A coffee franchise costs $142,000 to $2,283,500 to open across nine store formats in five 2026 disclosure documents: the format you can site, from host venue to drive-thru kiosk, moves the total more than the brand does.
Key takeaways
- The lowest Item 7 floor in this set is Dunkin’s non-traditional venue format at $142,000; the highest ceiling is 7 Brew at $2,283,500 per store, sold only with a 10-store commitment (Dunkin FDD, March 26, 2026; 7 Brew FDD, May 11, 2026).
- One brand, two footprints: a Scooter’s Coffee kiosk of 650 to 700 sq ft is estimated at $1,163,650 to $1,345,750, an end cap of 800 to 1,400 sq ft at $658,898 to $1,068,525 (Scooter’s Coffee FDD, amended October 5, 2026, Item 7).
- The Human Bean charges no royalty; its Item 8 says required purchases produced $7,968,657, about 79.1% of the franchisor’s total sales of $10,074,867 in 2025, and Centerline is the sole supplier of roasted coffee beans (The Human Bean FDD, amended April 16, 2026).
- Scooter’s Coffee franchisees must buy all coffee beans from the affiliate Scooter’s Coffee Supply Chain, which booked $247,244,700 from sales to franchisees in fiscal 2025 (Scooter’s FDD, Item 8).
- Starbucks and Dutch Bros are not for sale as franchises: Starbucks licenses 19,476 stores instead (Form 10-K, fiscal 2025), and Dutch Bros states it no longer offers franchising (company support page).
| Key number | Figure | Where it is printed |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Item 7 low end in the set | $142,000 (Dunkin’ non-traditional) | Dunkin’ FDD, Item 7 Table D |
| Highest Item 7 high end in the set | $2,283,500 (7 Brew, per store) | 7 Brew FDD, cover and Item 7 |
| Initial franchise fee range | $35,000 (The Human Bean, 7 Brew first store) to $90,000 (Dunkin’ Type 1 markets) | Item 5 of each FDD |
| Percentage-of-sales fees at current rates | 1% (The Human Bean) to 10.9% (Dunkin’ traditional) | Item 6 of each FDD; our arithmetic |
| Typical time to open | 180 to 545 days (Scooter’s) to 8 to 15 months (Dunkin’) | Item 11 |
| Franchisors offering financing | 0 of the 4 FDDs we checked for Item 10 | Item 10 (Scooter’s, The Human Bean, 7 Brew, Dunkin’) |
Coffee franchise costs in five 2026 FDDs, A to Z
Five franchise disclosure documents on file with Minnesota in 2026 cover nine coffee store formats, and two well-known coffee names are not sold as franchises at all. The table lists each brand and format alphabetically with the Item 7 total, the Item 5 fee, the Item 6 percentage fees and the Item 8 rule on coffee supply, each tied to the document it came from.
Market data such as SBA loan counts and Census franchise shares sits in our coffee franchise statistics report; this page stays on what each format costs and what the contract obliges you to buy. Item 7 is the franchisor’s estimate of the money needed to open and run for about 3 months, required under 16 CFR 436.5(g) of the FTC Franchise Rule.
