Established
2016
Franchise Units
00
Minimum Investment
$180,000
Franchise Fee
$30,000
Total Investment Range
$350,000
Home Based
No
Description
Kokee Tea has emerged as one of America’s most stylish and experience-driven bubble tea concepts, bringing together handcrafted drinks, premium ingredients, and a vibrant café atmosphere that appeals to modern consumers. Known for its signature cloud-cream toppings, Instagram-worthy presentation, and a menu built around creativity and flavor, Kokee Tea has built a loyal following across malls, lifestyle centers, and high-traffic urban locations.
In a market where bubble tea continues to outperform traditional beverage categories, Kokee Tea stands out for its clean aesthetic, proven operational system, and focus on menu innovation. Whether it’s fruit teas, boba classics, specialty milk teas, or the signature Kokee Cloud series, the brand has positioned itself as a leader in premium beverage retail. The franchise offers an inviting, youthful brand identity that resonates strongly with Gen Z and millennials—key drivers of the booming bubble tea trend in the United States.
With a refined store model, simplified operations, and strong franchisor support, Kokee Tea provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a high-demand, scalable opportunity in one of America’s fastest-growing food and beverage segments.
Why Invest in This Franchise?
Investing in Kokee Tea means buying into a business model built around quality, consistency, and powerful brand appeal. Bubble tea has transitioned from niche novelty to mainstream beverage category, and Kokee Tea sits at the center of this shift. The brand offers:
• Fast-growing consumer demand across malls, metro cities, campuses, and suburban markets.
• High margins thanks to premium beverages with low food cost and minimal waste.
• Eye-catching brand identity that performs exceptionally well on social media, fueling organic growth.
• Flexible store formats including kiosk, mall inline, and street-front models.
• Simple operations that require a small team, streamlined inventory, and efficient preparation systems.
• A scalable franchise structure that allows multi-unit growth and territory expansion.
Background
Kokee Tea was founded in 2016 with a vision to reimagine bubble tea for the American market by blending authentic flavors, premium ingredients, and a visually engaging presentation. The brand quickly expanded as word spread about its signature cloud-cream drinks and its commitment to freshness and craftsmanship.
Built by founders passionate about Asian beverage culture and modern café design, Kokee Tea grew from a single store into a multi-state franchise with locations in major shopping centers and urban hotspots. Today, the brand operates across the United States with active franchise units in key markets such as Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and expanding into new regions each year.
Kokee Tea’s success stems from its strong operations, streamlined supply chain, proprietary recipes, and a franchise system designed for long-term sustainability. The company continues to innovate with seasonal drinks, customizable menus, and retail merchandising that help franchisees increase sales and deepen customer engagement.
Support Training
Kokee Tea offers an end-to-end franchise support ecosystem built for both first-time entrepreneurs and experienced operators. Franchisees receive extensive guidance before launch, during store opening, and throughout their ongoing operations.
Pre-Launch Support
• Assistance with site selection, territory evaluation, and store layout
• Detailed architectural plans, design guidance, and brand-standard build-out support
• Vendor introductions, equipment specification lists, and supply chain setup
• Hands-on onboarding sessions to help owners understand operations, branding, and financial planning
Operational Training
• Comprehensive 1–2 week training program covering beverage preparation, customer service, POS, staffing, and inventory
• Standardized recipes and beverage training modules to ensure consistent product quality
• Hiring and scheduling guidance
• SOP manuals for daily operations, maintenance, waste reduction, and store management
Marketing Support
• Launch marketing plan tailored to local markets
• Digital marketing strategies, social media templates, and seasonal promotions
• Branded assets, photos, and advertising guidelines
• Loyalty programs and customer engagement tools
Ongoing Support
• Continuous menu updates and seasonal innovations
• Regular check-ins from franchise support teams
• Access to operational software, updated training modules, and marketing calendars
• National brand promotions, new product rollouts, and long-term growth support
Ideal Candidate
Kokee Tea attracts entrepreneurs who appreciate a modern, fast-growing beverage concept and enjoy a customer-centric business. Ideal franchisees typically include:
• Investors seeking a trendy, high-margin concept in food and beverage
• Operators with experience in retail, hospitality, or quick-service restaurants, though not required
• Owners passionate about customer experience and brand culture
• Individuals or families looking for multi-unit growth with scalable potential
• Entrepreneurs who understand the value of design, marketing, and social media engagement
• Investors comfortable with medium-range startup capital
• Locations suited for malls, foot-traffic areas, downtown streets, college towns, airports, and lifestyle centers
Kokee Tea is well-suited for hands-on operators or semi-absentee owners who can manage teams and maintain brand quality.
Financial Detail
| Category | Amount / Details |
|---|---|
| Total Investment Range | $180,000 – $350,000 |
| Minimum Investment Required | Approx. $150,000+ |
| Franchise Fee | $30,000 – $40,000 |
| Royalty Fee | Approx. 6% of gross sales |
| Marketing/Brand Fund Fee | 1% – 2% |
| Active Franchise Units (USA) | Multiple units across states such as GA, VA, MD, TX, SC (publicly reported, exact number varies) |
| Store Size / Format | Kiosk, Inline Mall, or Street-Front Café |
| Equipment & Build-Out Costs | $100,000 – $220,000 depending on format |
| Initial Inventory | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Working Capital (First 3 Months) | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Training & Onboarding Costs | Included in franchise fee (travel not included) |
| Average Labor Requirement | Small team: 3–7 employees |
| Projected Break-Even Timeline | Typically 12 – 24 months |
| Potential Revenue Streams | Bubble tea beverages, fruit teas, specialty drinks, toppings, cloud cream series, merchandise, catering & events |