Tapioca Express vs Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Tapioca Express Franchise
Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise
Investment $200,000 - $420,000$389,942 - $860,654
Franchise Fee $15,000$40,000
Royalty Fee $0.055/cup6%
Advertising Fee -2%
Year Founded 19991998
Year Franchised 20002002
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Renewal Fee $3K for 2 years$5000


Business Experience Requirements
 
Tapioca Express Franchise
Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise
    Training -On-The-Job Training: 160 hours Classroom Training: 46 hours Additional Training: At existing coffeehouse
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5

    100% of current franchisees are owner/operators

    		Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 3 - 12

    Expansion Plans
     
    Tapioca Express Franchise
    Scooter's Coffeehouse Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    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 Scooter's Coffeehouse

    In a vibrant market, differentiation is the key to success. At Scooter's we have developed a singular "premium" identity that sets our coffeehouses apart from the competitors and allows us to occupy a unique position in the industry. Scooter's dedication to the premium experience has created a difference that customers appreciate. Our coffee tastes different because it is different.
     The premium experience begins with our coffee, but it doesn't end there. Our corporate philosophy dictates that everything the customers taste, see, hear and feel should reinforce the premium philosophy.
     * Our coffee is served exclusively in Insulair's new triple-wall insulated cup, a unique solution recognized as one of the top innovations of 2005 by Inc. Magazine. Triple-wall cups are a quality alternative to polystyrene foam and non-insulated cups with paper sleeves.
     * Our specialty drinks are created with Monin syrups, widely recognized as the world's premier flavoring. Unlike many popular flavorings, Monin syrups are made from natural fruits, nuts and spices, and contain no fat or cholesterol.
     * Our mocha drinks are blended with Monin premium chocolate syrups, a rich and superior alternative to powdered flavorings.
     * Our store locations are aesthetically designed to emphasize the premium experience. Equipment, art, furniture and accessories are carefully designed to reinforce the message that our customers receive the best. This unique identity has turned Scooter's into the largest locally-owned coffee franchise in the Midwest.

    From the very beginning, Scooter's has provided a true premium experience. Now, we are taking that experience to the rest of the nation, providing opportunities to share in the same success that has become a hallmark of the Scooter's brand.
    Franchisor is seeking new franchise units in the following regions/states:Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Scooter's Drive-Thru Kiosk (Kiosk) franchise is from $389,942 to $685,874. This includes $110,000 to $135,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Scooter's Drive-Thru Coffeehouse (Coffeehouse) franchise is from $552,676 to $860,654. This includes $110,000 to $135,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.

    Veteran Incentives  $20,000 credit toward first-year product
    "World     "Entrepreneur
    #225 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #103 in Franchise 500 for 2021.