| Brand and format | FDD issued | Item 7 total | Item 5 initial fee | Item 6 royalty and fund | Item 8 coffee supply rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Brew, drive-thru (510 sq ft modular building) | May 11, 2026 | $940,500 to $2,283,500 per store, 10-store commitment | $35,000 first store; $25,000 each later store | 4.5%, 5.5% or 7% of weekly Gross Sales by sales tier; 2% Brand Fund; 0.25% Technology Fee | About 100% of purchases from approved or designated sources | 7 Brew FDD |
| Dunkin’, freestanding | March 26, 2026 | $532,400 to $1,832,500 | $40,000 to $90,000 by market type | 5.9% + 5.0% advertising | More than 95% of purchases are required; National DCP, LLC (NDCP) distributes | Dunkin FDD |
| Dunkin’, gas station or convenience store | March 26, 2026 | $216,400 to $1,065,500 | Standard fee pro-rated by term | 5.9% + 5.0% | Same as freestanding | Dunkin’ FDD, Table C |
| Dunkin’, non-traditional venue (SDO) | March 26, 2026 | $142,000 to $862,500 | 50% of standard fee, pro-rated | 5.9% + 2.5% | Same as freestanding | Dunkin’ FDD, Table D |
| Dunkin’, shopping center or storefront | March 26, 2026 | $443,000 to $1,333,500 | $40,000 to $90,000 | 5.9% + 5.0% | Same as freestanding | Dunkin’ FDD, Table B |
| Dutch Bros, drive-thru shop | No FDD; not offered | None published | $50,000 in the last disclosed terms (2021) | 5% + 1% marketing (2021 terms) | Company roasts its beans | 2021 prospectus |
| Scooter’s Coffee, end cap | July 14, 2026, amended October 5, 2026 | $658,898 to $1,068,525 | $40,000 + $20,000 Initial Opening Support Fee | 6% of Net Sales + 2% marketing (up to 4%) | All coffee beans from affiliate Scooter’s Coffee Supply Chain | Scooter’s FDD, End Cap table |
| Scooter’s Coffee, kiosk | July 14, 2026, amended October 5, 2026 | $1,163,650 to $1,345,750 | $40,000 + $20,000 | 6% + 2% | Same as end cap | Scooter’s FDD, Kiosk table |
| Starbucks, licensed store | No FDD; not offered | None published | Not applicable | Royalty on retail sales, rate not disclosed | Starbucks sells coffee, tea and equipment to licensees | Starbucks 10-K |
| The Human Bean, drive-through | February 25, 2026, amended April 16, 2026 | $672,000 to $1,532,000 | $35,000, including a $5,000 site analysis fee | No royalty; 1% Brand Fee (up to 2%) | Centerline is the sole supplier of roasted coffee beans | The Human Bean FDD |
| Ziggi’s Coffee, drive thru | March 31, 2026 | $586,830 to $1,759,855 | $40,000 | 6% of Gross Sales + 1% marketing and technology (up to 2%) | Not read for this page | Ziggi’s FDD cover |
Item 7 low ends run from $142,000 (Dunkin’ non-traditional) to $1,163,650 (Scooter’s kiosk), sorted by low end. Source: five coffee FDDs issued 2026, Item 7, Minnesota CARDS.
The full row set, with footprint, territory, opening window and Item 20 outlet counts per format, is kept as a 21-column CSV file compiled for this page. Brand-level detail lives on our 7 Brew franchise cost breakdown and our Dunkin’ cost page with all four Item 7 tables.
Kiosk, end cap, storefront or host venue: what does the footprint change?
The footprint changes the land and building lines, which are the largest numbers in every coffee Item 7. Inside the Scooter’s Coffee FDD, moving from an end cap to a kiosk raises the site and building estimate from $234,448 to $500,000 up to $725,200 to $772,000, while the equipment line differs by less than $5,000 between the two.
| Format | Footprint stated in the FDD | Item 7 range in this set | What the site must provide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-thru kiosk or modular building | Scooter’s kiosk 650 to 700 sq ft; 7 Brew building 510 sq ft on an 8,000 to 50,000 sq ft lot; The Human Bean new building 14 to 16 ft wide, 40 to 50 ft long | $672,000 to $2,283,500 | A pad site with a drive-thru lane; The Human Bean requires at least one drive-through lane (Item 1) |
| Conversion of an existing building | The Human Bean: most 1,000 to 2,500 sq ft | $550,000 low end for the building and equipment line | An existing structure with a drive-through added |
| End cap | Scooter’s 800 to 1,400 sq ft | $658,898 to $1,068,525 | The end unit of a retail building, under a ground or retail lease |
| Freestanding restaurant | Dunkin’ 750 to 3,100 sq ft | $532,400 to $1,832,500 | Owned or leased land; land purchase excluded from Item 7 |
| Storefront in a shopping center | Dunkin’ 600 to 2,800 sq ft | $443,000 to $1,333,500 | Inline retail space |
| Gas station or convenience store | Dunkin’ 600 to 2,300 sq ft | $216,400 to $1,065,500 | A fuel or convenience site |
| Non-traditional venue | Dunkin’ SDO; hospitals, airports, colleges and similar venues | $142,000 to $862,500 | A host that grants the space |
Our arithmetic on the Scooter’s tables: the kiosk costs $504,752 more than the end cap at the low end and $277,225 more at the high end. The kiosk notes add costs outside the table. Scooter’s Item 7 Note 2 says real estate bought by franchisees and affiliates cost $250,000 to $1,300,000, and kiosk rent in 2025 ran $3,500 to $10,000 per month.
