Caribou Coffee
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Caribou Coffee franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 2004 Source: franchisedirect.com
- Headquarters
- Minneapolis, Minnesota Source: franchisedirect.com
Caribou Coffee is a coffeehouse franchise business that operates indoor locations offering fresh-roasted coffee beverages, baked goods for on-premises and carry-out consumption, and related retail items. Its coffeehouses are designed to the franchisor’s specifications and may operate as chalet or cabin locations in stand-alone or traditional settings, or as kiosks in non-traditional facilities.
Headline figures
Caribou Coffee quick facts
- Is Caribou Coffee a franchise?
- Yes. Caribou Coffee offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 144 franchised and 350 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 62). Details
- How much does it cost to open a Caribou Coffee franchise?
- The Caribou Coffee Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $281,100–$1,515,000 for kiosk — total estimated initial investment (excluding lease) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $606,100–$1,515,000 for cabin — total estimated initial investment (excluding lease) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $898,100–$1,515,000 for chalet — total estimated initial investment (excluding lease) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Caribou Coffee charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 4% · Note 1) Cabin and Chalet: 5% of Gross Sales Kiosk: 6% of Gross Sales ( — 4% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 1% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 15). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Caribou Coffee disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Caribou Coffee FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 56). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Caribou Coffee locations are there?
- The FDD reports 494 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 62). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Caribou Coffee a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $281,100 – $1,515,000 (Kiosk — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)); $606,100 – $1,515,000 (Cabin — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)); $898,100 – $1,515,000 (Chalet — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 6 separate groups: other measures for 116 locations; other measures for 130 locations; other measures for 130 locations; other measures for 12 locations; other measures for 65 locations; other measures for locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 7 in 2025, to 494 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Caribou Coffee head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 3 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Kiosk — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)PDF p. 21$281,100 – $1,515,000
- Cabin — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)PDF p. 21$606,100 – $1,515,000
- Chalet — Total Estimated Initial Investment (excluding Lease)PDF p. 21$898,100 – $1,515,000
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- marks RoyaltyMain ongoing fee
29 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
6 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
116 locations
Other measures · 116 locations
- Who is counted
- Company Chalet
- Excluded
- Notfull-yearnew/closedexcluded; full-year/half-year tablesdiffer
- Method
- Unaudited; numericperformance tablecellsnotextracted; nopopulationcombining
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62
Net +14 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($281,100 – $1,515,000) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units went from 487 to 494 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company Chalet · PDF p. 56
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Kiosk nontraditional · PDF p. 54
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Kiosk · PDF p. 54
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional · PDF p. 54
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company Cabin · PDF p. 56
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Companydrive-thruChalet/Cabin · PDF p. 61
- [7]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 62
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | total other assets | $840,546 |
| 2025 | cash and cash equivalents | $46,140 |
| 2025 | other accounts receivable | $5,217 |
| 2025 | current operating lease liabilities | $65,395 |
| 2025 | total shareholders' equity | $703,879 |
| 2025 | prepaid expenses and other assets | $7,169 |
| 2025 | trademarks, net | $457,500 |
| 2025 | note receivable | $49,842 |
| 2025 | retained earnings | $286,385 |
| 2025 | income tax expense | $9,460 |
| 2025 | total shareholders' equity before non-controlling interest | $701,015 |
| 2025 | franchise and commercial product cost of goods sold | $51,303 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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