Tapioca Express Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Bubble tea and snack franchise offering a variety of flavored teas, smoothies, and Asian-inspired snacks in a casual setting.

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.

Initial investment

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:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Tapioca Express Traditional Café $217,900 – $479,100
Tapioca Express Kiosk Café $137,500 – $311,900

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).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $15,000
Deposit $10,000
Tea Machine Package $2,400 – $3,000
Initial Marketing Fee $6,000
Initial Training Fee $3,000
Site Evaluation Costs $500 – $3,000
Construction and Leasehold Improvements $80,000 – $150,000
Lease Deposits and Rent – Three Months $9,000 – $15,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment $45,400 – $164,200
Signage $8,000 – $12,000
Computer, Software, and Point of Sale System $1,100 – $4,400
Grand Opening Marketing $1,000 – $5,000
Initial Inventory $9,000 – $20,000
Utility Deposits $1,000 – $4,500
Insurance Deposits – Three Months $500 – $1,000
Travel for Initial Training $3,000 – $24,000
Professional Fees $2,000 – $6,000
General Licenses and Permits $1,000 – $3,000
Additional Funds – Three Months $20,000 – $30,000
Total Estimate $217,900 – $479,100

Tapioca Express offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Tapioca Express Traditional Café $217,900 – $479,100
Tapioca Express Kiosk Café $137,500 – $311,900

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).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $15,000
Deposit $10,000
Tea Machine Package $2,400 – $3,000
Initial Marketing Fee $6,000
Initial Training Fee $3,000
Site Evaluation Costs $500 – $3,000
Construction and Leasehold Improvements $80,000 – $150,000
Lease Deposits and Rent – Three Months $9,000 – $15,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment $45,400 – $164,200
Signage $8,000 – $12,000
Computer, Software, and Point of Sale System $1,100 – $4,400
Grand Opening Marketing $1,000 – $5,000
Initial Inventory $9,000 – $20,000
Utility Deposits $1,000 – $4,500
Insurance Deposits – Three Months $500 – $1,000
Travel for Initial Training $3,000 – $24,000
Professional Fees $2,000 – $6,000
General Licenses and Permits $1,000 – $3,000
Additional Funds – Three Months $20,000 – $30,000
Total Estimate $217,900 – $479,100

Franchise Disclosure Document

Competitors

Below are some of

Tapioca Express

key competitors in the

Healthy

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
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Gross Profit
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EBITDA
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17

New
+
-29%
-29%

$15,000

$138,000

$479,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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Training

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.

  1. Initial Training Program
    The initial training is mandatory and must be completed within 45 days of the scheduled or actual business commencement date. It is held at designated training facilities in California and lasts approximately one week. It includes classroom and on-the-job training, covering topics such as operations, food safety, POS systems, customer service, and store management.
  2. Supplemental Training
    Franchisees may request or be required to attend supplemental training, which can occur on-site or remotely. This is typically mandated when the franchise is not meeting operational standards or when a new operating manager is hired. The franchisor charges a supplemental training fee of $300 per trainer per day, plus travel and lodging costs.
  3. System-Wide and Refresher Training
    Tapioca Express may require attendance at system-wide training programs or refresher courses. These are designed to update franchisees on system changes and maintain brand consistency. Attendance costs, including travel and lodging, are borne by the franchisee.

Territory Protection

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.

Competitors

VARA Juice Restaurant

VARA Juice Restaurant is a health-focused franchise offering fresh juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and plant-based meals in a clean, modern setting.

Franchisees

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3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$252,000 - $648,000

Project LeanNation

Project LeanNation is a health-focused meal prep and nutrition franchise providing balanced, macro-friendly meals designed for fitness enthusiasts and busy professionals.

Franchisees

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28
+
300%
300%
Investment

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$238,000 - $354,000

fresh&co

fresh&co is a farm-to-table fast-casual restaurant franchise serving salads, grain bowls, and organic meals made with locally sourced ingredients.

Franchisees

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4
+
100%
100%
Investment

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$588,000 - $1,386,000

Kale Me Crazy

Kale Me Crazy is a health food franchise specializing in cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and organic salads.

Franchisees

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22
+
10%
10%
Investment

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$321,000 - $572,000

Uncle Sharkii

Uncle Sharkii is a Hawaiian-inspired poke bowl franchise offering fresh seafood, boba tea, and healthy meal options.

Franchisees

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6
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

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$90,000 - $300,000

JUICE IT UP

JUICE IT UP is a health-focused franchise that serves fresh juices, smoothies, and acai bowls made from high-quality, nutrient-packed ingredients.

Franchisees

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83
+
6%
6%
Investment

?

$271,000 - $632,000