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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Chatime Franchise

Chatime is a Taiwanese bubble tea franchise and one of the largest teahouse chains in the world, founded in 2005 and now operating across more than 60 countries. The brand is owned by La Kaffa International Co. Ltd., the only publicly listed bubble tea company in Taiwan, which gives the system unusual scale and financial backing for the category.

The menu is built around customizable tea-based drinks: milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies and coffee, finished with toppings such as tapioca pearls and jelly. US stores, branded “T-Breweries,” trade in malls, street-front units and kiosks and serve a young, repeat-driven consumer base. North American growth has been led from Canada, with a smaller but expanding US footprint.

A core differentiator is Chatime’s vertically integrated supply chain. In 2019 the group acquired Ten En Tapioca Foods, the largest Taiwanese tapioca pearl manufacturer, supporting consistent ingredient quality and centralized global procurement for franchisees.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Chatime resales available
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Why buy a Chatime Franchise?

Buying a Chatime franchise means stepping into an established global brand in a bubble tea category that has stayed popular with younger consumers through changing economic conditions. The name carries recognition that an independent boba shop would take years to build, backed by proven drink recipes, branded campaigns and a consumer app with self-ordering kiosks.

Much of the ownership case rests on Chatime’s scale. Franchisees buy through a vertically integrated supply chain that includes the group’s own tapioca pearl factory, giving access to centralized procurement and consistent ingredients at managed cost. US partners are assigned a dedicated Business Development Manager for the life of the franchise, supported by marketing, IT, finance, leasing, supply-chain and project-management teams.

Chatime Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2005

    • Franchising Since

      2023

    • New Startup Cost

      $293,100 – $479,900

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $54,900

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      19

    • New Units Opened *

      3

    • Units Transferred *

      2

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $369,865

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Chatime – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming Chatime owners receive structured initial training of 6-8 hours of classroom instruction plus 58-80 hours of on-the-job training, covering drink preparation, equipment, inventory and store management, with an operations manual and training videos. Ongoing support runs through a dedicated Business Development Manager assigned for the life of the franchise, plus central marketing, IT, finance, supply-chain and project-management teams, and the brand's app and self-ordering kiosks. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training Chatime provides to incoming owners and staff, and what app and system access carries over.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Chatime suits hands-on, community-minded operators rather than passive investors. No prior food or business experience is required, but owners should be comfortable managing a small hourly team, maintaining drink quality and consistency, controlling inventory and delivering fast, friendly service in a high-volume retail setting. The brand runs on proven systems, so franchisees who enjoy executing an established playbook fit better than those wanting to improvise. The franchisor notes that its most profitable stores are owner-operated, making this best suited to operators ready to be present in day-to-day management.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Chatime has been named a "Brand of the Year" at the World Branding Awards, recognition of its global consumer standing in the tea-beverage category. It is the only publicly listed bubble tea company in Taiwan, through parent La Kaffa International, and is widely described as the largest teahouse franchise in the world. The brand also draws attention through its product innovation and high-profile marketing campaigns, including character IP licensing collaborations. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific unit's local reviews, repeat customers and visibility within its territory.

  4. Industry / Market

    Bubble tea has moved from niche to mainstream in North America, and demand has held up well across economic cycles. The US bubble tea shops industry has grown at around 9% a year since 2020 (IBISWorld), driven by younger, social-media-active consumers, the drink's high customization, and expansion beyond coastal metros into suburban malls and inland markets. Canada has been a particularly strong Chatime market. For resale buyers, category momentum matters less than local conditions: nearby competition from other boba brands, the site's foot traffic and the existing customer base in that territory.

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