Land is outside every Item 7 total in this set unless the brand says otherwise. 7 Brew’s Item 7 Note 2 excludes freight and installation of up to $30,000 each per modular building, and Dunkin’s notes put a land purchase at $100,000 to $1,200,000 or more. A site that needs a purchase can therefore exceed the printed high end before the first order of beans.
Who roasts the beans a franchisee is required to buy?
In both FDDs we opened in full, the franchisor’s side controls the coffee itself: The Human Bean names Centerline, owned by its majority owners, as the sole supplier of roasted beans, and Scooter’s Coffee requires all coffee beans from its affiliate supply company. Item 8, governed by 16 CFR 436.5(h), must also state how much the franchisor earns from those required purchases.
| Brand | Who sells the coffee or core supplies | Required purchases as a share of spending | Revenue from franchisee purchases, fiscal 2025 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Brew | Coffee equipment package (about $60,000) from a designated affiliate source; bean supplier not recorded in our source pack | About 100% of purchases from approved or designated sources | Affiliates received $92,767,889 | 7 Brew FDD, Items 5 and 8 |
| Dunkin’ | NDCP, a franchisee-owned purchasing and distribution supplier ($2,500 membership fee) | More than 95% to establish and more than 95% to operate | Affiliates received $132,600,000 | Dunkin’ FDD, Item 8 |
| Scooter’s Coffee | Harvest Roasting, LLC, trading as Scooter’s Coffee Supply Chain: coffee beans, syrups, sauces, smoothie mixes, paper goods; brewers, grinders and ovens | About 75% to 85% of the cost to develop; 28% to 36% of the cost to operate | Supply Chain received $247,244,700; the predecessor franchisor $448,684, less than 0.62% of its $72,107,159 revenue | Scooter’s FDD, Items 1 and 8 |
| The Human Bean | Centerline for roasted coffee beans and coffee products; the franchisor for required beverage production equipment | 10.5% to 81.3% of the cost to establish; 36% to 49% of the cost to operate | $7,968,657, about 79.1% of total sales of $10,074,867 | The Human Bean FDD, Item 8 |
Scooter’s Item 8 also bars proposing an alternative source for any item that has a Designated Supplier, and charges $2,500 to review other proposed suppliers. Rebates from suppliers to Scooter’s and its affiliates ran from less than 1% to 10% or more of the prices franchisees paid in 2025. How these rebates compare across 2026 filings is covered in our franchise supplier rebates report.
How can a coffee franchisor charge no royalty?
The Human Bean recovers its costs through supply margins rather than a royalty: its Item 6 says it does not charge a royalty fee and earns from the sale of coffee and other supplies. Item 8 puts the margin on direct sales to franchisees at 3% to 40% of the cost of the goods, plus rebates from approved suppliers including Centerline.
Stated percentage fees run from 1% (The Human Bean, no royalty) to 10.9% (Dunkin’ traditional, before incentive credits). Source: Item 6 of five coffee FDDs issued 2026; our arithmetic.
A low percentage line does not mean a low monthly bill. The Human Bean lists four fixed technology charges in Item 6, and Scooter’s adds a Technology Fee that can rise 15% a year. The table shows the fixed charges each FDD names, next to the percentage fees in the chart.
