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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.
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Franchise Costs
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
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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Unlock financial performance dataCARIBOU 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
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CARIBOU COFFEE Current | $606K – $937K | $30K | 5.0% | 152 |
| PANERA BREAD BAKERY-CAFÉ | $633K – $4.9M | $35K | 5.0% | 1,112 |
| SCOOTER'S COFFEE | $1.2M – $1.3M | $40K | 6.0% | 882 |
| NOTHING BUNDT CAKES | $667K – $1.0M | $45K | 6.0% | 643 |
| GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES | $341K – $463K | $25K | 6.0% | 395 |
| 7 BREW | $894K – $2.2M | $35K | 4.5% | 297 |
Coffee & Bakery Average 39 franchises | $489K – $1.1M | $39K | 5.5% | – |
* 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
+5 more states
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Unlock location growth dataFranchisee Contacts
62 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
62 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently 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.
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