7 Leaves Cafe is a Vietnamese-American café franchise known for its handcrafted coffee, tea, and macarons. Founded in 2012 in Westminster, California, by four Nguyen brothers and their close friends, the brand started as a small shop in Little Saigon.

Today, it operates over 40 locations across the U.S., including in California, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona. The company is headquartered in Garden Grove, California.

7 Leaves Cafe began franchising in 2017, allowing entrepreneurs to join its growing footprint. The menu offers a variety of teas, including Thai, matcha, jasmine, and hibiscus, along with Vietnamese-style iced coffee. Customers can customize drinks with add-ons like boba, grass jelly, or aloe vera. The café also features a selection of freshly baked macarons in assorted flavors.

7 Leaves stands out for its blend of traditional Asian flavors and modern café culture. The brand focuses on high-quality ingredients and a welcoming environment. Its unique positioning has led many to refer to it as “the Asian Starbucks,” highlighting its appeal and market niche.

Training

7 Leaves Café provides a structured and multifaceted training program designed to ensure that franchisees and their staff are well-equipped to operate the café in line with brand standards. Here are the main training programs:

1. Early Training
   Conducted at the corporate training facility, this includes classroom instruction on 7 Leaves culture, values, and site selection. It lasts approximately 8 hours and is typically completed within 30 days of signing the franchise agreement.
2. Hands-On Training
   Held at the headquarters or a designated location, this must be completed at least two weeks before the store opening. It includes detailed instruction on menu preparation, product quality control, and store operations for two employees. If trainees fail to complete it satisfactorily, follow-up training is required at an additional cost.
3. Calibration Training
   Conducted on-site at the franchisee’s store, this two-day session reviews operational procedures, equipment setup, and quality assurance. The franchisee is debriefed after the training. It ensures that all systems are properly implemented before the store opens.

Territory Protection

7 Leaves Café does not offer exclusive territory protection to its franchisees. Each franchise is granted rights to a specific location only, without any guaranteed minimum or type of protected area. This means that other franchised or company-owned outlets may be established nearby, even in direct competition with an existing franchise.

However, under an Area Development Agreement, 7 Leaves Café may assign a specific territory, typically defined by municipal or county boundaries. During the term of the agreement, they will not grant additional franchises within that development area, but they do reserve the right to open company-owned outlets within it.

Furthermore, the franchisor retains full rights to sell products through other channels such as internet, mail order, or alternative retail venues, even within the assigned territory.