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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a The Human Bean Franchise

The Human Bean is a drive-thru specialty coffee franchise founded in 1998 in Ashland, Oregon. What began as a single espresso stand grew into a multi-state network, and the company started franchising in 2002. The menu centers on espresso drinks, blended and iced beverages, and rotating seasonal specials, built around fast service and a community-minded culture that refers to staff, customers and partners alike as “good human beans.”

Most locations operate as drive-thru-only kiosks, using a compact single-sided drive-thru design that allows flexible site selection and quick throughput, though a few units add indoor seating. Coffee is roasted weekly and distributed through national supply partners across the continental U.S., giving franchisees a consistent product without running their own roasting operation.

The brand has grown to more than 300 locations across roughly 25 states, making it one of the larger names in the expanding drive-thru coffee category. One structural feature stands out: the franchisor charges no royalty fee, instead funding brand marketing through a 1% brand fee. The Human Bean also operates its own corporate locations alongside the franchised network.

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Why buy a The Human Bean Franchise?

To buy a The Human Bean franchise is to enter a fast-growing, drive-thru-led coffee brand with national distribution, a recognizable identity and a track record that spans more than two decades. Coffee is a habitual, repeat-purchase product, and the drive-thru format targets the convenience-driven demand that has reshaped the category.

The ownership case is helped by an unusual structural point: The Human Bean charges no royalty fee, relying on a 1% brand fee for marketing, which can meaningfully change unit economics compared with royalty-bearing competitors. Franchisees also benefit from a supply chain built on national distributors that delivers weekly-roasted coffee and full-menu ingredients across the continental U.S., removing the need to source product independently.

The Human Bean Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1998

    • Franchising Since

      2002

    • New Startup Cost

      $582,090 – $1,298,903

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

    • Royalty Fee

      0%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Adjusted Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      188

    • New Units Opened *

      14

    • Units Transferred *

      4

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $847,648

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

The Human Bean – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Initial training runs to about 40 hours of classroom instruction plus 80 hours on the job. Roughly five to seven weeks before opening, lead barista trainers travel to Oregon for three weeks of intensive instruction, with owners joining to learn the brand's systems. Access includes Support Center training, POS and app assistance, product and menu training, equipment maintenance schedules and an operations manual. Partners are assigned a Field Operations Manager who makes periodic on-site visits, plus ongoing marketing and supply-chain support. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training and POS access carry over to incoming owners.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The Human Bean suits a hands-on, community-minded local operator comfortable managing a small team of baristas in a fast-paced, high-volume drive-thru setting. Day-to-day, the role leans toward staff hiring and retention, shift coverage, customer service and maintaining speed and consistency at the window. Prior coffee or restaurant experience is helpful but not required, since structured training covers the brand's systems. Owners should care about local community engagement and be willing to uphold brand standards while building repeat customer relationships.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    The Human Bean has climbed Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, most recently ranked #97 in 2026, up from #126 in 2025 and #131 in 2024. It also appeared in the Franchise Times Top 400 (#295) and was named among Nation's Restaurant News' Top 25 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains, while COO Scott Anderson was recognized among influential restaurant executives in 2021. Individual franchisees have won numerous local "best coffee" and community awards. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local reviews, reputation and customer base.

  4. Industry / Market

    Coffee is one of the most habitual purchases in the U.S., and the drive-thru format sits at the center of current demand: the National Coffee Association reports a record 59% of coffee purchases are now made at drive-thrus, up from 55% a year earlier. The U.S. specialty coffee market is projected to grow at roughly a 9.5% annual rate through 2030 (Grand View Research), reaching an estimated $81.8 billion. For resale buyers, daily repeat consumption and convenience-led habits support steady traffic, though local visibility, commute patterns and competition shape each site's performance.

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