| Brand | Percentage-of-sales fees at the current rate | Fixed recurring charges named in Item 6 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Brew | 6.75% at the lowest sales tier to 9.25% at the top tier | Annual meeting up to $1,000 per person | 7 Brew FDD, Item 6 |
| Dunkin’ (traditional) | 10.9% (8.4% for SDOs) | The Center Annual Subscription $340 per restaurant; loyalty contribution up to 1.4% of loyalty sales through 2026 | Dunkin’ FDD, Item 6 |
| Scooter’s Coffee | 8% (marketing may rise to 4%, so up to 10%) | Technology Fee $350 per month with an annual increase of 15%; conference $499 per person per year | Scooter’s FDD, Item 6 |
| The Human Bean | 1% Brand Fee (cap 2%) | POS $325 per month (Toast); mobile app and loyalty $80 per month; gift cards $25 per month; menu board content $15 per screen per month | The Human Bean FDD, Item 6 |
| Ziggi’s Coffee | 7% (marketing and technology may rise to 2%) | Not recorded for this page | Ziggi’s FDD, cover |
Dunkin’s 10.9% is the stated rate before the royalty credits and phased advertising schedules in its Item 6 notes, which vary by market. Across 259 Minnesota FDDs the wider royalty picture is set out in our franchise royalty rates report.
What leaves your account before the first cup is sold?
The FDD cover states how much of the Item 7 total is paid to the franchisor or an affiliate, and in this set that share runs from about 6% to 34%. A supply-led brand collects much of its share as equipment and opening inventory: The Human Bean’s $133,000 to $140,200 includes $90,000 of equipment bought from or through the franchisor.
| Brand and format | Paid to franchisor or affiliate (cover) | Item 7 total | Share, low end and high end (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Brew, per store | $185,000 to $785,000 | $940,500 to $2,283,500 | 19.7% and 34.4% |
| Dunkin’, freestanding | $40,340 to $112,740 | $532,400 to $1,832,500 | 7.6% and 6.2% |
| Dunkin’, non-traditional (SDO) | $10,340 to $62,740 | $142,000 to $862,500 | 7.3% and 7.3% |
| Scooter’s Coffee, kiosk | $220,000 to $286,000 | $1,163,650 to $1,345,750 | 18.9% and 21.3% |
| The Human Bean | $133,000 to $140,200 | $672,000 to $1,532,000 | 19.8% and 9.2% |
Scooter’s reaches $220,000 to $286,000 by adding the $40,000 fee, the $20,000 Initial Opening Support Fee and $160,000 to $226,000 of kiosk equipment and opening inventory bought from Scooter’s Coffee Supply Chain (Item 5). Honorably discharged veterans who qualify receive a $20,000 product credit from the same affiliate for the first store. None of the four franchisors whose Item 10 we checked finances any of this; lender options are covered in our franchise financing guide.
How many months from signature to opening day?
Expect 6 to 18 months between signing and opening in this set. Scooter’s Coffee states a typical 180 to 545 days, 7 Brew about 200 to 540 days, Dunkin’ 8 to 15 months, and The Human Bean a typical 12 months that can run past 14. Scooter’s and The Human Bean both let the franchisor terminate if the store is not open within 18 months.
| Brand | Typical window (Item 11) | Deadline and consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Brew | About 200 to 540 days | Development schedule under the Development Rights Rider |
| Dunkin’ | 8 to 15 months | Required Opening Date in the agreement; incentives tied to opening by set dates |
| Scooter’s Coffee | 180 to 545 days | Must open within 18 months or the agreement may be terminated |
| The Human Bean | Typically 12 months, possibly over 14 | After 18 months: termination (franchisor keeps $15,000 of the fee plus the $5,000 site analysis fee) or an extension at $500 per month |
The Human Bean adds a step before the contract: a $5,000 Site Analysis Fee buys review of up to ten sites, and the Site Analysis Agreement ends if no site is approved within nine months (Item 11). The months spent in site search count against the cash reserve, which is why the Item 7 additional funds lines ($20,000 to $75,000 at The Human Bean, $29,000 to $119,000 at Scooter’s) cover only 3 months after opening.
Is there a mobile or under-$10,000 coffee franchise in the filings?
Not in the five FDDs on this page. The lowest Item 7 low end is $142,000, for a Dunkin’ non-traditional venue, and no franchise fee in the set is below $35,000, so a total under $10,000 is not possible with these brands. None of the five offers a trailer, cart or truck format in its Item 7 tables.
