Bubble tea franchises and what they cost
Opening costs run from $169K to $648K across 3 bubble tea franchises; compare each one.
| Brand | total, lowest to highest | one-time fee | ongoing, usually a % of sales | does the brand show sales figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kung Fu Tea | $169K to $378K | $37,000 | 4% | No |
| Gong cha | $207K to $648K | $37,000 | 6% | Yes |
| Sharetea | $276K to $606K | $12,000 | 6% (at least $1,200 a month) | No |
Before you buy, a brand has to hand over its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD); the brand's latest one is where every figure comes from. A royalty is what you keep paying the brand after opening: a share of sales or a set amount. "Sales or earnings shown" flags whether the brand lets you know what its locations take in. A K stands for thousand, an M for million. Each FDD here is a Minnesota Department of Commerce filing from 2026.
What does it cost to open a bubble tea franchise?
In this group, $207,450 is the middle entry cost. At $169,000, Kung Fu Tea costs the least to enter, while Gong cha can climb as high as $648,460. The initial franchise fee ranges from $12,000 to $37,000.
Brands with published earnings numbers
Earnings figures appear in Item 19 of the FDD for 1 of the 3. Since the rest give no sales figures at all, check with their current owners on how the figures add up. Reading an Item 19.
Weighing up bubble tea franchises?
A franchise consultant can shortlist bubble tea franchises that fit your cash and your area.