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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Gong Cha Franchise

Gong Cha is a premium bubble tea brand founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where its name translates as “tribute tea for the emperor.” The brand began franchising in 2009 and entered the US market in 2014; today it operates more than 240 stores across 23 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, and nearly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets.

The menu is built around freshly brewed teas prepared daily in each store, complemented by the brand’s signature hand-crafted Milk Foam and a customization system spanning more than 600 possible beverage combinations of toppings, sweetness, and ice level. The format requires no grease traps or cooking exhaust systems, and ingredients carry long shelf lives, allowing the concept to operate across a range of footprints from small kiosks to full-sized cafes.

US operations are headquartered in Boston and structured through regional master franchisees in many territories. Franchisees access Gong Cha’s managed supply chain, with key ingredients sourced from Asia and distributed through an established network, along with marketing and operational resources from global and regional franchise support centres.

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Why buy a Gong Cha Franchise?

Gong Cha offers entry into one of the fastest-growing bubble tea brands in the US, backed by a global name that carries strong consumer recognition in established markets. The operational format is designed for efficiency: low food preparation requirements, long shelf-life ingredients, no cooking exhaust infrastructure, and a streamlined beverage system allow franchisees to generate consistent volume without the kitchen complexity of a full-service QSR.

The brand’s customization model, with hundreds of topping, sweetness, and ice-level combinations, supports repeat visits and customer loyalty, particularly among younger consumers. Franchisees also benefit from direct supply chain access to ingredients sourced from Asia, which removes a significant procurement challenge for individual operators.

Gong Cha Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2006

    • Franchising Since

      2009

    • New Startup Cost

      $207,450 – $648,460

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $37,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of then-current standard Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      38

    • New Units Opened *

      32

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $396,887

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Gong Cha – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Gong Cha franchisees receive 36 hours of classroom training and 55 hours of on-the-job instruction covering beverage preparation, POS and kiosk operations, in-store marketing, and business management, supplemented by online training videos and detailed operations manuals. Ongoing support is delivered through global and regional franchise centres, including marketing assets and operational guidance. The brand's managed supply chain sources ingredients directly from Asia. Resale buyers should confirm with the franchisor and applicable regional master what transfer training and system access are available to incoming ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Gong Cha franchisee is an owner-operator prepared to be hands-on in daily store management, with a strong customer service orientation and comfort leading a front-line team. Food and beverage experience is helpful but not required; the brand's training is designed to prepare candidates from outside the industry. The concept suits community-minded operators, as local foot traffic and repeat customer relationships are central to unit performance. Multi-unit development is structured for franchisees looking to grow across a territory.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Gong Cha ranked #142 on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 in 2026, climbing 39 spots from the prior year, and held the #1 position in the Tea category for the fifth consecutive year (2022–2026). The brand also ranked #134 on Franchise Times' Top 400 list of the largest US-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales in 2025, placed #9 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers list in 2025, and won the category award for Top Food & Beverage Franchises at the Global Franchise Awards in 2025. QSR Magazine included Gong Cha among its 17 Best Restaurant Franchising Deals in 2023.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US bubble tea market was valued at approximately $497 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $866 million by 2032, a compound annual growth rate of around 7.2%, according to Fortune Business Insights. Key drivers include a consumer shift away from carbonated beverages toward customizable tea-based drinks, younger demographics' growing appetite for personalized beverages, and expanding vegan and low-sugar product options. Bubble tea shops tend to perform well in high-traffic retail corridors, campus areas, and mixed-use developments where brand-familiar repeat customers form the core of the revenue base.

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