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THE BRASS TAP
The Brass Tap franchise operates upscale beer bars offering craft beers on tap, a large variety of imported, domestic, and local craft beers, fine wines, food offerings, and where permitted by law, cigars and bottled beers for carry-out. The business model involves franchising unit franchises for single locations or area development rights for multiple bars using proprietary formulae, techniques, trade dress, trademarks, service marks, and business systems. It targets beer enthusiasts and customers seeking a premium, neighborhood bar atmosphere.
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Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 2% marketing fund + $350/mo IT and website fees
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 38 franchised Brass Tap Bars that were open and operating for at least 12 months before December 31, 2024.
* All values extracted directly from the tables for the most recent year, 2024. Average Gross Revenue and Median Gross Revenue are from 'TABLE 1: AVERAGE ADJUSTED GROSS SALES FOR ALL REPORTING BRASS TAP BARS'. Revenue Top Quartile is from 'TABLE 3: AVERAGE ADJUSTED GROSS SALES FOR TOP QUARTILE REPORTING 2.0 BARS'. Revenue Bottom Quartile is from 'TABLE 4: AVERAGE ADJUSTED GROSS SALES FOR BOTTOM QUARTILE REPORTING 2.0 BARS'.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $1,402,356
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Unlock financial performance dataTHE BRASS TAP Franchise Analysis
In the surging craft beer market, The Brass Tap carves a niche with its premium bar atmosphere aimed at enthusiasts craving taps, wines, and bites. Item 19 delivers revenue figures that stand out in the specialty food category, backed by SBA loan history showing resilience. But with steady expansion and extra fees in play, does this model pour profits or just fizzles out?
Item 7 outlines a hefty initial investment of $792,950 to $1,279,550, including the $25,000 franchise fee, driven by build-out for 50+ taps and upscale decor. Ongoing costs hit 5% royalty plus 2% brand/ad fund, plus a notable $350 monthly IT and website fee not always seen in food/beverage peers. Item 19 shines with average gross revenue of $1,402,356 and median $1,319,839 across units, suggesting strong top-line potential in high-traffic spots—far above many bar concepts' $800K-$1M norms, implying 20-30% margins if costs are controlled.
System growth from 44 to 51 locations (+16% YoY) signals momentum, with 18 projected new units and just 1 transfer, indicating stability over contraction risks. SBA stats are a green flag: 66 loans averaging $838,292 with only 3% default rate, well below the 15-20% category average, showing lenders' confidence. For beer bar investors, this data paints a scalable play if you nail location and ops, but watch liquid costs and competition saturating crafts.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How THE BRASS TAP Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 100% of Specialty Food franchises
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Specialty Food
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
THE BRASS TAP Current | $793K – $1.3M | $25K | 5.0% | 51 |
| EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS | $214K – $587K | $30K | 5.0% | 680 |
| HONEYBAKED HAM AND THE HONEYBAKED HAM AND CAFE CO. | $514K – $830K | $20K | 6.0% | 212 |
| CANTEEN | $9K – $44K | $3K | 5.3% | 100 |
| The Spice & Tea Exchange | $299K – $532K | $39K | 7.0% | 93 |
| GRAZE CRAZE | $167K – $326K | $50K | 6.0% | 89 |
Specialty Food Average 15 franchises | $229K – $480K | $28K | 6.9% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 15 Specialty Food 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
+2 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for THE BRASS TAP franchisees (2013 – 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.
66 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
51 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
51 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 THE BRASS TAP franchise ranges from $792,950 to $1,279,550. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
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