervision recommended, not required; a trained shift lead on site during business hours | Item 15 |
| Personal guarantee | Every direct or indirect owner and each owner’s spouse | Item 15 |
| Territory | Usually a 2-mile radius, not exclusive; Swig keeps non-traditional venues, online sales and a food truck | Item 12 |
| Technology | 1 stationary and 3 mobile POS terminals ($5,000 to $10,000); compliance camera system about $4,000 plus $0 to $150 a month | Item 11 |
| Term and renewal | 10 years; successor term 10 years at 50% of the then-current fee | Items 6 and 17 |
The gap between the 12 to 18 month estimate and the 12-month deadline is a question for the franchise agreement, Section 4.4, before signing. Swig offers no financing (Item 10), and the SBA’s 7(a) loan data, current to June 30, 2026, shows 4 loans under Swig’s franchise code totaling $3,235,000, to borrowers in Arizona, Florida, Idaho and Texas.
Which Swig path fits your capital and track record?
The FDD and the website point to different buyers. Use the table to match your situation to the document that governs it, then confirm the current terms with Swig, since the May 7, 2025 FDD is now more than 17 months old. Item 7 ranges are per store; the 10-store figures are our arithmetic from Items 5 and 7.
| If your situation is | Then the documents say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Under $608,400 available, including borrowing | Below Swig’s lowest printed single-store total | Item 7 |
| $608,400 to $1,718,000 and no restaurant portfolio | The FDD sells a single store, but the website’s screen asks for 10 or more existing restaurants | Items 1 and 7; swig.com |
| Targeting an end-cap with an existing drive-thru | Site and building $335,000 to $525,000; store total up to $1,043,000 on our arithmetic | Item 7, Note 3 |
| Planning ground-up construction | $900,000 to $1,200,000 for the building before land | Item 7, Note 3 |
| Signing 5 units | $118,500 at signing, $197,500 in development fees, $766,400 to $1,876,000 to open the first store | Items 5 and 7 |
| Meeting the website’s 10-store, $2,500,000 liquid screen | $395,000 development fee, $217,250 at signing; $6,084,000 to $17,180,000 for all 10 stores | Item 5; our arithmetic |
| Comparing with another drive-thru beverage concept | Line up Item 7 notes and minimum unit counts side by side | Both FDDs |
For that last row, our 7 Brew franchise cost breakdown applies the same Item 7 method to a brand that sells only 10-store commitments. Before requesting Swig’s current FDD, see what a franchise disclosure document contains; the due diligence sequence from discovery call to signature is set out in how to buy a franchise step by step.
Nothing in this Swig breakdown is legal, financial or investment advice. Your franchise lawyer can confirm whether Swig needs a current registration in your state to sell to you, and what Section 4.4 of the franchise agreement does if your build takes the full 18 months. Ask an accountant to model the 7% royalty, 3% marketing fund and $400 technology fee against your own sales assumptions. Royalty and Item 7 conventions across brands sit in our franchise costs guide, and an independent consultant can screen Swig against single-unit brands, as covered in how franchise consultants work with buyers.
How we compiled this
Two Swig FDDs from Minnesota CARDS were the base: the May 7, 2025 issue (Items 1 to 21, Exhibit B) and the April 19, 2024 issue (cover, Items 5 to 7), plus 7 orders and notices in CARDS file 11143. We re-added every Item 7 line, opened swig.com/franchising and Minnesota Statutes 80C.05 and 80C.08, and counted SBA 7(a) records in October 2026. Item 19 figures and forum posts were excluded.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swig a franchise?
Yes. Swig Franchising, LLC of Sandy, Utah began selling Swig franchises in September 2022, and its parent, Swig Stores, LLC, has run Swig stores since 2016 (Item 1 of the FDD issued May 7, 2025). Item 20 counts 16 franchised and 73 company-owned outlets at December 31, 2024, and an April 30, 2026 Swig press release cited more than 150 locations in 16 states.
How much is the Swig franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee is $39,500, paid in a lump sum when you sign the franchise agreement (Item 5, FDD issued May 7, 2025). Under a 5-unit area development agreement the fee is $39,500 per unit: $118,500 at signing and $19,750 at each later franchise agreement. Two $10,000 fees for opening assistance and grand opening marketing follow on opening day.
How much liquid capital do you need to open a Swig?
The May 7, 2025 FDD states no liquidity or net worth minimum. Swig’s franchising page, accessed October 2026, asks for $2,500,000 in liquid assets, ownership of 10 or more QSR or fast casual franchise restaurants, and a 10-store development commitment. The FDD’s own single-store Item 7 total is $608,400 to $1,718,000, so ask Swig which standard applies to you.
What royalty and marketing fees does Swig charge?
Swig charges a 7% royalty and a 3% marketing fund contribution on Gross Sales, plus a technology fee listed as currently $400 per month (Item 6, FDD issued May 7, 2025). The April 19, 2024 FDD set the marketing fund at 2%. Online ordering and delivery orders carry a fee of currently 15% of the order price.
How much do Swig franchise owners make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Item 19 of the May 7, 2025 FDD covers 56 affiliate-owned and 2 franchised stores open all of 2024, so read it there and ask Swig for the written substantiation it says it holds. What you keep depends on the 7% royalty, the 3% marketing fund, rent of $24 to $55 per square foot and build cost.
Does Swig offer financing?
No. Item 10 of the FDD issued May 7, 2025 says Swig offers no direct or indirect financing and does not guarantee notes, leases or obligations. Buyers use banks or SBA lenders: SBA 7(a) loan data current to June 30, 2026 lists 4 loans under Swig’s franchise code totaling $3,235,000, made to borrowers in Arizona, Florida, Idaho and Texas.
How long does it take to open a Swig?
Item 11 of the FDD issued May 7, 2025 estimates 12 to 18 months from signing to opening, mainly for site approval, construction and permits. The franchise agreement still requires a single store to open within 12 months unless it is under an area development agreement. Training in Utah takes about 15 to 20 days and must finish at least 4 weeks before opening.
Sources
- Swig Franchise Disclosure Document, Swig Franchising, LLC, issued May 7, 2025, as amended October 16, 2025, cover, Items 1 to 21 and Exhibit B. Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS, document 35042-202511-06. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Swig Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 19, 2024, cover, Items 5 to 7. Minnesota CARDS, document 29986-202312-17. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Order of Cancellation, Swig Franchising, LLC, file 11143, dated July 22, 2025. Minnesota Department of Commerce. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Deficiency Notification, submission 35042-202511, dated November 13, 2025, and Deficiency Notification dated February 19, 2026. Minnesota Department of Commerce. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Order of Withdrawal, submission 35042-202511, dated March 17, 2026. Minnesota Department of Commerce. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Minnesota Statutes 80C.05, Registration provisions and 80C.08, Annual report. Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- Franchise Opportunities. Swig. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- Swig announces 25-unit deal in Southern Florida, press release dated April 30, 2026. Utah Business. Accessed 2026-10-20.
- 16 CFR 436.5, Disclosure items. U.S. Government Publishing Office. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- A Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Franchise. Federal Trade Commission. Accessed 2026-10-26.
- SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan data, as of June 30, 2026. U.S. Small Business Administration. Accessed 2026-10-14.