Thirstea Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Thirstea offers a variety of bubble tea beverages, providing a refreshing and customizable drink experience with high-quality ingredients.

ThirsTea is a fast-casual beverage franchise specializing in bubble tea, smoothies, milkshakes, slushies, and rolled ice cream. Founded in 2019 in Temecula, California, by Keerthy Sunder and Sonny Paul, the brand has rapidly expanded, launching its franchising program in 2023.

With its headquarters at 27287 Nicolas Rd., Temecula, CA 92591, ThirsTea has established a presence in multiple U.S. states and is seeking to grow internationally. ThirsTea offers a diverse menu that includes classic milk teas, fruit-infused teas, smoothies, milkshakes, slushies, and rolled ice creams.

Customers can customize their drinks by choosing sugar levels, toppings, and milk types, catering to various dietary preferences. The brand emphasizes quality by sourcing premium ingredients, including freshly brewed teas, organic milk options, and natural fruit flavors.

What sets ThirsTea apart is its commitment to innovation and customer engagement. The franchise regularly updates its menu with seasonal and limited-edition flavors, keeping the offerings fresh and exciting.

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.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $35,000
Travel/Living Expenses While Training $2,500 - $4,000
Furniture and Fixtures $10,000 - $20,000
Signage $3,000 - $6,000
Equipment $35,000 - $45,000
Business Management and Technology System $3,700
Three Month’s Rent $2,500 - $13,500
Opening Inventory and Supplies $15,000 - $20,000
Utility Deposits $1,500 - $2,500
Business Licenses $1,000 - $1,500
Professional Fees $3,500 - $7,500
Leasehold Improvements $35,000 - $55,000
Insurance $400 - $3,000
Grand Opening Marketing $5,000
Additional Funds (3 Months) $25,000 - $35,000
Total $177,600 - $256,200

Franchise Disclosure Document

Sign up and download one FDD for free

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
We just sent you a 6-digit code.
Check your inbox and paste the code below.
Already have an account? Login here
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you for signing up
Complete your upgrade now
Signup successful!
Download the FDD
Complete your upgrade

Training

Thirstea by Brain Tune Cafe offers a structured set of training programs to prepare franchisees for operating a Boba Tea Shop. The training and support are delivered before and during business operations, as outlined below:

  1. Initial Training Program
    Franchisees are required to enroll in and complete training programs prior to opening their shop. These programs cover essential operational skills needed to manage the franchise effectively.
  2. Operating Assistance
    Ongoing guidance is provided for food and beverage preparation, packaging, administrative tasks, and inventory control. This ensures the franchisee adheres to brand standards and can handle daily operations smoothly.
  3. Problem-Solving Support
    The franchisor offers advice on operating issues identified through reports or inspections. This support helps maintain operational quality across all locations.
  4. Additional Training Programs
    Franchisees may be required to attend further training sessions beyond the initial program. These are designed to address new practices or reinforce existing standards.

Territory Protection

Thirstea by Brain Tune Cafe offers a form of territory protection through a designated “Protected Territory,” as outlined in its Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are granted a non-exclusive right to operate a Boba Tea Shop within this specified area, and the franchisor agrees not to open or license another Thirstea location there as long as the franchisee complies with all terms.

This provides a certain level of operational security within the outlined boundaries.

However, this protection comes with several exceptions. The franchisor reserves the right to open outlets or authorize operations at Non-Traditional Sites like airports, stadiums, hospitals, and campuses, even within the Protected Territory.

Number of units

2023
Franchised units

0

0

0

Company-owned units

2

2

2

Total units

2

2

2

Competitors

Kahala Coffee Traders

Investment required
$88,000
-
$517,000
Franchisees
5
+
67%
67%

It's Boba Time

Investment required
$466,000
-
$597,000
Franchisees
76
+
62%
62%

7 Leaves

Investment required
$244,000
-
$490,000
Franchisees
14
+
17%
17%

Junbi

Investment required
$269,000
-
$576,000
Franchisees
5
+
150%
150%

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Get unlimited access to:
2,145 franchises data
Number of locations
Franchise fees
Total investment

?

Download unlimited FDDs
Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit metrics

?

Upgrade to Pro

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Upgrade to Pro
$49 / month
Total investment

?

Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit margin

?

Franchise Disclosure Documents
Advanced filtering and sorting
Watchlist

?

Priority support

?

A comprehensive and transparent look at franchising finances. The inclusion of profit margins and disclosure documents offers insights you can’t find elsewhere. Essential for anyone considering a franchise investment.

Darren M.

Franchisee

Been waiting for years for this. All the most important franchises and their latest Franchise Documents to download. The team also updates the franchises very quickly.

Emily V.

Franchisee