Thinking about opening a coffee franchise? Here’s how a Human Bean franchise stacks up to its top competitors: franchise fees, franchise growth, training, and more.
The Human Bean was founded in Ashland, Oregon, in 1998 and run by two families who shared a love of espresso. By 2002, The Human Bean franchise was born and has since opened over 140 locations in the U.S. Focused solely on a drive-thru business model, The Human Bean attracts customers and franchisees with the promise of consistent products, efficient service, and high traffic volumes.
What most sets The Human Bean franchise costs apart from other coffee shop franchise opportunities is the absence of ongoing royalty and marketing fees based on percentage of sales. Rather, its revenue is generated largely from sales of coffee and supplies. While The Human Bean doesn’t collect a royalty fee on sales, they earn their revenue from bulk sales of coffee beans, cups, lids, etc. And all franchisees pay 1% of gross sales per location to contribute to a brand fund that contributes toward brand-wide promotion. Store locations are concentrated on the West Coast, with many in California and Oregon. With its double-sided drive-thru locations, The Human Bean prioritizes speed and convenience for on-the-go customers. If you intend to open a Human Bean franchise, you can expect fees to start at $30,000. The overall initial investment ranges from $386,350 to $937,970, with a net worth requirement of $500,000 to $1 million, and a cash requirement of $100,000 to $200,000.
Because The Human Bean is strictly a drive-thru franchise model, prospective owners need to do their due diligence to make sure this type of business will do well in their community. Your choice of location may significantly affect the cost of your investment, as well as your income once you’re open for business.
Dunkin’ Donuts was founded in 1950 in Quincy, MA and began franchising five years later. Rebranded in 2018 as just Dunkin,’ the brand now stands as one of the world’s most well-known donut franchises, serving over 70 different varieties alongside hot and chilled coffee drinks, bagels, and other convenient breakfast foods at over 1,200 locations globally.
Because Dunkin’ has grown into such a well-known brand, the barriers to becoming a franchise owner are rather high. The Dunkin’ franchise costs include an initial franchise fee that ranges from $40,000 to $90,000, with total initial investment costs between $437,500 and $1,787,700. All franchise candidates must possess a net worth of $500,000 with $250,000 in liquid assets. Dunkin’ requires that one single candidate personally meet the financial qualifications. If you want to purchase more units beyond your initial location, Dunkin’ requires franchisees to expand at a rate of five stores at a time. The ongoing royalty fee paid to franchisor is 5.9%.
Dunkin’ only considers franchise candidates with strong management or previous ownership backgrounds. While these qualifications are always a perk when venturing into the world of franchise ownership, not all franchisors require them. The personal financial profile required of all prospective candidates may also be a hinderance to otherwise qualified individuals.
| Franchise Fee | Initial Investment | Net Worth | Available Cash | |
| The Human Bean | $30,000 | $386,350 -$937,970 | $500,000 – $1 million | $200,000 |
| Dunkin’ | $40,000 – $90,000 | $437,500 – $1,787,700 | $500,000 | $250,000 |
| Scooter’s Coffee® | $40,000 | $794,000 – $1,264,500 | $500,000 | $200,000 |
Like The Human Bean, Scooter’s Coffee was founded in 1998 and has been offering franchise opportunities since 2001. While not the only drive-thru coffee franchise, Scooter’s Coffee is unique in that our business is not limited by drivability. As a leader in the coffee and breakfast industries with nearly 25 years of franchising experience, Scooter’s Coffee caters to customers and franchisees with quality, convenience, and unparalleled options. Providing both drive-thru kiosks and full-service cafes allows everyone to indulge in the amazing Scooter’s experience no matter what.
While Scooter’s Coffee is renowned for our speed and convenience, we never scrimp on customer service. Franchisees choose Scooter’s over other brands for our commitment to top quality products and top-notch customer service.
Over 400 Scooter’s Coffee locations around the country service happy franchise owners, employees, and customers every day. To learn more about opening your own coffee business with Scooter’s, request franchise information today!
