
HTeaO began its journey in 2009 in Amarillo, Texas, founded by Justin Howe and Gary Hutchens. What started as a creative way to drive more business to the family’s restaurant during a challenging economy quickly evolved into a concept with national appeal.
The brand’s first corporate location opened in Midland, Texas, in 2018, followed by the launch of its franchise program in 2019. Now headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, HTeaO has rapidly grown, boasting more than 68 operational stores and over 425 franchise licenses awarded throughout the United States.
HTeaO sets itself apart by offering a drive-thru model focused entirely on freshly brewed iced teas. With 24 distinct flavors crafted daily using all-natural ingredients and filtered water, the franchise provides a refreshing and health-conscious alternative to traditional beverages.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
HTeaO provides a structured and multi-phase training program designed to prepare franchisees and their teams for store operations. These programs include:
HTeaO provides its franchisees with a “Protected Area” within which the franchisor agrees not to operate or allow another franchisee to operate a competing HTeaO store.
This area is typically outlined in Attachment B of the Franchise Agreement and may be defined by geographic description, radius, or a visual map.
However, the franchisor may still distribute products through other channels, such as supermarkets, the internet, or third-party vendors, which are not limited by this territorial protection.
Below are some of
HTeaO
key competitors in the
Coffee & Tea
sector.

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$260,000
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$1,372,000
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Mercato Cucina is a foodservice franchise concept offering Italian-inspired fast-casual meals and marketplace items, serving local residents seeking refined yet convenient cuisine, and known for chef-crafted menus, fresh pastas and sauces, and an Italian deli–style experience with gourmet take-home products.
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Boba Nation is a beverage franchise offering bubble tea, smoothies, and specialty drinks, serving younger consumers and families who enjoy customizable beverages, and known for extensive flavor combinations, vibrant store branding, and scalable formats designed to capture growing boba demand.
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Parlay Cafe is a hybrid café and coworking franchise offering specialty coffee, light bites, and flexible workspace, serving remote professionals, entrepreneurs, and small teams, and known for memberships, meeting rooms, and thoughtfully designed spaces combining café comfort with business amenities.
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Puffles is a dessert-and-beverage franchise offering Hong-Kong-style egg waffles, customizable ice cream treats and bubble tea, serving dessert lovers and social café customers, and known for trendy format, fun social-media appeal and low investment.
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Tea Lounge is a café franchise offering specialty teas, bubble tea, and light café fare in stylish modern settings, serving younger consumers and café-seekers, and known for trendy ambiance, customizable drinks and franchise-ready formula.
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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.
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