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CARIBOU COFFEE

CARIBOU COFFEE

Caribou Coffee Development Company, Inc. franchises retail coffeehouses (Chalets, Cabins, and Kiosks) that serve coffee, coffee-based beverages, teas, baked goods, and retail items for on-premises and carry-out consumption in modern environments. The business model involves granting franchises for standalone, drive-thru, and non-traditional locations like malls, airports, and campuses, with franchisees adhering to standardized operations, recipes, and branding. It targets coffee lovers, quick-service customers, and consumers in high-traffic areas seeking premium beverages and snacks.

152locations
$606K–$937K
Since 2006
Food & BeverageMinneapolis, MNCaribou Coffee Company, Inc.www.cariboucoffee.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$30,000
Initial Investment
$606,100 – $937,000
Royalty Rate
5.00%
Brand Fund
2.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$500 – $1,000

5% royalty (Cabin/Chalet) + up to 3% marketing contribution (currently 2% Brand Fund + 1% local) + $500-$1,000/mo technology fee

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$456,123.75
Median Gross Revenue
$412,030.97
EBITDA Margin
17%
Average EBITDA
$178,805.46

Data Based On: Gross sales data based on 131 non-traditional franchised Kiosk locations and 7 traditional franchised locations, all active for the full 2024 fiscal year. Profitability metrics (EBITDA, best guess profit range) are derived from 110 company-owned Drive-Thru Chalet and 59 company-owned Cabin Coffeehouses for the full 2024 fiscal year, with franchisee-related cost rates applied to estimate franchisee profit ranges.

* Weighted average gross revenue for non-traditional franchised Kiosk locations (Table 1, Page 2): (68 units × $267,063 + 38 units × $561,546 + 6 units × $1,836,096 + 19 units × $486,137) / 131 total units = $456,123.75. Weighted average median gross revenue for non-traditional franchised Kiosk locations (Table 1, Page 2): (68 units × $265,142 + 38 units × $465,259 + 6 units × $1,881,009 + 19 units × $367,395) / 131 total units = $412,030.97. Average EBITDA (Cash Flow) and EBITDA margin are derived from company-owned data (Table 4, Page 6) due to the lack of explicit franchised profit data. Weighted average AUV for 110 company-owned Drive-Thru Chalet ($1,104,835) and 59 company-owned Cabin ($821,192) stores = $1,005,811.70. Weighted average Cash Flow % (EBITDA margin) for these stores: (110 units × 20.2% + 59 units × 11.7%) / 169 total units = 17.23%. Weighted average EBITDA: $1,005,811.70 × 0.1723 = $178,805.46. Best guess profit low/high are based on the 'Franchisee Adjusted Cash Flow %' provided for company-owned units in Table 4 (Page 6), applied to the weighted average AUV of company-owned stores. Weighted average low margin for franchisees: (110 units × 6% + 59 units × -2%) / 169 total units = 3.21%. Weighted average high margin for franchisees: (110 units × 9% + 59 units × 1%) / 169 total units = 6.21%. Best guess profit low: $1,005,811.70 × 0.0321 = $32,257.39. Best guess profit high: $1,005,811.70 × 0.0621 = $62,431.74.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $456,124

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CARIBOU COFFEE Franchise Analysis

Caribou Coffee invites franchisees into its chalets and kiosks, brewing premium drinks in high-traffic havens like malls and campuses. The 2025 FDD's Item 19 delivers revenue snapshots from existing units, hinting at steady performance amid a competitive coffee landscape. But with modest system growth and a hefty investment threshold, does this Midwestern staple percolate enough returns to justify jumping in?

Item 7 lays out the initial investment at $606,100-$937,000, covering builds for chalets, cabins, or kiosks—standalone drive-thrus run highest, while non-trads like airports skew lower. Franchise fee is $30,000, royalties 5% on cabins/chalets, plus 2% brand fund (up to 3% total marketing) and $500-$1,000 monthly tech fees. Item 19 shines with average gross sales of $456,124 and median $412,031 across franchised units; estimated profits range $32,257-$62,432 at 0% EBITDA margin, signaling tight operations where owners hustle for every dollar after fees.

System health looks stable: 152 franchised locations grew 3% from 147 in 2023, with 12 projected new units, just 3 terminations, 1 non-renewal, and 8 transfers. Corporate's 335 spots dwarf franchises, providing robust support but less peer benchmarking. For coffee aficionados eyeing quick-service, Caribou's data suggests reliable but not explosive returns—stronger than stagnant brands, yet trailing volume leaders; crunch these against your local traffic for a realistic shot at mid-six-figure top lines.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How CARIBOU COFFEE Compares

Key Insights

  • Top 10 largest franchise system in Coffee & Bakery
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
CARIBOU COFFEE
Current
$606K – $937K$30K5.0%152
PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFÉ$633K – $4.9M$35K5.0%1,112
SCOOTER'S COFFEE$1.2M – $1.3M$40K6.0%882
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES$667K – $1.0M$45K6.0%643
GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES$341K – $463K$25K6.0%395
7 BREW$894K – $2.2M$35K4.5%297
Coffee & Bakery Average
39 franchises
$489K – $1.1M$39K5.5%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 39 Coffee & Bakery franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth


Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2024)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States
1MN
48
2WI
26
3ND
20
4MO
7
5SD
7
6NE
6
7OH
6
8MI
6
9IA
5
10KS
3
11CO
3
12FL
3
13NC
2
14GA
2
15IL
2

+5 more states

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Franchisee Contacts

62 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

62 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0
No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
3
Non-Renewals
1
Reacquired
0
Ceased Ops
5
Transfers
8
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
12

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a CARIBOU COFFEE franchise ranges from $606,100 to $937,000. This includes a franchise fee of $30,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.