--- title: "Chatime Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review" description: "Chatime franchise costs, fees, and earnings potential. Investment range: $291K-$500K. 17+ locations. Get the data you need to decide." url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/Chatime" canonical: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/Chatime" markdown_url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/Chatime.md" type: "FranchiseBrand" brand: "Chatime" sector: "Fast Food & Fast Casual Restaurants" category: "Coffee, Tea & Specialty Beverages" investment_low: "291100" investment_high: "499900" total_units: "17" grade: "C" operating_model: "Owner-Operator" --- # Chatime Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review Chatime franchise costs, fees, and earnings potential. Investment range: $291K-$500K. 17+ locations. Get the data you need to decide. ## At a glance - **Brand:** Chatime - **Sector:** Fast Food & Fast Casual Restaurants - **Category:** Coffee, Tea & Specialty Beverages - **Total initial investment:** $291,100 – $499,900 - **Total units (FDD Item 20):** 17 - **FranchiseGrade grade:** C - **Operating model:** Owner-Operator - **States with locations:** AL, FL, GU, KS, MD, ND, NY, OH, TN, TX ## Chatime — franchise facts ### What is the total investment required to open a Chatime franchise? Total investment ranges from $291K to $500K, covering build-out, equipment, inventory, initial marketing, and working capital. This mid-range investment includes all startup costs for a single location. ### What is the Chatime franchise fee and what does it include? The franchise fee is $55K, which typically covers access to the brand, initial training, site selection support, and opening marketing assistance. This is a one-time fee paid upfront. ### What are the ongoing royalties and fees for Chatime franchisees? Franchisees pay 0.05% royalty on gross sales and 0.02% advertising fund contribution, making ongoing fees exceptionally low compared to industry averages. Combined, these ongoing costs total just 0.07% of revenue. ### What liquid capital and net worth does Chatime require from franchisees? Specific liquid capital and net worth minimums are not disclosed in available data. Prospective franchisees should contact Chatime directly to confirm financial qualification requirements. ### Does Chatime offer financing or third-party funding options? No financing information is disclosed in available franchise documentation. Franchisees typically explore SBA loans, equipment financing, and personal investment strategies independently. ### What initial training does Chatime provide to new franchisees? Chatime provides 96 hours of comprehensive initial training covering operations, beverage preparation, customer service, and business management. Training occurs before and during the grand opening phase. ### What ongoing support does Chatime provide after opening? Chatime offers continuous operational support, marketing guidance, product development input, and performance monitoring post-opening. Specific support modalities (field visits, phone/digital support) align with typical QSR franchise models. ### Does Chatime help with site selection and real estate? Yes, Chatime provides territory protection and site selection guidance to franchisees. The franchise assigns protected territories, reducing competition and ensuring viable locations for unit economics. ### What are the day-to-day owner responsibilities at a Chatime location? Owners manage staff scheduling, inventory, quality control, customer service, and P&L performance. Responsibilities include daily beverage preparation oversight, cash handling, and local marketing execution. ### Is Chatime better suited for owner-operators or semi-absentee investors? Chatime is primarily designed for owner-operator models with hands-on involvement, especially during launch and growth phases. Semi-absentee ownership is possible after 12-24 months with a strong management team in place. ### What lifestyle and time commitment does owning a Chatime franchise require? Chatime is a hands-on quick-service model requiring 50-60 hours weekly for owner-operators during initial phases. As operations stabilize and staff grows, owners can reduce personal involvement through delegation and management. ### What territories are currently available for Chatime expansion? Chatime operates in 10 states (AL, FL, GU, KS, MD, ND, NY, OH, TN, TX) with 17 total outlets. Availability in these states and adjacent regions should be confirmed directly; expansion territories are actively being developed. ### Can Chatime franchisees own and operate multiple units? Multi-unit ownership is possible for qualified franchisees, though specific multi-unit thresholds and requirements are not disclosed. Interested multi-unit candidates should discuss expansion plans with the franchise development team. ### Does Chatime offer area development or master franchise agreements? Area development and master franchise options are not explicitly detailed in available data. Franchisees with multi-unit ambitions should inquire directly about area control or development rights. ### What revenue model and profitability drivers does Chatime offer? Revenue comes from beverage sales (coffee, tea, bubble tea) and compatible food items with high-margin positioning. Profitability is driven by premium pricing, traffic volume, and ultra-low royalties (0.05%), enabling strong unit economics. ### What sets Chatime apart from other beverage and quick-service franchises? Chatime combines specialty coffee, premium tea, and bubble tea-a differentiated multi-beverage platform-with exceptionally low ongoing royalties and protected territories. The brand's 2023 franchising launch and B-grade investment ratings reflect quality fundamentals. ## Research this brand - Full profile: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/Chatime - Compare it side by side: https://www.franchisegrade.com/compare - Check affordability against your capital: https://www.franchisegrade.com/affordability-calculator - Franchise terms used above: https://www.franchisegrade.com/tools/franchise-glossary --- *Source: [FranchiseGrade](https://www.franchisegrade.com) — independent, FDD-derived franchise research.* *Cite this page as: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/Chatime* *Training, indexing and quotation are permitted — please attribute and link to the source URL above. Full-text reproduction of the whole page is not. Licensing: privacy@franchisegrade.com*