Tapioca Express is a Taiwanese-American fast-casual franchise specializing in bubble tea, coffee, fruit juices, slushes, and light snacks. Founded in 1999 by Wayne and Stephanie in Alhambra, California, the brand was among the first to introduce boba drinks to the U.S. market.
Headquartered in South El Monte, California, Tapioca Express began franchising in 2000 and has since expanded to various states, including California, Washington, Texas, and Virginia.
The franchise offers an extensive menu featuring over 150 items, including flavored teas, milk teas, snow bubbles, icy drinks, juices, flavored milk, tea slushes, tea lemonades, yogurt frosts, coffees, and cheese foam series.
Tapioca Express differentiates itself through its commitment to quality, using top-of-the-line ingredients sourced from Taiwan.
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.
Tapioca Express offers 2 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Tapioca Express Traditional Café.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Tapioca Express provides a detailed and structured training program designed to ensure consistent and effective operation of its franchised cafés. The training encompasses both initial and ongoing components to maintain quality and compliance with brand standards.
Tapioca Express provides franchisees with a “Designated Territory,” which is generally a ½ mile radius around the approved Café Location. This area may vary in size depending on geographic and demographic factors, and it can be smaller in non-traditional locations like malls or airports.
While the franchisor commits not to open another Tapioca Express Café in this territory during the agreement term—so long as the franchisee is compliant—this protection is conditional and non-exclusive.
The franchisor retains broad “Reserved Rights,” allowing it to sell products through various channels like online platforms, supermarkets, or alternative trademarks even within the Designated Territory.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
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Below are some of
Tapioca Express
key competitors in the
Healthy
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Saladworks
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$35,000
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Uncle Sharkii
$50K - $100K
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