Mobile coffee franchises do exist. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, for example, states on its franchise website a range of $68,250.00 to $83,450.00 for its Mini Coffee Cruiser trailer, with a $20,000 franchise fee and a $29,000 trailer, and says most sales come from events, pop-ups and catering. We did not open that FDD: a Minnesota CARDS search on November 3, 2026 returned no Clean FDD for the brand, so the figure appears here only as the franchisor’s own website statement.
Before relying on any mobile figure, ask for the current FDD and read three lines: the trailer or vehicle cost in Item 7, any commissary or kitchen requirement in Item 8, and the territory in Item 12, since an event-based unit may operate across a wide area. Scooter’s Item 20 also counts Non-Traditional and Coffeehouse stores among its 882 franchised outlets, but its FDD prints Item 7 tables only for the Kiosk and End Cap formats.
Starbucks and Dutch Bros: coffee names not sold as franchises
Two of the largest US coffee chains will not sell a franchise to a new owner. Starbucks says it is not accepting franchisee applications and grows through licensed stores run by host businesses, and Dutch Bros says franchising is closed and new shops are company-operated. Neither files an FDD in Minnesota, so neither has an Item 7.
| Brand | Status in its own words | Store mix in the latest annual filing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starbucks | “No, Starbucks is not accepting applications for franchisees at this time.” | 19,476 licensed stores (48%) of 40,990 at September 28, 2025; US licensed 6,813 | Investor FAQ; 10-K fiscal 2025 |
| Dutch Bros | “Dutch Bros no longer offers the option to franchise.” | 325 franchised of 1,136 shops at December 31, 2025 | Company support page; 10-K fiscal 2025 |
The licensing route and its 10-K data are explained on our Starbucks franchise page, and the shop-count history since the 2021 IPO is on our Dutch Bros franchise page. The fiscal 2025 10-K says most Starbucks licensees are prominent retailers with in-depth market knowledge.
Format decision table: matching a coffee franchise to your site and cash
Start from the site you can actually secure, then the number of units you will commit to, then the cash you can show. The table pairs each situation with the format to price first and the FDD line that settles the question, and the flowchart below holds the same site logic in visual form.
| If your situation is | Price this format first | Check this FDD line |
|---|---|---|
| You can lease a pad site of 8,000 sq ft or more with drive-thru stacking | Freestanding drive-thru: Scooter’s kiosk, The Human Bean, Ziggi’s Drive Thru | Item 7 site and building line; land is excluded |
| You want one store, not a development schedule | Any brand except 7 Brew, which states it does not offer single-unit franchises | Item 1 and Item 5 |
| You control an existing small building of 1,000 to 2,500 sq ft | The Human Bean conversion ($550,000 low end for the building and equipment line) | Item 7 Note 7 |
| Your landlord offers an end unit in a retail center | Scooter’s end cap ($658,898 to $1,068,525) or Dunkin’ storefront ($443,000 to $1,333,500) | Item 7 End Cap table or Dunkin’ Table B |
| A hospital, campus or fuel site offers you space | Dunkin’ non-traditional ($142,000 to $862,500) or gas and convenience ($216,400 to $1,065,500) | Dunkin’ Item 7 Tables C and D |
| You need a protected radius around the store | The Human Bean (exclusive one-mile radius); 7 Brew offers a 1.5 or 2 mile Area of Protection that is not exclusive | Item 12; Scooter’s and Dunkin’ grant no exclusive territory |
| You want the lowest percentage fees and accept supply margins | The Human Bean (1% Brand Fee, no royalty) | Item 8 revenue line: 79.1% of franchisor sales from required purchases |
Territory rules differ more than fees in this set, and the wider pattern across filings is in our franchise territory rights report. Each line in the table points to an item number so the clause can be read in the current document; our guide to the franchise disclosure document explains what each of the 23 items contains. This page is general information, not legal, financial or investment advice; a franchise attorney can confirm how these clauses read in the agreement you would sign.
