No—Starbucks is not accepting franchisee applications. That means there is no standard U.S. Starbucks franchise fee, public Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), or verified investment Looking for the Starbucks franchise cost? Starbucks is not accepting franchisee applications, so there is no standard U.S. franchise opportunity to purchase. This guide explains how licensed stores differ and compares coffee franchises buyers can investigate instead.
If your goal is to own a coffee business, start with brands that actively recruit franchisees and publish their investment ranges, fees, and financial qualifications. A familiar name is only one part of the decision; the ownership model also needs to fit your budget, responsibilities, and location goals.
Can You Buy a Starbucks Franchise?
Starbucks says it is not accepting franchisee applications. Prospective owners should therefore not rely on websites claiming that a standard Starbucks franchise can be purchased for a particular fee.
Starbucks operates both company-operated and licensed locations. According to its fiscal 2025 annual report, licensees pay operating costs and capital investments, while Starbucks earns revenue from branded products and supplies, royalties, and license fees.
The company also reports traditional franchising in a limited number of international markets. Those arrangements should not be confused with a generally available U.S. franchise opportunity.
Starbucks Licensing vs. Franchising
A licensed Starbucks location is not the conventional franchise opportunity many individual buyers are searching for.
A traditional U.S. franchise offering normally comes with a Franchise Disclosure Document, or FDD. The document describes the estimated initial investment, required fees, contractual obligations, franchise system, and other disclosures. Starbucks does not provide a comparable public U.S. franchise offering for individual applicants.
Licensed Starbucks stores can operate inside host venues such as grocery stores, airports, and university campuses. The terms of a particular licensing arrangement must be evaluated on their own; the presence of a Starbucks inside another business does not mean that anyone can purchase the same opportunity.
Before comparing the two models, establish who operates the location, who funds the project, which fees apply, and what the agreement requires. Avoid assuming that licensing automatically provides more freedom, costs less, or creates the same ownership rights as a franchise.
What Does a Starbucks License Cost?
The Starbucks franchise cost should not be confused with the budget for a licensed location. Before evaluating a licensed store, request written information directly from Starbucks about the proposed location, costs, eligibility, and operating agreement.
The official public materials reviewed for this article do not establish one standard U.S. licensed-store investment range, licensing fee, net-worth minimum, or liquid-capital requirement. Numerical estimates from third-party websites should not be presented as universal Starbucks requirements without authoritative documentation.
An organization evaluating a licensed location should develop a site-specific budget with qualified legal, accounting, construction, and real-estate advisors. An individual seeking a conventional franchise should compare brands that openly recruit franchisees and provide an FDD.
Available Coffee Franchises
Instead of relying on an estimated Starbucks franchise cost, compare the published investment requirements of brands accepting franchise applications. The table below separates store formats so you can compare similar business models rather than treating every coffee concept as the same opportunity.
These are the franchisors’ published figures reviewed on October 29, 2026—not price quotes or guarantees. Actual costs and eligibility depend on the proposed opportunity. Obtain the current FDD and confirm territory availability directly with each brand.
| Brand and format | Published initial investment | Published initial franchise fee | Published financial qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkin’, advertised overall range | $443,000–$1,832,500 | $40,000 | $500,000 net worth; $250,000 liquid assets |
| Scooter’s Coffee, drive-thru endcap | $658,898–$1,068,525 | $40,000 | $500,000 net worth; $250,000 liquid assets |
| Scooter’s Coffee, drive-thru kiosk | $1,163,650–$1,345,750 | $40,000 | $500,000 net worth; $250,000 liquid assets |
| PJ’s Coffee, non-traditional | $280,500–$585,500 | $30,000 | $500,000 net worth; $175,000 liquid capital |
| PJ’s Coffee, inline or endcap | $522,500–$899,000 | $40,000 | $500,000 net worth; $175,000 liquid capital |
| PJ’s Coffee, freestanding | $925,500–$1,680,000 | $40,000 | $500,000 net worth; $175,000 liquid capital |
Dunkin’s franchising page advertises the figures above and directs applicants to its FDD issued March 26, 2026. Confirm the fee and investment applicable to your particular format and market rather than treating its advertised fee as a universal quote.
Scooter’s Coffee publishes separate ranges for its endcap and kiosk formats. Both ranges include the $40,000 initial franchise fee. Its investment page notes that any applicable multi-store development fee is excluded.
PJ’s Coffee distinguishes non-traditional locations from traditional inline, endcap, and freestanding models. Its franchise FAQ confirms the $500,000 net-worth and $175,000 liquid-capital requirements.
Financial qualifications are screening minimums, not the total amount needed to open. Meeting a brand’s liquidity or net-worth threshold does not establish that a candidate can fund the complete project or qualify for financing.
