Front Porch Cafe Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)
Front Porch Café is a café franchise offering freshly roasted coffee, breakfast and light lunch fare in a community-oriented environment, serving coffee lovers and local patrons, and known for purpose-driven culture, scalable café footprint, and valued franchise support.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Franchise fee
?
$25,000
Investment
?
$189,000 - $348,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$0
+
n.a.
n.a.
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Front Porch Café was founded in 1999 in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. It began as a specialty coffee brand focused on small-batch roasting on the Outer Banks. The company is headquartered in Kill Devil Hills and has grown from a local favorite into a recognizable coastal coffee concept.
The Front Porch Café franchise program officially launched in 2022, allowing qualified operators to bring the brand outside its home region. The cafés sell premium small-batch roasted coffee, espresso drinks, cold brews, pastries, and a selection of café food. Each location delivers a relaxed coastal atmosphere inspired by the brand’s Outer Banks heritage.
Front Porch Café differentiates itself through its origins as the first small-batch coffee roaster on the Outer Banks and its commitment to ethically sourced beans. The brand also emphasizes community-focused hospitality and a warm neighborhood feel.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Front Porch Cafe franchise is $189,000 - $348,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$25,000 – $25,000
Traveling and Living Expenses while Training
$3,000 – $4,200
Real Property Rent and Security Deposits
$4,000 – $22,500
Leasehold Improvements
$20,000 – $90,000
Equipment, Furniture, Fixtures, and Décor
$60,000 – $80,000
Initial Inventory
$20,000 – $30,000
Signage
$1,000 – $8,000
Grand Opening Advertising
$1,000 – $3,000
Licenses, Permits, and Certifications
$100 – $1,000
Insurance (3 Months)
$1,000 – $2,000
TV, Cameras, and Other Supplies
$1,000 – $2,000
Professional Fees
$3,000 – $5,000
Additional Funds (3 months)
$50,000 – $75,000
Total
$189,100 – $347,700
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Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$25,000 – $25,000
Traveling and Living Expenses while Training
$3,000 – $4,200
Real Property Rent and Security Deposits
$4,000 – $22,500
Leasehold Improvements
$20,000 – $90,000
Equipment, Furniture, Fixtures, and Décor
$60,000 – $80,000
Initial Inventory
$20,000 – $30,000
Signage
$1,000 – $8,000
Grand Opening Advertising
$1,000 – $3,000
Licenses, Permits, and Certifications
$100 – $1,000
Insurance (3 Months)
$1,000 – $2,000
TV, Cameras, and Other Supplies
$1,000 – $2,000
Professional Fees
$3,000 – $5,000
Additional Funds (3 months)
$50,000 – $75,000
Total
$189,100 – $347,700
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Front Porch Cafe's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Front Porch Cafe had 3 total units in 2025, of which 0 were franchised-owned and 3 company-owned.
The Front Porch Cafe provides a structured training program designed to ensure franchisees are adequately prepared to operate their business in alignment with the brand’s standards.
Initial Training Program: Before opening, the franchisor offers an initial training program at a designated location. This program is mandatory and must be completed to the franchisor’s satisfaction. While there is no tuition fee, the franchisee is responsible for all related expenses, including travel and lodging.
Opening Assistance: Alongside training, the franchisor provides support with site selection and operational guidance during the setup phase. If additional on-site help is requested, it is billed at the franchisor’s standard rates plus expenses.
Ongoing Training: Throughout the franchise term, the franchisor may require attendance at up to two ongoing training sessions annually. These can include seminars, conferences, or webinars, with associated costs such as a $500 daily fee per attendee, plus travel and accommodation expenses.
Territory Protection
The Front Porch Cafe franchise provides its franchisees with an exclusive territory. This means the franchisor agrees not to establish another company-owned or franchised outlet offering similar goods or services under the same or similar trademarks within that specific geographic region.
The territory is typically defined by a 3-mile radius, zip codes, or natural or political boundaries, and it remains fixed regardless of sales volume or population changes. However, the exclusivity has certain limitations.
The franchisor and its affiliates reserve the right to use alternative channels of distribution—such as the internet, catalog sales, or telemarketing—to sell products or accept orders within the franchisee’s territory using the principal trademarks.
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