Qargo Coffee: Elevating the Coffee Experience with Italian Flair

Founded in May 2020, Qargo Coffee is a U.S.-based specialty coffee franchise that blends Italian tradition with modern café culture. Headquartered at 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1550, Miami, Florida, Qargo launched its first store—a kiosk in Tampa—in 2022.

The brand began franchising the same year, offering entrepreneurs a chance to operate coffee shops that serve premium Lavazza coffee and freshly baked Italian pastries.

Qargo Coffee sets itself apart by crafting community-inspired beverages and curating an exclusive menu of Italian pastries. Each location is designed as a welcoming space for meetings, work, or relaxation, staying true to the company’s mission to "empower the creators." The franchise also uses creative layouts, such as shipping container stores, to deliver a unique and memorable café experience.

Qargo Coffee continues to grow, committed to delivering a premium coffee experience rooted in Italian heritage. Its focus on community, creativity, and quality sets it apart in the competitive coffee franchise landscape.

Training

Qargo Coffee offers a structured training program to ensure franchisees and their Designated Managers are well-prepared to operate their outlets in line with brand standards. The training includes the following components:

1. Initial Training Program
   The initial training is mandatory for one Designated Manager and must be completed 60 days prior to the outlet's opening. It covers operational, administrative, marketing, customer service, record-keeping, and financial control topics. The program is held at Qargo Coffee’s headquarters, the franchisee’s location, or another designated site.
2. Phase 1 and Phase 2 Instruction
   Phase 1 includes both classroom and on-the-job training, with instruction in brewing, food prep, health and safety, inventory control, and POS systems. Some of this takes place at a Lavazza training center. Phase 2 is conducted at the franchisee’s outlet during opening to ensure operational readiness.
3. New Manager Training
   If a new Designated Manager is appointed after the opening, they must also complete the full initial training within 30 days. The franchisee bears all associated costs and may be required to pay a training fee.
4. Ongoing Training
   The franchisor may periodically require attendance at additional training or seminars. A fee of $600 per day applies for mandatory ongoing sessions, and the franchisee covers travel and related expenses.
5. Opening Assistance
   Qargo Coffee provides one representative during the outlet’s launch phase to support the staff and ensure proper execution of brand standards.

‍Territory Protection

Qargo Coffee provides its franchisees with a designated “Territory” or Area of Primary Responsibility, which is mutually agreed upon and detailed in the franchise agreement. While this area defines where the franchisee can operate and market directly, it is not exclusive.

Franchisees may face competition from other Qargo Coffee locations, including company-owned outlets and other franchisees operating outside their assigned area. The franchisor retains broad rights within and outside the designated Territory.

This includes the ability to operate or license businesses under different trademarks or systems, even inside the Territory, and to distribute products through alternative channels such as online sales. Additionally, franchisees are not granted rights to open multiple outlets unless additional agreements are signed, and the franchisor may acquire or allow others to operate competitive businesses within the same market.