A Different Coffee Business Model
Break Coffee Co. offers an office coffee-service franchise rather than a retail café. Its franchise page describes a model in which franchisees deliver and service coffee machines for workplace customers without needing office space.
The company publishes candidate requirements of $100,000 in net worth, $50,000 in liquidity, and a credit score of at least 720 on its franchise page. Request its current FDD for the complete investment and fee schedule. Evaluate this model separately from a coffeehouse rather than assuming it offers the same customer experience, operating role, or cost structure.
Other Brands to Investigate
Additional concepts may be relevant, but this article does not present an unverified current investment range for them.
- Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii: The brand’s multi-unit page states a three-store minimum development commitment, $1.5 million in net worth, and $500,000 in liquid capital. Request the current FDD to confirm all development fees, unit-level investment estimates, and the complete commitment.
- Just Love Coffee Cafe: Request the current FDD and written confirmation of the applicable investment range, franchise fee, and financial qualifications before relying on figures from its public investment page.
- Ramblin’ Joe’s Coffee: Contact the brand’s franchise team for its current FDD and confirm the investment, fee, financial screening requirements, and available formats.
Considering more than one location? Read FBA’s multi-unit franchise ownership guide before evaluating a development agreement.
Why Dutch Bros Is Excluded
Dutch Bros is not an available new-franchise alternative. The company states that it no longer offers the option to franchise and that future locations will be company-owned.
Legacy franchise locations do not mean a new applicant can purchase a franchise. Older Dutch Bros fee and investment estimates should not be used to describe an opportunity currently open to new buyers.
How to Compare Coffee Franchises
Researching the Starbucks franchise cost is only a starting point. When evaluating an available franchise, compare the complete startup investment—not just the initial fee. Use FBA’s guide to understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document to prepare questions about fees, estimated costs, territory, and contractual obligations.
Review these factors before narrowing your shortlist:
- Store format: Compare cafés with cafés, drive-thru kiosks with kiosks, and office-service models separately.
- Initial investment: Review Item 7, including construction, equipment, inventory, and additional funds.
- Initial and ongoing fees: Examine the franchise fee, royalties, advertising contributions, technology charges, and development fees.
- Available capital: Distinguish net worth, accessible liquid funds, financing assumptions, and the complete project budget.
- Operating responsibilities: Confirm the owner’s expected involvement, staffing requirements, and management structure.
- Territory and real estate: Check market availability, site approval, lease obligations, and development deadlines.
- Multi-unit obligations: Understand the number of locations required, opening schedule, and capital needed for the full agreement.
Always review the current FDD rather than relying only on marketing materials. Discuss the agreement, financing plan, and tax consequences with qualified legal, financial, and accounting advisors before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Starbucks Franchise Cost?
There is no standard U.S. Starbucks franchise price because Starbucks is not accepting franchisee applications. Its public materials do not establish a universal investment range for licensed stores either. Check the company’s official FAQ for its application status.
Does Starbucks Charge a Franchise Fee?
There is no standard public U.S. franchise offering to which a franchise fee can be applied. Do not confuse an estimated licensing or construction cost reported online with an official Starbucks franchise fee. This does not mean that licensed stores are free to open or operate.
Can You Open a Licensed Starbucks?
Licensed locations exist, but the sources reviewed do not establish a generally available application route for individual U.S. buyers. Any proposed location, eligibility requirements, investment, and agreement must be confirmed directly with Starbucks.
What Are the Financial Requirements?
The reviewed Starbucks materials do not substantiate universal net-worth or liquid-capital thresholds for licensed-store applicants. Do not assume that a numerical requirement published by a third-party website applies to your proposed opportunity.
Does Starbucks Franchise Internationally?
Starbucks reports traditional franchising in a limited number of international markets within its licensed-store business. That does not establish a generally available opportunity in the United States; availability and terms must be checked for the particular market.
Which Coffee Franchises Can Buyers Explore?
Dunkin’, Scooter’s Coffee, and PJ’s Coffee publish U.S. franchise investment information and financial qualifications. Break Coffee Co. offers a different office-service model. Review the current FDD and confirm territory availability with each franchisor before proceeding.
Can You Buy a Dutch Bros Franchise?
No. Dutch Bros says it no longer offers franchising. Older online fee and startup-cost estimates do not establish a currently available new-franchise opportunity.
Find an Ownership Model That Fits
If your search for the Starbucks franchise cost has led you to consider other options, explore franchise opportunities with FBA. Compare your available capital, preferred responsibilities, and location goals before narrowing your shortlist.
Ready to discuss your options? Schedule a franchise ownership conversation with the FBA team.
Still exploring what fits? Complete the Zorakle franchise profile as a starting point for discussing your working style and ownership goals.
