Tapioca Express vs Tastea Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Tapioca Express vs Tastea including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Tapioca Express Franchise
Tastea Franchise
Investment $200,000 - $420,000$368,300 - $804,500
Franchise Fee $15,000$40,000
Royalty Fee $0.055/cup-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19992013
Year Franchised 20002014
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee $3K for 2 years-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Tapioca Express Franchise
Tastea Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Tastea Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Tastea Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5

    100% of current franchisees are owner/operators

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Tastea Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Tapioca Express

    Wayne and Stephanie, passionate about their Taiwanese heritage, opened the first Tapioca Express store in the San Gabriel Valley in 1999 �" one of the very first boba chains in the United States. Since the beginning,
    Tapioca Express has harvested the finest ingredients from Taiwan and continually provides quality teas, boba, and snacks. However, we did not foresee that boba’s popularity would manifest into its own culture and become an everyday lifestyle. Today, Tapioca Express expands across California and into other states, including Washington, Texas, and Virginia. In our two decades of experience in brewing, we focus on nurturing and enriching communities with the finest teas, coffee, and boba.
    Tapioca beverage is a various combination of black or green tea, milk, juice, coffee, and small marbles of tapioca (a.k.a. "black pearl" or "boba", made from Tapioca starch, water, corn starch and natural flavors.) It originated in Tai-Chung City (in Taiwan) around 1981, and soon spread across Asia. In the late 90s, it traveled to North America and has quickly become a raging trendy drink on both coasts. It is perceived as a relatively healthier beverage than soft drinks or coffee, and a lot more fun, too.Tapioca Express was the first in North America to offer a wide selection of high quality tapioca beverage adhering to a consistently high professional standard. Since opening its first store in the city of Alhambra (located in the Greater Los Angeles, California),
    Tapioca Express has become synonymous to quality and innovation.

    About Tastea

    "Tastea
    The Tastea dream is a reality. We continue to push the envelope with new drinks and flavors -- constantly creating and searching for new ways to make people smile. But at the same time, we still serve the classics that so many of our customers love, from Thai Iced Tea to Green Milk to Taro Milk Tea and more. The center of the Tastea experience is our unique tea bar, where customers can hang out with friends and make some new ones, all while enjoying the most refreshing treat around.

    Under the Single Tastea Tea Bar Program, you will sign a Franchise Agreement to operate a single Tastea Tea Bar. The franchisor estimates your total initial investment to begin operations of a single Tastea Tea Bar will range from approximately $368,300 to $654,500. Included in the estimate is $74,500 to $80,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliate which is comprised of the Initial Franchise Fee of $40,000 and $34,500 to $40,500 in fees and expenditures.
    Under the Area Development Program, the franchisor assigns a defined area within which you must develop and operate a minimum of three Tastea Tea Bars within a specified period of time. If you sign an Area Development Agreement, the franchisor estimates your total initial investment will range from $428,300 to $804,500. Included in the estimate is $134,500 to $230,500 that you must pay to the franchisor or their affiliate which is comprised of the Development Fee of $100,000 (for 3 units) to $190,000 (for 6 units) and $34,500 to $40,500 in fees and expenditures for your first Tastea Tea Bar unit.