Gong cha (Unit)
Gong cha USA Franchising, LLC offers unit franchises for the operation of single Gong cha® stores that primarily sell bubble tea blends, coffees, teas, smoothies, juices, and other related products using proprietary recipes, methods, and the Gong cha® brand system. The business model grants franchises to qualified candidates who must adhere to uniform standards, specifications, and procedures for operations, purchasing, training, and marketing to develop and operate these stores. They target consumers in the competitive specialty beverage market, particularly those interested in Taiwanese-style bubble tea and similar drinks, amid growing demand in the US and globally.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 1% brand marketing fee (up to 2%) + $328/mo POS SaaS + $40/mo operations platform + $35/mo online training + up to $50/mo guest survey platform
How Gong cha (Unit) Compares
Key Insights
- Lower investment than 88% of Fast Casual franchises
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Fast Casual
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gong cha (Unit) Current | $207K – $648K | $37K | 6.0% | 175 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $405K – $1.6M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,249 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M – $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K – $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 107 franchises | $532K – $1.2M | $39K | 5.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2025)
Outlets by state across the United States
+8 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Gong cha (Unit) franchisees (2018 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
188 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
188 Contacts Available
Unlock all Gong cha (Unit) franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Renewal dispute with master franchisee Gong Cha CA Franchise LLC.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Gong cha (Unit) franchise ranges from $207,450 to $648,460. This includes a franchise fee of $37,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
Unlock Full FDD Access
Download Gong cha (Unit)'s complete FDD plus 1,700+ other franchise documents — all with one plan.
Secure checkout with Stripe · Cancel anytime
Also includes FDDs for
More Food & Beverage Franchises
Subway
Food & Beverage
MCDONALD'S
Food & Beverage
DUNKIN'
Food & Beverage
DOMINO'S PIZZA
Food & Beverage
Burger King
Food & Beverage
AFC
Food & Beverage