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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a The Spice & Tea Exchange Franchise

The Spice & Tea Exchange is a specialty retail franchise founded in 2008 in St. Augustine, Florida. Stores carry more than 675 products, from fine spices and handcrafted seasoning blends to loose-leaf teas, flavored sugars, sea salts, and infused olive oils. The brand’s model is built around an immersive in-store experience where customers smell, sample, and discover before buying.

Franchisees operate brick-and-mortar retail stores, typically in high-traffic tourist destinations and specialty shopping areas. Three revenue streams support each location: traditional retail, an in-store Tea Bar where guests sample and purchase teas to go, and a Hometown Wholesale Program connecting owners with local businesses and corporate gifting clients.

The brand operates 90+ locations across 38 states and is headquartered in Palm Harbor, Florida. Products are sourced through the brand’s own supply chain, with more than 95% of in-store inventory supplied directly. Parent company is The Spice & Tea Exchange Holdings LLC, and the business carries a 4.7 average Google rating across its network.

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Why buy a The Spice & Tea Exchange Franchise?

The case for buying a Spice & Tea Exchange franchise starts with a proprietary supply chain that controls more than 95% of in-store products. Franchisees offer handcrafted blends and specialty teas unavailable at conventional grocery retailers, creating a natural draw for culinary shoppers and gift-buyers. A network-wide average Google rating of 4.7 signals consistent customer satisfaction built on product expertise and in-store sampling.

The model supports multiple revenue streams: traditional retail, an in-store Tea Bar, and the Hometown Wholesale Program, which connects owners with local businesses, event organizers, and corporate accounts. An e-commerce channel adds a further layer, including a bonus structure for online home-store customers. With roughly 45% of franchisees operating multiple units, the model offers a path to scale for owners who want to grow beyond a single location.

The Spice & Tea Exchange Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2005

    • Franchising Since

      2008

    • New Startup Cost

      $312,900 – $557,514

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $38,750

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $15,000

    • Royalty Fee

      7%

      of Gross Sales / or Minimum Royalty Fee

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      98

    • New Units Opened *

      8

    • Units Transferred *

      6

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $552,660

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

The Spice & Tea Exchange – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Franchisees begin with Spice UniversiTEA, a five-day onboarding program at the brand's Palm Harbor, Florida headquarters covering product knowledge, IT, supply chain, marketing, and selling; initial training involves 32–42 classroom hours and 71–110 on-the-job hours. Ongoing support includes dedicated Franchise Business Consultants, a field operations team, virtual training, a biennial franchise conference, and marketing tools. The franchisor provides POS support and a franchisee intranet platform. Resale buyers should confirm what Spice UniversiTEA onboarding and system access transfers with a change of ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal owner for The Spice & Tea Exchange is a retail-oriented operator who enjoys working the store floor, engaging customers directly, and building local wholesale relationships. Prior food or retail experience is helpful but not required; the Spice UniversiTEA training program builds product knowledge from scratch. The model suits owners who are comfortable managing a small part-time staff and staying connected to the local community through events, wholesale accounts, and repeat customer relationships. Genuine enthusiasm for food, tea, or culinary culture strengthens the in-store experience the brand is known for.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    The Spice & Tea Exchange has been recognized in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 each year since 2015 and ranked #148 in Entrepreneur's Top Food Franchises in 2025. The brand appears regularly on Entrepreneur's top veteran-friendly franchise lists. In 2024, it placed #189 on Inc. Regionals for the Southeast region. Network-wide, the brand carries a 4.7 average Google rating across 90+ locations. For resale buyers, the local reputation of a specific unit — its reviews, community presence, and wholesale relationships — carries as much weight as the brand's national standing.

  4. Industry / Market

    The Spice & Tea Exchange operates in the US specialty food retail sector, where the Specialty Food Association recorded $102.1 billion in tracked retail sales in 2023. Spices and teas have benefited from home cooking trends and growing consumer interest in natural, health-oriented ingredients. Specialty food retail shows resilience across economic cycles; quality-focused stores tend to retain loyal customers even when broader discretionary spending softens. For resale buyers, foot traffic, local tourism activity, and community culinary culture are the primary unit-level demand factors.

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