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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Scooter’s Coffee Franchise

Scooter’s Coffee is a specialty drive-thru coffee franchise founded in 1998 in Bellevue, Nebraska. Built around a compact kiosk model designed to deliver high-quality espresso drinks at speed, the brand has grown to more than 900 locations across 28 states, making it one of the largest drive-thru coffee chains in the United States.

The business operates primarily through the drive-thru kiosk format, with most units requiring no sit-down dining space. The menu centers on hand-tamped espresso drinks, cold beverages, smoothies, and pastries, with the Caramelicious® as the brand’s signature offering. Scooter’s Coffee sources 100% Arabica beans through direct farmer relationships and positions quality alongside speed as equally non-negotiable.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Scooter’s Coffee continues active national expansion across multiple US regions. The compact real estate footprint, consistent product model, and established drive-thru positioning distinguish the brand in the quick-service beverage space.

Latest Resales

Why buy a Scooter’s Coffee Franchise?

Scooter’s Coffee operates in a category with durable daily consumer demand, and its compact kiosk model keeps overhead lower than full-service coffeehouse concepts. The drive-thru format supports high transaction volume with a simplified labor model, and the brand’s focus on speed and consistency generates the kind of repeat daily visits that underpin predictable revenue for established locations.

Brand strength is well documented. Scooter’s Coffee is one of only two coffee chains to rank in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Top 100 overall, and the system’s ranking has moved up sharply in recent years. For buyers considering whether to buy a Scooter’s Coffee franchise resale, the franchisor’s established marketing infrastructure, national campaigns, and field support network are already in place. These are structural advantages an independent coffee operator would need years to replicate.

Scooter’s Coffee Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1998

    • Franchising Since

      2001

    • New Startup Cost

      $692,150 – $1,523,400

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $40,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      25%

      of then-current initial franchise fee

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      849

    • New Units Opened *

      121

    • Units Transferred *

      36

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $914,719

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Scooter’s Coffee – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming franchisees complete a four-week operations training program at Scooter's Coffee's Omaha headquarters, which includes 56 hours of classroom instruction and 104 hours of on-the-job training covering store management, customer service, and marketing. Ongoing support is provided through dedicated field consultants who work directly with operating locations, supplemented by national and local marketing programs across digital, social media, and SEO channels. Resale buyers should confirm with Scooter's Coffee what initial training and system access are provided to incoming owners and newly hired team members.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The typical Scooter's Coffee franchisee has a background in quick-service restaurants or hospitality and is comfortable managing a staff-led, high-volume drive-thru operation. The role focuses on team scheduling, staff training, and maintaining consistent service standards at pace. Strong customer service instincts matter; the brand's speed-and-quality model requires active owner engagement with front-line operations. Multi-unit ownership is common in the Scooter's Coffee network, making the brand a practical fit for operators with systems experience who are looking to scale.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Scooter's Coffee has earned consistent recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine, ranking #35 in the 2025 Franchise 500 (up from #65 the prior year) and named the No. 2 Top Coffee Franchise of 2024. The brand is one of only two coffee chains to appear in the Franchise 500 Top 100 overall, reflecting the scale and strength of its franchise system. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be evaluated alongside the specific unit's local reputation, customer reviews, and community standing within its territory.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US coffee market has been estimated at approximately $88 billion in 2024, with projected annual growth of around 6% through the next decade. Drive-thru and convenience coffee formats have seen sustained demand, particularly from millennials and Gen Z consumers who show higher per-capita consumption and a strong preference for on-the-go specialty drinks. Specialty coffee has expanded beyond major urban centers into suburban and rural markets, supporting the geographic footprint of drive-thru kiosk concepts. For resale buyers, the presence of other drive-thru coffee operators in the local territory is an important factor to assess.

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