How we compiled this
We opened two FDDs in full from Minnesota CARDS on November 3, 2026 (Scooter’s Coffee and The Human Bean), and reused figures from three more (7 Brew, Dunkin’ and Ziggi’s Coffee) that we verified against their CARDS filings for our brand pages in October 2026. Starbucks and Dutch Bros facts come from SEC filings and company pages. Searches for Biggby and Bitty & Beau’s FDDs on CARDS returned no filing, so those brands are not in the table. Item 19 figures were read but deliberately left out under our editorial rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a coffee franchise cost?
In the five 2026 FDDs on this page, Item 7 runs from $142,000 for a Dunkin’ non-traditional venue to $2,283,500 per store for 7 Brew, which sells only 10-store commitments. Drive-thru formats sit higher: a Scooter’s Coffee kiosk is $1,163,650 to $1,345,750 and The Human Bean $672,000 to $1,532,000. Land purchase is excluded from these totals.
Is a drive-thru coffee franchise cheaper than a cafe?
Not in these filings. A freestanding drive-thru needs its own pad site and lane, and that site work drives the cost. Inside one FDD, the Scooter’s Coffee kiosk ($1,163,650 to $1,345,750) costs more than its end cap ($658,898 to $1,068,525), and the Dunkin’ storefront ($443,000 to $1,333,500) starts below its freestanding format ($532,400 to $1,832,500).
Can you open a Starbucks franchise?
No. Starbucks states that it is not accepting applications for franchisees, and it files no FDD in Minnesota. It grows through licensed stores run by host businesses, most of them prominent retailers: 19,476 licensed stores, 48% of 40,990, at September 28, 2025, according to its fiscal 2025 Form 10-K.
Which coffee franchise does not charge a royalty?
The Human Bean. Item 6 of its FDD amended April 16, 2026 says it does not charge a royalty fee and earns from selling coffee and supplies. Franchisees pay a 1% Brand Fee, which can rise to 2%, and must buy roasted beans from Centerline. Required purchases produced about 79.1% of the franchisor’s 2025 total sales.
Do coffee franchisees have to buy beans from the franchisor?
In the two FDDs we read in full, yes. Scooter’s Coffee requires all coffee beans from its affiliate Scooter’s Coffee Supply Chain, which booked $247,244,700 from franchisee sales in fiscal 2025. The Human Bean names Centerline, owned by its majority owners, as the sole supplier of roasted beans. Item 8 of each FDD lists these rules.
How much do coffee franchise owners make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Owner income depends on what is left after the Item 6 percentage fees (1% to 10.9% in this set), required supply purchases under Item 8, rent and payroll. Scooter’s Coffee, The Human Bean, 7 Brew and Dunkin’ each include an Item 19 section; read it in the current FDD and ask existing franchisees listed in Item 20.
Sources
- Scooter’s Coffee Franchise Disclosure Document, issued July 14, 2026, as amended October 5, 2026, Scooter’s Coffee Franchisor, LLC, via Minnesota CARDS, Items 1, 5 to 8, 10 to 12, 20. Accessed November 3, 2026.
- The Human Bean Franchise Disclosure Document, issued February 25, 2026, as amended April 16, 2026, Casey Hawkins, Inc., via Minnesota CARDS, Items 1, 5 to 8, 10 to 12, 17, 20. Accessed November 3, 2026.
- 7 Brew Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 11, 2026, Brew Culture Franchise, LLC, via Minnesota CARDS, cover and Items 1, 5 to 8, 11, 12, 20. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Dunkin’ Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Dunkin’ Donuts Franchising LLC, via Minnesota CARDS, cover and Items 5 to 8, 10 to 12, 20. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- Ziggi’s Coffee Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 31, 2026, Ziggi’s Coffee Franchise, LLC, via Minnesota CARDS, cover page. Accessed October 20, 2026.
- 16 CFR 436.5, Disclosure items, CFR 2026 edition, U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo). Accessed November 3, 2026.
- Starbucks Corporation Form 10-K, fiscal year ended September 28, 2025, SEC EDGAR; Starbucks investor FAQ. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Dutch Bros Inc. Form 10-K, fiscal 2025 and Form 424B4 prospectus, September 2021, SEC EDGAR; Dutch Bros support page, How do I franchise?. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, Mini Cruiser franchise page, franchisor website, undated. Accessed November 3, 2026.